Why ListAdapter Is Better Than RecyclerView notifyDataSetChanged?

Updating a RecyclerView can quickly become messy. Many developers start with manual update calls, but as the list grows and changes become frequent, the code becomes harder to manage and less efficient. In this post, we will look at why the traditional approach causes problems and how ListAdapter solves them cleanly.

The Problem with Manual RecyclerView Updates

When using a standard RecyclerView adapter, you are responsible for telling the adapter when data changes. This usually means calling notifyDataSetChanged or managing multiple notify calls for insertions, removals, and updates. This approach increases boilerplate and can hurt performance.

 adapter.notifyDataSetChanged() 

Insert graphic: RecyclerView adapter code using notifyDataSetChanged.

As your UI becomes more dynamic, you may end up writing complex logic to track what changed and when. This makes the adapter harder to read and more error prone.

Meet ListAdapter

This is where ListAdapter comes in. ListAdapter is a modern and powerful replacement for the standard RecyclerView adapter. It handles list differences automatically and updates only the items that actually changed.

Insert graphic: Transition visual showing ListAdapter replacing RecyclerView.Adapter.

ListAdapter uses DiffUtil internally, which means it calculates changes in the background and updates the UI efficiently. You no longer need to worry about calling notifyDataSetChanged.

RecyclerView Adapter vs ListAdapter

With a regular adapter, you manage updates manually. With ListAdapter, you simply submit a new list and let the framework handle the rest.

Updating Data the Right Way

Instead of calling notifyDataSetChanged, ListAdapter exposes submitList. This method automatically figures out what changed and updates the UI smoothly.

 listAdapter.submitList(newList) 

Creating a Custom ListAdapter

To use ListAdapter, you extend it, define a DiffUtil.ItemCallback, and bind your data inside onCreateViewHolder and onBindViewHolder.

class UserAdapter : ListAdapterU+003C	User, UserViewHolder>(DIFF_CALLBACK) {
    override fun onCreateViewHolder(
        parent: ViewGroup,
        viewType: Int,
    ): UserViewHolder = UserViewHolder.create(parent)

    override fun onBindViewHolder(
        holder: UserViewHolder,
        position: Int,
    ) {
        holder.bind(getItem(position))
    }
	
    companion object {
        val DIFF_CALLBACK =
            object : DiffUtil.ItemCallbackU+003C	User>() {
                override fun areItemsTheSame(
                    oldItem: User,
                    newItem: User,
                ): Boolean = oldItem.id == newItem.id

                override fun areContentsTheSame(
                    oldItem: User,
                    newItem: User,
                ): Boolean = oldItem == newItem
            }
    }
}

Why ListAdapter Is Worth Using

ListAdapter reduces boilerplate, improves performance, and keeps your adapter clean. You focus on your data, not on tracking UI changes. This leads to more maintainable code and a smoother user experience.

Final Thoughts

If you are still struggling with manual RecyclerView updates, it is time to switch. ListAdapter makes list handling simpler, safer, and faster. Give it a try in your next Android project and feel the difference.