React Component Patterns

A comprehensive guide to advanced React component patterns using TypeScript and React 19+. Each pattern includes production-ready code examples with full type safety.

1. Compound Components Pattern

Compound components share implicit state through React Context, allowing flexible composition while maintaining a clean API.

Context Setup

tsx

import { createContext, use, useState, type ReactNode } from "react";
 
// Define the shared state shape
interface AccordionContextValue {
  openItems: Set<string>;
  toggle: (id: string) => void;
  multiple: boolean;
}
 
const AccordionContext = createContext<AccordionContextValue | null>(null);
 
function useAccordionContext() {
  const context = use(AccordionContext);
  if (!context) {
    throw new Error(
      "Accordion compound components must be used within <Accordion>"
    );
  }
  return context;
}

Root Component

tsx

interface AccordionProps {
  children: ReactNode;
  multiple?: boolean;
  defaultOpen?: string[];
}
 
function Accordion({ children, multiple = false, defaultOpen = [] }: AccordionProps) {
  const [openItems, setOpenItems] = useState<Set<string>>(
    () => new Set(defaultOpen)
  );
 
  const toggle = (id: string) => {
    setOpenItems((prev) => {
      const next = new Set(prev);
      if (next.has(id)) {
        next.delete(id);
      } else {
        if (!multiple) next.clear();
        next.add(id);
      }
      return next;
    });
  };
 
  return (
    <AccordionContext value={{ openItems, toggle, multiple }}>
      <div className="divide-y divide-border">{children}</div>
    </AccordionContext>
  );
}

Child Components

tsx

interface AccordionItemProps {
  id: string;
  children: ReactNode;
}
 
function AccordionItem({ id, children }: AccordionItemProps) {
  return <div data-accordion-item={id}>{children}</div>;
}
 
interface AccordionTriggerProps {
  id: string;
  children: ReactNode;
}
 
function AccordionTrigger({ id, children }: AccordionTriggerProps) {
  const { openItems, toggle } = useAccordionContext();
  const isOpen = openItems.has(id);
 
  return (
    <button
      onClick={() => toggle(id)}
      aria-expanded={isOpen}
      className="flex w-full items-center justify-between py-4 text-left font-medium"
    >
      {children}
      <ChevronIcon className={isOpen ? "rotate-180" : ""} />
    </button>
  );
}
 
interface AccordionContentProps {
  id: string;
  children: ReactNode;
}
 
function AccordionContent({ id, children }: AccordionContentProps) {
  const { openItems } = useAccordionContext();
  if (!openItems.has(id)) return null;
 
  return (
    <div role="region" className="pb-4 text-muted-foreground">
      {children}
    </div>
  );
}

Attach Subcomponents and Usage

tsx

Accordion.Item = AccordionItem;
Accordion.Trigger = AccordionTrigger;
Accordion.Content = AccordionContent;
 
// Usage
function Demo() {
  return (
    <Accordion multiple defaultOpen={["item-1"]}>
      <Accordion.Item id="item-1">
        <Accordion.Trigger id="item-1">Section One</Accordion.Trigger>
        <Accordion.Content id="item-1">Content for section one.</Accordion.Content>
      </Accordion.Item>
      <Accordion.Item id="item-2">
        <Accordion.Trigger id="item-2">Section Two</Accordion.Trigger>
        <Accordion.Content id="item-2">Content for section two.</Accordion.Content>
      </Accordion.Item>
    </Accordion>
  );
}

2. Render Props Pattern

Render props let the consumer control rendering while the component manages logic. Still useful for headless UI patterns.

tsx

import { useState, useEffect, type ReactNode } from "react";
 
interface FetchResult<T> {
  data: T | null;
  error: Error | null;
  isLoading: boolean;
  refetch: () => void;
}
 
interface DataFetcherProps<T> {
  url: string;
  children: (result: FetchResult<T>) => ReactNode;
}
 
function DataFetcher<T>({ url, children }: DataFetcherProps<T>) {
  const [data, setData] = useState<T | null>(null);
  const [error, setError] = useState<Error | null>(null);
  const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true);
  const [fetchKey, setFetchKey] = useState(0);
 
  useEffect(() => {
    const controller = new AbortController();
    setIsLoading(true);
    setError(null);
 
