How to Manage State Across Screens in a React UI App
Managing state across screens gets complex. Here is how to do it cleanly in a React UI app.
How to Manage State Across Screens in a React UI App
As a React UI grows, state spans multiple screens. Here is how to manage it cleanly.
Categorize State
Split state into local UI state, shared user state, and server state. Different categories suit different tools.
Local UI State
State used only by one component stays local, like a modal open flag or a form input. Use useState. Lifting it unnecessarily creates re-renders.
Shared User State
State shared across many distant components, like the logged-in user and theme, goes in Context. It is read by many, changes rarely, and Context is built into React.
Server State
Fetched data is server state. Use React Query or RTK Query to handle caching, invalidation, and loading, instead of treating it like local state.
Lift State When Needed
When siblings need the same state, lift it to their common parent. Do not lift everything to the root; lift only what is genuinely shared.
Keep One Source of Truth
Each piece of data should have one owner. Do not copy props into state or duplicate data across stores. Duplication causes sync bugs.
The Takeaway
Categorize state into local UI, shared user, and server. Use useState for local, Context for shared, and React Query for server state. Lift only what siblings genuinely share, and keep one source of truth.
Categorize state into local UI, shared user, and server. Use useState for local, Context for shared state like auth and theme, and React Query for server state. Lift state to a common parent only when siblings genuinely need it.
In Context. Shared state like the logged-in user and theme is read by many distant components but changes rarely, so Context is sufficient and built into React. Do not put this in local state, which causes prop drilling.
As server state with React Query or RTK Query, which handle caching, invalidation, and loading states. Treating fetched data like local state means you lose these features and write more boilerplate.
When siblings need the same state. Lift it to their common parent. Do not lift everything to the root, which creates a giant root component and unnecessary re-renders across the tree.
Because duplication causes sync bugs. Copying props into state, or storing the same data in multiple places, leads to drift when one updates and another does not. Each piece of data should have one owner.
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