Is TRPC necessary for frontend only project

Published On - March 21, 2025

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When developing a frontend-only project, developers often seek ways to streamline data fetching and state management. One of the tools that has gained popularity in recent times is tRPC. But is it necessary for a frontend-only project, or is it better suited for full-stack applications?

Understanding tRPC

tRPC (TypeScript Remote Procedure Call) is a framework that allows you to build fully typesafe APIs without requiring REST or GraphQL. It is primarily designed for seamless communication between a TypeScript frontend and a TypeScript backend. The key advantage of tRPC is that it eliminates the need for manually creating API contracts, ensuring type safety across the stack.

While tRPC greatly simplifies the developer experience in a full-stack scenario, its relevance to a frontend-only project is debatable. Let’s explore the benefits and downsides of using tRPC in this context.

Benefits of Using tRPC in a Frontend-Only Project

Even if you’re working on a frontend-only project, there are certain circumstances where adopting tRPC might provide some advantages:

  • Type Safety and Code Consistency: If your project interacts with an existing backend that already uses tRPC, adopting tRPC on the frontend ensures a smooth and typesafe data-fetching process.
  • Developer Experience: tRPC can reduce boilerplate code by eliminating the need for writing API contracts manually, especially when working in a team that values TypeScript-based development.
  • Scalability: If you plan to later transition to a full-stack setup using a tRPC-based backend, having it in your frontend code early on could make the integration easier.

Challenges and Downsides

Despite the strengths of tRPC, there are several reasons why it might not be the best fit for a frontend-only project:

  • No Backend to Connect to: tRPC is fundamentally designed for client-server interactions. If you’re working solely within the frontend (e.g., consuming external RESTful APIs or GraphQL endpoints), implementing tRPC doesn’t provide much additional value.
  • Unnecessary Complexity: Adding tRPC introduces an abstraction layer that may not be needed in a frontend-only environment. This could lead to unnecessary complexity and increased learning curves for new developers joining the project.
  • Better Alternatives Exist: For frontend-only projects, alternatives such as React Query, SWR, or direct REST/GraphQL calls often provide a more straightforward and efficient approach for handling data fetching.

When Should You Use tRPC?

Given these pros and cons, tRPC makes the most sense for frontend projects in specific scenarios:

  • If your frontend interacts primarily with a tRPC-based backend, using tRPC ensures end-to-end type safety.
  • If you’re building a full-stack project where you control both frontend and backend, tRPC offers an excellent way to maintain a consistent API contract without additional overhead.
  • If you are using frameworks like Next.js and wish to have a powerful integration between frontend and backend without writing separate API routes.

When Should You Avoid tRPC?

On the other hand, if your frontend is:

  • Purely static with minimal or no dynamic data fetching.
  • Interacting with REST-based or GraphQL APIs that are not using tRPC.
  • A single-page application (SPA) where using REST or GraphQL would be simpler and provide better caching mechanisms.

Conclusion

In the end, whether tRPC is necessary for a frontend-only project depends on the nature of your project. If you’re working with a backend that already supports tRPC, it might be worth considering. However, for most frontend-only projects that consume third-party APIs or interact with a backend through traditional methods, tRPC adds unnecessary complexity.

If your goal is to create a streamlined frontend experience with efficient data fetching and state management, you’re better off using tools specifically designed for that purpose, such as React Query, SWR, or a direct REST/GraphQL client. While tRPC is a great innovation in the TypeScript ecosystem, it shines the most in full-stack applications where both the frontend and backend are built with TypeScript.

Ultimately, the key is to choose the right tool for the job. If you’re in a scenario where tRPC provides genuine benefits, then go for it. Otherwise, sticking with tried-and-tested frontend data-fetching techniques may be the better path.