    fetch(url, { signal: controller.signal })
      .then((res) => {
        if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP ${res.status}`);
        return res.json() as Promise<T>;
      })
      .then(setData)
      .catch((err) => {
        if (err.name !== "AbortError") setError(err);
      })
      .finally(() => setIsLoading(false));
 
    return () => controller.abort();
  }, [url, fetchKey]);
 
  const refetch = () => setFetchKey((k) => k + 1);
 
  return <>{children({ data, error, isLoading, refetch })}</>;
}
 
// Usage
function UserList() {
  return (
    <DataFetcher<User[]> url="/api/users">
      {({ data, error, isLoading, refetch }) => {
        if (isLoading) return <Spinner />;
        if (error) return <ErrorCard error={error} onRetry={refetch} />;
        return (
          <ul>
            {data?.map((user) => (
              <li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>
            ))}
          </ul>
        );
      }}
    </DataFetcher>
  );
}

3. Higher-Order Components (HOCs)

HOCs wrap a component to inject props or behavior. Use sparingly in modern React -- prefer hooks or composition -- but useful for cross-cutting concerns like auth gates.

tsx

import { type ComponentType } from "react";
 
// Generic HOC that injects auth user
interface WithAuthProps {
  user: User;
}
 
function withAuth<P extends WithAuthProps>(
  WrappedComponent: ComponentType<P>
) {
  type OuterProps = Omit<P, keyof WithAuthProps>;
 
  function AuthenticatedComponent(props: OuterProps) {
    const { user, isLoading } = useAuth();
 
    if (isLoading) return <Spinner />;
    if (!user) return <Redirect to="/login" />;
 
    return <WrappedComponent {...(props as P)} user={user} />;
  }
 
  AuthenticatedComponent.displayName = `withAuth(${
    WrappedComponent.displayName || WrappedComponent.name || "Component"
  })`;
 
  return AuthenticatedComponent;
}
 
// Usage
interface DashboardProps extends WithAuthProps {
  title: string;
}
 
function Dashboard({ user, title }: DashboardProps) {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>{title}</h1>
      <p>Welcome, {user.name}</p>
    </div>
  );
}
 
const ProtectedDashboard = withAuth(Dashboard);
// <ProtectedDashboard title="My Dashboard" /> -- user prop injected automatically

HOC for Feature Flags

tsx

function withFeatureFlag<P extends object>(
  WrappedComponent: ComponentType<P>,
  flagName: string,
  Fallback: ComponentType = () => null
) {
  function FeatureFlaggedComponent(props: P) {
    const { isEnabled } = useFeatureFlag(flagName);
    if (!isEnabled) return <Fallback />;
    return <WrappedComponent {...props} />;
  }
 
  FeatureFlaggedComponent.displayName = `withFeatureFlag(${
    WrappedComponent.displayName || WrappedComponent.name
  }, ${flagName})`;
 
  return FeatureFlaggedComponent;
}
 
const NewDashboard = withFeatureFlag(DashboardV2, "new-dashboard", DashboardV1);

4. Polymorphic Components (as Prop Pattern)

Polymorphic components let the consumer choose the rendered HTML element or component while keeping full type safety on the resulting props.

tsx

import {
  type ElementType,
  type ComponentPropsWithoutRef,
  type ReactNode,
  forwardRef,
} from "react";
 
// Utility types
type PolymorphicRef<C extends ElementType> =
  ComponentPropsWithoutRef<C> extends { ref?: infer R } ? R : never;
 
type PolymorphicProps<
  C extends ElementType,
  Props = object,
> = Props & {
  as?: C;
  children?: ReactNode;
} & Omit<ComponentPropsWithoutRef<C>, keyof Props | "as" | "children">;
 
// Polymorphic Button
type ButtonOwnProps = {
  variant?: "primary" | "secondary" | "ghost";
  size?: "sm" | "md" | "lg";
};
 
type ButtonProps<C extends ElementType = "button"> = PolymorphicProps<
  C,
  ButtonOwnProps
>;
 
function Button<C extends ElementType = "button">({
  as,
  variant = "primary",
  size = "md",
  className,
  children,
  ...props
}: ButtonProps<C>) {
  const Component = as || "button";
 
  const sizeClasses = {
    sm: "px-3 py-1.5 text-sm",
    md: "px-4 py-2 text-base",
    lg: "px-6 py-3 text-lg",
  };
 
  const variantClasses = {
    primary: "bg-primary text-primary-foreground hover:bg-primary/90",
    secondary: "bg-secondary text-secondary-foreground hover:bg-secondary/80",
    ghost: "hover:bg-accent hover:text-accent-foreground",
  };
 
  return (
    <Component
      className={`inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md font-medium transition-colors ${variantClasses[variant]} ${sizeClasses[size]} ${className ?? ""}`}
      {...props}
    >
      {children}
    </Component>
  );
}
 
