What is the purpose of React Native's FlatList virtualization?

Question

Accepted Answer

**Virtualization** — renders only visible items.

**How it works:**
1. Calculates visible area
2. Renders items in viewport + buffer
3. Unmounts items that scroll out
4. Reuses component instances

**Configuration:**
```tsx
<FlatList
  data={items}
  renderItem={renderItem}
  initialNumToRender={10}
  maxToRenderPerBatch={10}
  windowSize={5}
  updateCellsBatchingPeriod={50}
  removeClippedSubviews={true}
/>
```

**Benefits:**
- Constant memory usage
- Smooth scrolling for large lists
- Reduced initial render time

**Limitations:**
- Scroll position jumps when items change
- Not suitable for small lists
- Requires stable keys

React Native: What is the purpose of React Native's FlatList virtualization?