When NOT to Use useMemo & useCallback (Most React Devs Get This Wrong)
Most React developers use useMemo and useCallback thinking they automatically improve performance — but that’s wrong.
In this video, I explain when you should NOT use useMemo and useCallback, why overusing them can actually hurt performance, and how senior React developers decide when memoization is really needed.
You’ll learn:
Why memoization has a cost
Common mistakes with useMemo and useCallback
When these hooks do absolutely nothing
The correct situations where they actually help
A simple rule to avoid unnecessary optimization
This video is perfect for:
React beginners confused about performance
Developers preparing for React interviews
Anyone trying to write cleaner, faster React code
👉 Next video: React.memo vs useMemo vs useCallback — explained clearly.
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 - UseMemo with Simple Calculations
01:52 - Golden Rule 1 - Don't Optimize if you don't feel the lag
04:48 - Golden Rule 2 - Pre-Optimize till 10x
06:05 - useCallback with no dependencies
06:46 - useCallback with parent component
08:19 - Sign of over-optimization
10:36 - Simplify behavior, not code
11:59 - When to use useMemo
12:34 - How to Optimize Your Maya Scene
14:09 - Fixing Real Problems
14:55 - What Do You Want to Learn Next