// Usage -- fully typed
<Button>Click me</Button>                          // renders <button>
<Button as="a" href="/about">About</Button>        // renders <a>, href is typed
<Button as={Link} to="/dashboard">Go</Button>      // renders Link, to is typed

5. Controlled vs Uncontrolled Components

Build components that work in both controlled and uncontrolled modes using a single implementation.

tsx

import { useState, useCallback, useRef, type ChangeEvent } from "react";
 
interface UseControllableStateOptions<T> {
  value?: T;
  defaultValue: T;
  onChange?: (value: T) => void;
}
 
function useControllableState<T>({
  value: controlledValue,
  defaultValue,
  onChange,
}: UseControllableStateOptions<T>) {
  const [internalValue, setInternalValue] = useState(defaultValue);
  const isControlled = controlledValue !== undefined;
  const value = isControlled ? controlledValue : internalValue;
 
  const setValue = useCallback(
    (next: T | ((prev: T) => T)) => {
      const nextValue =
        typeof next === "function" ? (next as (prev: T) => T)(value) : next;
      if (!isControlled) setInternalValue(nextValue);
      onChange?.(nextValue);
    },
    [isControlled, value, onChange]
  );
 
  return [value, setValue] as const;
}
 
// Dual-mode Toggle component
interface ToggleProps {
  pressed?: boolean;
  defaultPressed?: boolean;
  onPressedChange?: (pressed: boolean) => void;
  children: ReactNode;
}
 
function Toggle({
  pressed,
  defaultPressed = false,
  onPressedChange,
  children,
}: ToggleProps) {
  const [isPressed, setIsPressed] = useControllableState({
    value: pressed,
    defaultValue: defaultPressed,
    onChange: onPressedChange,
  });
 
  return (
    <button
      role="switch"
      aria-checked={isPressed}
      data-state={isPressed ? "on" : "off"}
      onClick={() => setIsPressed((prev) => !prev)}
      className={isPressed ? "bg-primary text-primary-foreground" : "bg-muted"}
    >
      {children}
    </button>
  );
}
 
// Uncontrolled usage
<Toggle defaultPressed={false} onPressedChange={(v) => console.log(v)}>
  Bold
</Toggle>
 
// Controlled usage
const [bold, setBold] = useState(false);
<Toggle pressed={bold} onPressedChange={setBold}>Bold</Toggle>

6. Forwarding Refs Properly

React 19 supports refs as regular props -- no more forwardRef wrapper needed.

tsx

import { type Ref } from "react";
 
// React 19: ref is just a prop
interface InputProps {
  label: string;
  error?: string;
  ref?: Ref<HTMLInputElement>;
}
 
function Input({ label, error, ref, ...props }: InputProps) {
  return (
    <div className="space-y-1">
      <label className="text-sm font-medium">{label}</label>
      <input
        ref={ref}
        className={`w-full rounded-md border px-3 py-2 ${
          error ? "border-destructive" : "border-input"
        }`}
        aria-invalid={!!error}
        aria-describedby={error ? `${props.id}-error` : undefined}
        {...props}
      />
      {error && (
        <p id={`${props.id}-error`} className="text-sm text-destructive">
          {error}
        </p>
      )}
    </div>
  );
}
 
