With Tanstack Virtual

This skill builds on @tanstack/table-core#core, getting-started, and table-state. Virtual is a rendering concern over final Table models, not a feature plugin.

Setup

import { computed, viewChild } from '@angular/core'
import { injectVirtualizer } from '@tanstack/angular-virtual'
import type { ElementRef } from '@angular/core'

export class VirtualTable {
  readonly scrollElement =
    viewChild<ElementRef<HTMLDivElement>>('scrollElement')
  readonly rows = computed(() => this.table.getRowModel().rows)
  readonly rowVirtualizer = injectVirtualizer(() => ({
    count: this.rows().length,
    scrollElement: this.scrollElement()?.nativeElement,
    estimateSize: () => 34,
    getItemKey: (index) => this.rows()[index]!.id,
    overscan: 5,
  }))
  readonly virtualRows = computed(() => this.rowVirtualizer.getVirtualItems())
  readonly totalSize = computed(() => this.rowVirtualizer.getTotalSize())
}

Core Patterns

Derive reactive models

Use computed(() => table.getRowModel().rows) and computed(() => table.getVisibleLeafColumns()). injectVirtualizer tracks signal reads in its initializer and requires injection context.

Own the layout contract

Give the scroll element bounded overflow, create a total-size spacer, and translate or measure each virtual item. Use grid/flex widths for dynamic rows/columns and keep sticky headers inside the correct scroll geometry.

Gate infinite fetches

When the last virtual item approaches fetched length, fetch only if more server rows exist and a request is not active. Manual sorting requires server-sorted pages and a reset/refetch policy.

Common Mistakes

CRITICAL Constructing outside injection context

Wrong:

export function virtualize(options) {
  return injectVirtualizer(() => options)
}

Correct:

export class VirtualTable {
  readonly virtualizer = injectVirtualizer(() => options())
}

The Angular virtualizer follows DI lifecycle rules just like injectTable.

Source: examples/angular/virtualized-rows/src/app/app.ts

HIGH Virtualizing raw data

Wrong:

readonly rows = computed(() => this.data())

Correct:

readonly rows = computed(() => this.table.getRowModel().rows)

Raw data bypasses Table filtering, sorting, expansion, grouping, and pagination.

Source: docs/framework/angular/guide/virtualization.md

HIGH Forgetting spacer and transforms

Wrong:

@for (item of virtualRows(); track item.key) {
<div>{{ rows()[item.index].id }}</div>
}

Correct:

<div [style.height.px]="totalSize()" style="position:relative">
  <div style="position:absolute"></div>
</div>

Virtual computes ranges and sizes but does not apply DOM geometry, sticky CSS, or column widths.

Source: examples/angular/virtualized-columns/src/app/app.ts

API Discovery

Inspect installed @tanstack/angular-table/dist/types/, installed @tanstack/angular-virtual/dist/, and the maintained Angular examples for current row, column, measurement, and infinite patterns.