react-patterns skill

---
name: react-patterns
description: Use when implementing React 19 features, optimizing components, or choosing between Actions vs TanStack Query for mutations. Covers React Compiler optimization, Server Actions, Forms, and new hooks.
updated: 2026-01-20
keywords: react-19, react-compiler, server-actions, forms, hooks, use-hook, optimistic-updates
---

# React 19 Patterns and Best Practices

Modern React 19 patterns leveraging the React Compiler, Server Actions, and new hooks.

## Compiler-Friendly Code

The React Compiler automatically optimizes components for performance. Write code that works well with it:

**Best Practices:**
- Keep components pure and props serializable
- Derive values during render (don't stash in refs unnecessarily)
- Keep event handlers inline unless they close over large mutable objects
- Verify compiler is working (DevTools ✨ badge)
- Opt-out problematic components with `"use no memo"` while refactoring

**Example - Pure Component:**
```typescript
// ✅ Compiler-friendly - pure function
function UserCard({ user }: { user: User }) {
  const displayName = `${user.firstName} ${user.lastName}`
  const isVIP = user.points > 1000

  return (
    <div>
      <h2>{displayName}</h2>
      {isVIP && <Badge>VIP</Badge>}
    </div>
  )
}

// ❌ Avoid - unnecessary effects
function UserCard({ user }: { user: User }) {
  const [displayName, setDisplayName] = useState('')

  useEffect(() => {
    setDisplayName(`${user.firstName} ${user.lastName}`)
  }, [user])

  return <div><h2>{displayName}</h2></div>
}
```

**Verification:**
- Open React DevTools
- Look for "Memo ✨" badge on components
- If missing, component wasn't optimized (check for violations)

**Opt-Out When Needed:**
```typescript
'use no memo'

// Component code that can't be optimized yet
function ProblematicComponent() {
  // ... code with compiler issues
}
```

## Actions & Forms

For SPA mutations, choose **one approach per feature**:
- **React 19 Actions:** `<form action={fn}>`, `useActionState`, `useOptimistic`
- **TanStack Query:** `useMutation`

Don't duplicate logic between both approaches.

### React 19 Actions (Form-Centric)

**Best for:**
- Form submissions
- Simple CRUD operations
- When you want form validation built-in

**Basic Action:**
```typescript
'use server' // Only if using SSR/RSC, omit for SPA

async function createTodoAction(formData: FormData) {
  const text = formData.get('text') as string

  // Validation
  if (!text || text.length < 3) {
    return { error: 'Text must be at least 3 characters' }
  }

  // API call
  await api.post('/todos', { text })

  // Revalidation happens automatically
  return { success: true }
}

// Component
function TodoForm() {
  return (
    <form action={createTodoAction}>
      <input name="text" required />
      <button type="submit">Add Todo</button>
    </form>
  )
}
```

**With State (useActionState):**
```typescript
import { useActionState } from 'react'

function TodoForm() {
  const [state, formAction, isPending] = useActionState(
    createTodoAction,
    { error: null, success: false }
  )

  return (
    <form action={formAction}>
      {state.error && <ErrorMessage>{state.error}</ErrorMessage>}
      <input name="text" required />
      <button type="submit" disabled={isPending}>
        {isPending ? 'Adding...' : 'Add Todo'}
      </button>
    </form>
  )
}
```

**With Optimistic Updates (useOptimistic):**
```typescript
import { useOptimistic } from 'react'

function TodoList({ initialTodos }: { initialTodos: Todo[] }) {
  const [optimisticTodos, addOptimisticTodo] = useOptimistic(
    initialTodos,
    (state, newTodo: string) => [
      ...state,
      { id: `temp-${Date.now()}`, text: newTodo, completed: false }
    ]
  )

  async function handleSubmit(formData: FormData) {
    const text = formData.get('text') as string
    addOptimisticTodo(text)

    await createTodoAction(formData)
  }

  return (
    <>
      <ul>
        {optimisticTodos.map(todo => (
          <li key={todo.id} style={{ opacity: todo.id.startsWith('temp-') ? 0.5 : 1 }}>
            {todo.text}
          </li>
        ))}
      </ul>
      <form action={handleSubmit}>
        <input name="text" required />
        <button type="submit">Add</button>
      </form>
    </>
  )
}
```

### TanStack Query Mutations (Preferred for SPAs)

**Best for:**
- Non-form mutations (e.g., button clicks)
- Complex optimistic updates with rollback
- Integration with existing Query cache
- More control over caching and invalidation

See **tanstack-query** skill for comprehensive mutation patterns.

