Frontend Component Patterns - Building Reusable React Components

When to use this skill

• Creating reusable component libraries
• Implementing component composition patterns
• Building flexible, configurable UI components
• Designing intuitive component prop APIs
• Managing component state with patterns
• Implementing controlled vs uncontrolled components
• Creating compound components (e.g., Tabs, Accordion)
• Using render props or children as functions
• Building custom React hooks for shared logic
• Implementing Higher-Order Components (HOCs)
• Establishing component architecture standards
• Creating accessible, keyboard-navigable components

When to use this skill

• Designing React component architecture, improving component reusability, managing state, or solving common UI patterns.
• When working on related tasks or features
• During development that requires this expertise

Use when: Designing React component architecture, improving component reusability, managing state, or solving common UI patterns.

Core Principles

1. Composition Over Inheritance - Build complex UIs from simple components
2. Single Responsibility - Each component does one thing well
3. Props Down, Events Up - Unidirectional data flow
4. Separation of Concerns - Logic separate from presentation
5. Accessibility First - ARIA, keyboard navigation, semantic HTML

Component Patterns

1. Presentational vs Container Components

// ❌ Mixed concerns - logic + presentation together
function UserProfile() {
  const [user, setUser] = useState(null);
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
  
  useEffect(() => {
    fetch(`/api/users/${userId}`)
      .then(r => r.json())
      .then(setUser)
      .finally(() => setLoading(false));
  }, [userId]);
  
  if (loading) return <div>Loading...</div>;
  
  return (
    <div className="profile">
      <img src={user.avatar} alt={user.name} />
      <h1>{user.name}</h1>
      <p>{user.bio}</p>
    </div>
  );
}

// ✅ Separated - Container handles logic
function UserProfileContainer({ userId }: { userId: string }) {
  const { data: user, isLoading } = useUser(userId);
  
  if (isLoading) return <LoadingSpinner />;
  if (!user) return <NotFound />;
  
  return <UserProfileView user={user} />;
}

// ✅ Presentational - Pure display component
interface UserProfileViewProps {
  user: {
    avatar: string;
    name: string;
    bio: string;
  };
}

function UserProfileView({ user }: UserProfileViewProps) {
  return (
    <div className="profile">
      <img src={user.avatar} alt={user.name} />
      <h1>{user.name}</h1>
      <p>{user.bio}</p>
    </div>
  );
}

2. Compound Components

// ✅ Flexible, composable API
interface TabsProps {
  children: React.ReactNode;
  defaultValue?: string;
}

interface TabsContextValue {
  activeTab: string;
  setActiveTab: (value: string) => void;
}

const TabsContext = React.createContext<TabsContextValue | null>(null);

function Tabs({ children, defaultValue }: TabsProps) {
  const [activeTab, setActiveTab] = useState(defaultValue || '');
  
  return (
    <TabsContext.Provider value={{ activeTab, setActiveTab }}>
      <div className="tabs">{children}</div>
    </TabsContext.Provider>
  );
}

function TabsList({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  return <div className="tabs-list" role="tablist">{children}</div>;
}

function TabsTrigger({ value, children }: { value: string; children: React.ReactNode }) {
  const context = useContext(TabsContext);
  if (!context) throw new Error('TabsTrigger must be inside Tabs');
  
  const isActive = context.activeTab === value;
  
  return (
    <button
      role="tab"
      aria-selected={isActive}
      onClick={() => context.setActiveTab(value)}
      className={isActive ? 'active' : ''}
    >
      {children}
    </button>
  );
}

function TabsContent({ value, children }: { value: string; children: React.ReactNode }) {
  const context = useContext(TabsContext);
  if (!context) throw new Error('TabsContent must be inside Tabs');
  
  if (context.activeTab !== value) return null;
  
  return <div role="tabpanel">{children}</div>;
}

// Export as compound component
export { Tabs, TabsList, TabsTrigger, TabsContent };

// Usage - flexible and intuitive
function App() {
  return (
    <Tabs defaultValue="account">
      <TabsList>
        <TabsTrigger value="account">Account</TabsTrigger>
        <TabsTrigger value="password">Password</TabsTrigger>
        <TabsTrigger value="notifications">Notifications</TabsTrigger>
      </TabsList>
      
