ask-tanstack-table

Use TanStack Table v8 with useReactTable, adding getSortedRowModel and getFilteredRowModel to the table options. Define columns with createColumnHelper for type safety, then wire sorting and columnFilters state to the table instance.

Set manualPagination, manualSorting, and manualFiltering to true and pass the total rowCount from your API. Fetch data in a callback keyed on pagination, sorting, and filter state, sending them as query parameters to your endpoint.

Yes, combine it with @tanstack/react-virtual by creating a virtualizer over the table's row model and rendering only visible rows with absolute positioning. Set estimateSize to your row height and an overscan value for smooth scrolling.

Map table.getFilteredRowModel().rows to extract cell values per column, join them into CSV lines, and download via a Blob URL. This exports the currently filtered rows, respecting active search and column filters.

Avoid it for simple static lists where a plain HTML table suffices, since the headless API adds setup overhead. For non-tabular virtualized feeds or chat lists, a dedicated virtual list library like Virtuoso fits better.