**Quick Example:**
```typescript
import { useMutation, useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query'

function useCre

ateTodo() {
  const queryClient = useQueryClient()

  return useMutation({
    mutationFn: (text: string) => api.post('/todos', { text }),
    onSuccess: () => {
      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['todos'] })
    },
  })
}

// Usage
function TodoForm() {
  const createTodo = useCreateTodo()

  return (
    <form onSubmit={(e) => {
      e.preventDefault()
      const formData = new FormData(e.currentTarget)
      createTodo.mutate(formData.get('text') as string)
    }}>
      <input name="text" required />
      <button type="submit" disabled={createTodo.isPending}>
        {createTodo.isPending ? 'Adding...' : 'Add Todo'}
      </button>
    </form>
  )
}
```

## The `use` Hook

The `use` hook unwraps Promises and Context, enabling new patterns.

**With Promises:**
```typescript
import { use, Suspense } from 'react'

function UserProfile({ userPromise }: { userPromise: Promise<User> }) {
  const user = use(userPromise)

  return <div>{user.name}</div>
}

// Usage
function App() {
  const userPromise = fetchUser(1)

  return (
    <Suspense fallback={<Spinner />}>
      <UserProfile userPromise={userPromise} />
    </Suspense>
  )
}
```

**With Context:**
```typescript
import { use, createContext } from 'react'

const ThemeContext = createContext<string>('light')

function Button() {
  const theme = use(ThemeContext)
  return <button className={theme}>Click me</button>
}
```

**When to Use:**
- Primarily useful with Suspense/data primitives and RSC (React Server Components)
- **For SPA-only apps**, prefer **TanStack Query + Router loaders** for data fetching
- `use` shines when you already have a Promise from a parent component

## Component Composition Patterns

**Compound Components:**
```typescript
// ✅ Good - composable, flexible
<Card>
  <Card.Header>
    <Card.Title>Dashboard</Card.Title>
  </Card.Header>
  <Card.Content>
    {/* content */}
  </Card.Content>
</Card>

// Implementation
function Card({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  return <div className="card">{children}</div>
}

Card.Header = function CardHeader({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  return <header className="card-header">{children}</header>
}

Card.Title = function CardTitle({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  return <h2 className="card-title">{children}</h2>
}

Card.Content = function CardContent({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  return <div className="card-content">{children}</div>
}
```

**Render Props (when needed):**
```typescript
function DataLoader<T>({
  fetch,
  render
}: {
  fetch: () => Promise<T>
  render: (data: T) => React.ReactNode
}) {
  const { data } = useQuery({ queryKey: ['data'], queryFn: fetch })

  if (!data) return <Spinner />

  return <>{render(data)}</>
}

// Usage
<DataLoader
  fetch={() => fetchUser(1)}
  render={(user) => <UserCard user={user} />}
/>
```

## Error Boundaries

React 19 still requires class components for error boundaries (or use a library):

```typescript
import { Component, ReactNode } from 'react'

class ErrorBoundary extends Component<
  { children: ReactNode; fallback: ReactNode },
  { hasError: boolean }
> {
  state = { hasError: false }

  static getDerivedStateFromError() {
    return { hasError: true }
  }

  componentDidCatch(error: Error, info: { componentStack: string }) {
    console.error('Error caught:', error, info)
  }

  render() {
    if (this.state.hasError) {
      return this.props.fallback
    }

    return this.props.children
  }
}

// Usage
<ErrorBoundary fallback={<ErrorFallback />}>
  <App />
</ErrorBoundary>
```

**Or use react-error-boundary library:**
```typescript
import { ErrorBoundary } from 'react-error-boundary'

<ErrorBoundary
  fallback={<div>Something went wrong</div>}
  onError={(error, info) => console.error(error, info)}
>
  <App />
</ErrorBoundary>
```

## Decision Guide: Actions vs Query Mutations

| Scenario | Recommendation |
|----------|---------------|
| Form submission with validation | React Actions |
| Button click mutation | TanStack Query |
| Needs optimistic updates + rollback | TanStack Query |
| Integrates with existing cache | TanStack Query |
| SSR/RSC application | React Actions |
| SPA with complex data flow | TanStack Query |
| Simple CRUD with forms | React Actions |

**Rule of Thumb:** For SPAs with TanStack Query already in use, prefer Query mutations for consistency. Only use Actions for form-heavy features where the form-centric API is beneficial.

## Related Skills

- **tanstack-query** - Server state with mutations and optimistic updates
- **core-principles** - Overall project structure
- **tooling-setup** - React Compiler configuration