Qwik is a new front-end framework introduced in 2022 with a bold goal: make websites load instantly, no matter how complex they are.

Instead of using client-side hydration like React or Vue, Qwik introduces a new concept: resumability. The app doesn’t rehydrate — it continues execution exactly where the server left off.

How It Works

When a Qwik app is rendered on the server:

• It serializes the entire application state and event listeners into the HTML.
• When the browser loads the page, no JavaScript runs immediately.
• Only when a user interacts (e.g., clicks a button), Qwik lazily loads the needed code for that interaction.

This results in:

• Very fast first paint (HTML is ready to go).
• Very small JavaScript payload on initial load.
• Fine-grained lazy-loading.

Example: Simple Counter

Here’s what a basic counter component looks like in Qwik:

import {{ component$, useStore }} from '@builder.io/qwik';

export const Counter = component$(() => {
  const state = useStore({ count: 0 });

  return (
    <button onClick$={() => state.count++}>
      Count: {{ state.count }}
    </button>
  );
});

This button won’t hydrate until it’s clicked. Before that, it’s just static HTML.

Key Concepts

• component$: Qwik components use the $ suffix to denote lazy-load boundaries.
• useStore: A reactive state hook.
• onClick$: Event handlers are lazy-loaded too.

Why It Matters

Qwik addresses problems many SPAs face:

• Large JavaScript bundles
• Long Time-to-Interactive
• Poor performance on low-end devices

By shifting the responsibility of interaction setup to the moment it’s needed, Qwik minimizes unnecessary code execution.

Should You Use It?

Qwik is still young and evolving. It’s ideal for:

• Content-heavy websites (blogs, docs, landing pages)
• Apps where SEO and performance are key
• Projects that need fast cold-start time

It might not be ready for every use case, especially complex web apps that rely on deep client-side state. But it’s worth watching — resumability could be the next big paradigm shift in front-end development.