// Usage -- pass ref directly
function Form() {
  const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
 
  useEffect(() => {
    inputRef.current?.focus();
  }, []);
 
  return <Input ref={inputRef} label="Email" />;
}

Composing Refs

tsx

import { type Ref, useRef, useImperativeHandle } from "react";
 
function useMergeRefs<T>(...refs: (Ref<T> | undefined)[]) {
  return useCallback(
    (instance: T | null) => {
      refs.forEach((ref) => {
        if (typeof ref === "function") {
          ref(instance);
        } else if (ref && typeof ref === "object") {
          (ref as React.MutableRefObject<T | null>).current = instance;
        }
      });
    },
    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
    refs
  );
}
 
interface ResizableTextareaProps {
  ref?: Ref<HTMLTextAreaElement>;
  minRows?: number;
}
 
function ResizableTextarea({ ref, minRows = 3, ...props }: ResizableTextareaProps) {
  const internalRef = useRef<HTMLTextAreaElement>(null);
  const mergedRef = useMergeRefs(ref, internalRef);
 
  const handleInput = () => {
    const el = internalRef.current;
    if (el) {
      el.style.height = "auto";
      el.style.height = `${el.scrollHeight}px`;
    }
  };
 
  return (
    <textarea
      ref={mergedRef}
      rows={minRows}
      onInput={handleInput}
      {...props}
    />
  );
}

7. Component Composition with Slots

The slots pattern gives consumers explicit control over which parts of a component they want to customize.

tsx

import { type ReactNode } from "react";
 
// Slot-based Card
interface CardSlots {
  header?: ReactNode;
  media?: ReactNode;
  footer?: ReactNode;
  actions?: ReactNode;
}
 
interface CardProps extends CardSlots {
  children: ReactNode;
  className?: string;
}
 
function Card({ header, media, footer, actions, children, className }: CardProps) {
  return (
    <div className={`rounded-lg border bg-card shadow-sm ${className ?? ""}`}>
      {media && <div className="overflow-hidden rounded-t-lg">{media}</div>}
      {header && (
        <div className="border-b px-6 py-4">
          {header}
        </div>
      )}
      <div className="px-6 py-4">{children}</div>
      {(footer || actions) && (
        <div className="flex items-center justify-between border-t px-6 py-4">
          <div>{footer}</div>
          <div className="flex gap-2">{actions}</div>
        </div>
      )}
    </div>
  );
}
 
// Usage
<Card
  media={<img src="/hero.jpg" alt="Hero" className="h-48 w-full object-cover" />}
  header={<h3 className="text-lg font-semibold">Card Title</h3>}
  footer={<span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Updated 2 hours ago</span>}
  actions={
    <>
      <Button variant="ghost" size="sm">Cancel</Button>
      <Button size="sm">Save</Button>
    </>
  }
>
  <p>Card body content goes here.</p>
</Card>

Type-Safe Slot Components with Generics

tsx

interface TableSlots<T> {
  header: () => ReactNode;
  row: (item: T, index: number) => ReactNode;
  empty?: () => ReactNode;
  loading?: () => ReactNode;
}
 
interface DataTableProps<T> {
  data: T[];
  isLoading?: boolean;
  slots: TableSlots<T>;
}
 
function DataTable<T>({ data, isLoading, slots }: DataTableProps<T>) {
  if (isLoading && slots.loading) return <>{slots.loading()}</>;
  if (data.length === 0 && slots.empty) return <>{slots.empty()}</>;
 
  return (
    <table className="w-full">
      <thead>{slots.header()}</thead>
      <tbody>
        {data.map((item, index) => slots.row(item, index))}
      </tbody>
    </table>
  );
}
 
// Usage -- T is inferred from data
<DataTable
  data={users}
  isLoading={false}
  slots={{
    header: () => (
      <tr>
        <th>Name</th>
        <th>Email</th>
      </tr>
    ),
    row: (user, i) => (
      <tr key={user.id}>
        <td>{user.name}</td>
        <td>{user.email}</td>
      </tr>
    ),
    empty: () => <p className="py-8 text-center text-muted-foreground">No users found.</p>,
  }}
/>

Summary

Pattern	Best For	Complexity
Compound Components	UI component libraries, multi-part components	Medium
Render Props	Headless components, flexible rendering	Low
HOCs	Cross-cutting concerns (auth, flags, logging)	Medium
Polymorphic Components	Design system primitives	High
Controlled/Uncontrolled	Form elements, toggles, inputs	Medium
Ref Forwarding	Wrapping native elements, imperative APIs	Low
Slots	Highly customizable layouts	Low

Choose the simplest pattern that solves your problem. Prefer composition and hooks over HOCs. Use compound components for complex multi-part UI. Use polymorphic components in design system foundations.

react-component-patterns