Making Smart React Component Decisions: A Practical Guide

Choosing the right type of React component and pattern is crucial for building maintainable, performant, and accessible UIs. This guide walks you through the decision-making process, using a visual chart to help you select the best approach for each scenario.

Visualizing Component Decisions

graph TD A[Component Decision] --> B{Simple UI Only?} B -->|Yes| C[Presentational Component: Pure UI, Props Only] C --> C1[Best Practice: Semantic HTML, ARIA for Accessibility] C --> C2[Pattern: Compound Components for Flexible UIs] C --> C3[Performance: React.memo if Stable] B -->|No| D{State Needed?} D -->|No| E[Stateless Functional Component] E --> E1[Hooks: useEffect for Side Effects] E --> E2[Pattern: Render Props for Dynamic Rendering] D -->|Yes| F{Simple State?} F -->|Yes| G[useState: Local State Management] G --> G1[Best Practice: TypeScript for Props/State] G --> G2[Performance: useMemo/useCallback if Needed] F -->|No| H[useReducer: Complex/Nested State] H --> H1[Pattern: Custom Hook for Reusable Logic] H --> H2[Global State? Use Context/Provider] A --> I{Error Handling?} I -->|Yes| J[Class Component: Error Boundaries with componentDidCatch] A --> K{Performance Concerns?} K -->|Yes| L[Virtualization: react-window for Large Lists] K -->|Yes| M[Lazy Loading: React.lazy + Suspense] A --> N{Accessibility Required?} N -->|Always| O[Semantic HTML, ARIA Roles, Keyboard Nav, Testing with axe/Lighthouse]

How to Approach Component Decisions

React offers several ways to build components, each suited for different needs. Use the chart above to guide your choices:

1. Is Your Component Pure UI?

If your component only displays data and doesn't manage state, use a Presentational Component. Focus on semantic HTML and ARIA attributes for accessibility. For flexible UIs, consider the Compound Component pattern. Use React.memo for performance if props are stable.

2. Does Your Component Need State?

No State: Use a Stateless Functional Component. Add hooks like useEffect for side effects, and use the Render Props pattern for dynamic rendering.
Simple State: Use useState for local state. Type your props and state with TypeScript for safety. Optimize with useMemo and useCallback if needed.
Complex/Nested State: Use useReducer for managing complex state logic. Extract reusable logic into Custom Hooks. For global state, use React's Context and Provider pattern.

3. Error Handling

If you need error boundaries, use a Class Component with componentDidCatch.

4. Performance Concerns

For large lists, use virtualization libraries like react-window. For code splitting and faster load times, use lazy loading with React.lazy and Suspense.

5. Accessibility

Accessibility should always be a priority. Use semantic HTML, ARIA roles, keyboard navigation, and test with tools like axe or Lighthouse.

Summary

By following this decision chart, you can select the right component type and pattern for any situation, ensuring your React apps are maintainable, performant, and accessible.

Originally posted on January 20, 2023. This guide is based on modern React best practices and component architecture.