      <TabsContent value="account">
        <AccountSettings />
      </TabsContent>
      
      <TabsContent value="password">
        <PasswordSettings />
      </TabsContent>
      
      <TabsContent value="notifications">
        <NotificationSettings />
      </TabsContent>
    </Tabs>
  );
}

3. Render Props Pattern

// ✅ Flexible rendering with render props
interface MousePositionProps {
  children: (position: { x: number; y: number }) => React.ReactNode;
}

function MousePosition({ children }: MousePositionProps) {
  const [position, setPosition] = useState({ x: 0, y: 0 });
  
  useEffect(() => {
    const handleMove = (e: MouseEvent) => {
      setPosition({ x: e.clientX, y: e.clientY });
    };
    
    window.addEventListener('mousemove', handleMove);
    return () => window.removeEventListener('mousemove', handleMove);
  }, []);
  
  return <>{children(position)}</>;
}

// Usage - consumer controls rendering
function App() {
  return (
    <MousePosition>
      {({ x, y }) => (
        <div>
          Mouse is at ({x}, {y})
        </div>
      )}
    </MousePosition>
  );
}

4. Custom Hooks (Modern Alternative)

// ✅ Extract reusable logic as hook
function useMousePosition() {
  const [position, setPosition] = useState({ x: 0, y: 0 });
  
  useEffect(() => {
    const handleMove = (e: MouseEvent) => {
      setPosition({ x: e.clientX, y: e.clientY });
    };
    
    window.addEventListener('mousemove', handleMove);
    return () => window.removeEventListener('mousemove', handleMove);
  }, []);
  
  return position;
}

// Usage - cleaner than render props
function App() {
  const { x, y } = useMousePosition();
  
  return (
    <div>
      Mouse is at ({x}, {y})
    </div>
  );
}

// ✅ More custom hooks examples
function useDebounce<T>(value: T, delay: number): T {
  const [debouncedValue, setDebouncedValue] = useState(value);
  
  useEffect(() => {
    const timer = setTimeout(() => setDebouncedValue(value), delay);
    return () => clearTimeout(timer);
  }, [value, delay]);
  
  return debouncedValue;
}

function useLocalStorage<T>(key: string, initialValue: T) {
  const [value, setValue] = useState<T>(() => {
    const stored = localStorage.getItem(key);
    return stored ? JSON.parse(stored) : initialValue;
  });
  
  useEffect(() => {
    localStorage.setItem(key, JSON.stringify(value));
  }, [key, value]);
  
  return [value, setValue] as const;
}

5. Higher-Order Components (Legacy Pattern)

// ✅ HOC for adding functionality
function withLoading<P extends object>(
  Component: React.ComponentType<P>
) {
  return function WithLoadingComponent(
    props: P & { isLoading: boolean }
  ) {
    if (props.isLoading) {
      return <LoadingSpinner />;
    }
    
    return <Component {...props} />;
  };
}

// Usage
const UserListWithLoading = withLoading(UserList);

<UserListWithLoading users={users} isLoading={loading} />

// Note: Custom hooks are now preferred over HOCs

State Management Patterns

1. Props vs State

// ✅ Props - passed from parent
interface ButtonProps {
  label: string;        // Display text
  onClick: () => void;  // Callback
  disabled?: boolean;   // Optional config
}

function Button({ label, onClick, disabled }: ButtonProps) {
  return (
    <button onClick={onClick} disabled={disabled}>
      {label}
    </button>
  );
}

// ✅ State - internal to component
function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0); // Local state
  
  return (
    <div>
      <p>Count: {count}</p>
      <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>Increment</button>
    </div>
  );
}

// ✅ Controlled vs Uncontrolled
// Controlled - value from props (parent controls)
function ControlledInput({ value, onChange }: { 
  value: string; 
  onChange: (value: string) => void; 
}) {
  return (
    <input 
      value={value} 
      onChange={(e) => onChange(e.target.value)} 
    />
  );
}

