Roadmap: State and Data Flow for a React UI
A roadmap for the third phase of a React UI build, handling state and data flow across screens.
Roadmap: State and Data Flow for a React UI
The third phase of a React UI build is state and data flow. Here is a roadmap for this phase.
Step 1: Identify What State You Have
List the state in your app: local UI flags, shared user state, server data. Categorizing tells you which tool suits each.
Step 2: Keep Local State Local
State used by one component stays in useState. A modal flag or a form input is local; do not lift it unnecessarily.
Step 3: Lift Shared State to a Common Parent
When siblings need the same data, lift it to their common parent. Lift only what is genuinely shared.
Step 4: Use Context for Widely-Shared State
Put auth, theme, and other widely-shared, rarely-changed state in Context. Split Contexts by change rate to avoid unnecessary re-renders.
Step 5: Handle Server State With React Query
For fetched data, use React Query or RTK Query to handle caching, invalidation, and loading. Do not treat server data like local state.
Step 6: Pass Data Between Screens
Use URL parameters for identity, query parameters for filters, Link state for one-time transitions, and server fetches for large data. Persistence dictates the pattern.
Step 7: Keep One Source of Truth
Each piece of data has one owner. Do not copy props into state or duplicate across stores. This prevents sync bugs as the app grows.
The Takeaway
For state and data flow in a React UI: identify the state, keep local state local, lift shared state to a common parent, use Context for widely-shared data, handle server state with React Query, pass data between screens appropriately, and keep one source of truth.
State and data flow: identify the state, keep local state local, lift shared state to a common parent, use Context for widely-shared data, handle server state with React Query, pass data between screens appropriately, and keep one source of truth.
Because categorizing tells you which tool suits each. Local UI flags use useState, widely-shared state uses Context, and fetched data uses React Query. Without categorizing, you risk putting everything in one tool and creating re-renders or sync bugs.
After you have local state working and see what is genuinely shared. