A Svelte Data Grid in a Tauri Desktop App

Build a desktop data grid with SvGrid and Tauri - loading data from Rust commands or a local SQLite database, with virtualization for large local datasets.

Tauri lets you ship a Svelte app as a small, native desktop binary with a Rust backend. SvGrid is a strong choice for the data-heavy screens such apps usually need - and virtualization means even large local datasets stay smooth. Here is how they fit together.

Data from a Rust command

Expose a Tauri command that returns rows and call it from Svelte with invoke:

// src-tauri/src/main.rs
#[tauri::command]
fn list_people() -> Vec<Person> { /* read from disk / DB */ }

<script lang="ts">
  import { invoke } from '@tauri-apps/api/core'
  let rows = $state<Row[]>([])
  $effect(() => { invoke<Row[]>('list_people').then((r) => (rows = r)) })
</script>
<div style="height: 100%;"><SvGrid data={rows} columns={columns} features={features} /></div>

Local SQLite

For real datasets, use tauri-plugin-sql (SQLite). Query with LIMIT/OFFSET and ORDER BY for server-style paging, even though "server" here is the local database:

import Database from '@tauri-apps/plugin-sql'
const db = await Database.load('sqlite:app.db')
const rows = await db.select('SELECT * FROM people ORDER BY name LIMIT 50 OFFSET ?', [page * 50])

Drive SvGrid in external mode against these queries exactly as you would a web backend - see server-side data.

Why SvGrid suits desktop

• Virtualization keeps the UI responsive on large local tables where a desktop user expects spreadsheet-like volumes.
• Keyboard navigation matches desktop expectations out of the box.
• No license server. The MIT core ships inside your binary with no runtime check.

Offline and bundle

Everything runs locally, so the grid works offline. SvGrid's core is light, which keeps your Tauri bundle small - a Tauri selling point you do not want a heavy grid to undo.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use SvGrid in a Tauri desktop app?

Yes. Load data from a Tauri Rust command via invoke, or from a local SQLite database with tauri-plugin-sql, and bind it to SvGrid. Virtualization keeps large local datasets fast, and the MIT core ships inside your binary.

How do I page a local SQLite table in a Tauri grid?

Query with ORDER BY, LIMIT, and OFFSET (plus a COUNT(*) for the total) and drive SvGrid in external mode - the same pattern as a web backend, but the database is local.