// Uncontrolled - internal state (component controls)
function UncontrolledInput() {
  const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
  
  const handleSubmit = () => {
    console.log(inputRef.current?.value);
  };
  
  return (
    <>
      <input ref={inputRef} defaultValue="initial" />
      <button onClick={handleSubmit}>Submit</button>
    </>
  );
}

2. Lifting State Up

// ❌ Duplicated state - siblings can't communicate
function ParentBad() {
  return (
    <>
      <SearchBox /> {/* Has own search state */}
      <ResultsList /> {/* Has own search state */}
    </>
  );
}

// ✅ Shared state in parent
function ParentGood() {
  const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useState('');
  
  return (
    <>
      <SearchBox query={searchQuery} onQueryChange={setSearchQuery} />
      <ResultsList query={searchQuery} />
    </>
  );
}

3. Context for Deep Props

// ❌ Prop drilling - passing through many levels
function App() {
  const [theme, setTheme] = useState('light');
  return <Layout theme={theme} setTheme={setTheme} />;
}

function Layout({ theme, setTheme }) {
  return <Sidebar theme={theme} setTheme={setTheme} />;
}

function Sidebar({ theme, setTheme }) {
  return <ThemeToggle theme={theme} setTheme={setTheme} />;
}

// ✅ Context - direct access at any level
interface ThemeContextValue {
  theme: string;
  setTheme: (theme: string) => void;
}

const ThemeContext = createContext<ThemeContextValue | null>(null);

function ThemeProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  const [theme, setTheme] = useState('light');
  
  return (
    <ThemeContext.Provider value={{ theme, setTheme }}>
      {children}
    </ThemeContext.Provider>
  );
}

function useTheme() {
  const context = useContext(ThemeContext);
  if (!context) throw new Error('useTheme must be inside ThemeProvider');
  return context;
}

// Usage - no prop drilling
function ThemeToggle() {
  const { theme, setTheme } = useTheme();
  
  return (
    <button onClick={() => setTheme(theme === 'light' ? 'dark' : 'light')}>
      Toggle {theme} theme
    </button>
  );
}

Performance Optimization

1. React.memo - Prevent Re-renders

// ❌ Re-renders on every parent render
function ExpensiveComponent({ data }: { data: string }) {
  console.log('Rendering...');
  return <div>{data}</div>;
}

// ✅ Only re-renders when props change
const ExpensiveComponent = memo(function ExpensiveComponent({ 
  data 
}: { 
  data: string 
}) {
  console.log('Rendering...');
  return <div>{data}</div>;
});

// ✅ Custom comparison function
const ExpensiveList = memo(
  function ExpensiveList({ items }: { items: Item[] }) {
    return <ul>{items.map(item => <li key={item.id}>{item.name}</li>)}</ul>;
  },
  (prevProps, nextProps) => {
    // Only re-render if items array length changed
    return prevProps.items.length === nextProps.items.length;
  }
);

2. useMemo - Cache Expensive Calculations

function ProductList({ products, filters }: { products: Product[]; filters: Filters }) {
  // ❌ Recalculates on every render
  const filteredProducts = products.filter(p => matchesFilters(p, filters));
  
  // ✅ Only recalculates when dependencies change
  const filteredProducts = useMemo(() => {
    return products.filter(p => matchesFilters(p, filters));
  }, [products, filters]);
  
  return (
    <div>
      {filteredProducts.map(p => (
        <ProductCard key={p.id} product={p} />
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

3. useCallback - Stable Function References

function Parent() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
  
  // ❌ New function on every render (causes child re-render)
  const handleClick = () => {
    console.log('clicked');
  };
  
  // ✅ Stable function reference
  const handleClick = useCallback(() => {
    console.log('clicked');
  }, []); // No dependencies - never changes
  
  return (
    <>
      <p>{count}</p>
      <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>Increment</button>
      <MemoizedChild onClick={handleClick} />
    </>
  );
}

const MemoizedChild = memo(function Child({ onClick }: { onClick: () => void }) {
  console.log('Child rendering');
  return <button onClick={onClick}>Click me</button>;
});

