React 19 specific patterns including React Compiler optimization, Server Actions, Forms, and new hooks. Use when implementing React 19 features, optimizing components, or choosing between Actions vs TanStack Query for mutations.
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name: react-patterns description: React 19 specific patterns including React Compiler optimization, Server Actions, Forms, and new hooks. Use when implementing React 19 features, optimizing components, or choosing between Actions vs TanStack Query for mutations.
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:
// ✅ 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} ${user.lastName}`)
}, [user])
return <div><h2>{displayName}</h2></div>
}
Verification:
- Open React DevTools
- Look for "Memo ✨" badge on components
- If missing, component wasn't optimized (check for violations)
Opt-Out When Needed:
'use no memo'
// Component code that can't be optimized yet
function ProblematicComponent() {
// ... code with compiler issues
}
Actions & Forms
For SPA mutations, choose one approach per feature:
- React 19 Actions:
<form action={fn}>,useActionState,useOptimistic - TanStack Query:
useMutation
Don't duplicate logic between both approaches.
React 19 Actions (Form-Centric)
Best for:
- Form submissions
- Simple CRUD operations
- When you want form validation built-in
Basic Action:
'use server' // Only if using SSR/RSC, omit for SPA
async function createTodoAction(formData: FormData) {
const text = formData.get('text') as string
// Validation
if (!text || text.length < 3) {
return { error: 'Text must be at least 3 characters' }
}
// API call
await api.post('/todos', { text })
// Revalidation happens automatically
return { success: true }
}
// Component
function TodoForm() {
return (
<form action={createTodoAction}>
<input name="text" required />
<button type="submit">Add Todo</button>
</form>
)
}
With State (useActionState):
import { useActionState } from 'react'
function TodoForm() {
const [state, formAction, isPending] = useActionState(
createTodoAction,
{ error: null, success: false }
)
return (
<form action={formAction}>
{state.error && <ErrorMessage>{state.error}</ErrorMessage>}
<input name="text" required />
<button type="submit" disabled={isPending}>
{isPending ? 'Adding...' : 'Add Todo'}
</button>
</form>
)
}
With Optimistic Updates (useOptimistic):
import { useOptimistic } from 'react'
function TodoList({ initialTodos }: { initialTodos: Todo[] }) {
const [optimisticTodos, addOptimisticTodo] = useOptimistic(
initialTodos,
(state, newTodo: string) => [
...state,
{ id: `temp-${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:
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:
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:
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
useshines when you already have a Promise from a parent component
Component Composition Patterns
Compound Components:
// ✅ 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):
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):
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:
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
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