4. Code Splitting & Lazy Loading

// ✅ Lazy load heavy components
const HeavyChart = lazy(() => import('./HeavyChart'));
const AdminPanel = lazy(() => import('./AdminPanel'));

function App() {
  return (
    <Suspense fallback={<LoadingSpinner />}>
      <Routes>
        <Route path="/dashboard" element={<HeavyChart />} />
        <Route path="/admin" element={<AdminPanel />} />
      </Routes>
    </Suspense>
  );
}

Accessibility Patterns

1. Semantic HTML & ARIA

// ✅ Accessible button
function AccessibleButton({ label, onClick }: { label: string; onClick: () => void }) {
  return (
    <button
      type="button"
      onClick={onClick}
      aria-label={label}
    >
      {label}
    </button>
  );
}

// ✅ Accessible modal
function Modal({ isOpen, onClose, children }: { 
  isOpen: boolean; 
  onClose: () => void; 
  children: React.ReactNode; 
}) {
  useEffect(() => {
    if (isOpen) {
      document.body.style.overflow = 'hidden';
      // Focus trap, ESC key handler, etc.
    }
    return () => {
      document.body.style.overflow = '';
    };
  }, [isOpen]);
  
  if (!isOpen) return null;
  
  return (
    <div
      role="dialog"
      aria-modal="true"
      className="modal-overlay"
      onClick={onClose}
    >
      <div className="modal-content" onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>
        {children}
        <button onClick={onClose} aria-label="Close modal">×</button>
      </div>
    </div>
  );
}

// ✅ Accessible form
function SignupForm() {
  return (
    <form>
      <label htmlFor="email">Email</label>
      <input
        id="email"
        type="email"
        required
        aria-required="true"
        aria-describedby="email-error"
      />
      <span id="email-error" role="alert" className="error">
        Please enter a valid email
      </span>
      
      <button type="submit">Sign Up</button>
    </form>
  );
}

2. Keyboard Navigation

// ✅ Keyboard-accessible dropdown
function Dropdown({ options }: { options: string[] }) {
  const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false);
  const [selectedIndex, setSelectedIndex] = useState(0);
  
  const handleKeyDown = (e: React.KeyboardEvent) => {
    if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') {
      setIsOpen(!isOpen);
    } else if (e.key === 'ArrowDown') {
      setSelectedIndex((i) => Math.min(i + 1, options.length - 1));
    } else if (e.key === 'ArrowUp') {
      setSelectedIndex((i) => Math.max(i - 1, 0));
    } else if (e.key === 'Escape') {
      setIsOpen(false);
    }
  };
  
  return (
    <div
      role="combobox"
      aria-expanded={isOpen}
      aria-controls="dropdown-options"
      tabIndex={0}
      onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
    >
      <button onClick={() => setIsOpen(!isOpen)}>
        Select option
      </button>
      
      {isOpen && (
        <ul id="dropdown-options" role="listbox">
          {options.map((opt, i) => (
            <li
              key={opt}
              role="option"
              aria-selected={i === selectedIndex}
              className={i === selectedIndex ? 'selected' : ''}
            >
              {opt}
            </li>
          ))}
        </ul>
      )}
    </div>
  );
}

Component Design Checklist

Structure:
□ Single responsibility per component
□ Presentational vs container separation
□ Proper props typing (TypeScript)
□ Default props defined
□ Prop validation for critical inputs

State Management:
□ State at lowest necessary level
□ Lifted state when needed for sharing
□ Context for deep prop drilling
□ No prop mutations
□ Controlled components for forms

Performance:
□ memo() for expensive components
□ useMemo() for expensive calculations
□ useCallback() for stable callbacks
□ Code splitting for large components
□ Lazy loading for routes

Accessibility:
□ Semantic HTML elements
□ ARIA labels and roles
□ Keyboard navigation support
□ Focus management
□ Screen reader tested

Reusability:
□ Configurable via props
□ Composable with children
□ No hardcoded values
□ Clear, documented API
□ Example usage provided

Resources

• React Documentation
• React Patterns
• Compound Components
• WAI-ARIA Authoring Practices

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Remember: Great components are simple, reusable, accessible, and performant. Start simple, add complexity only when needed.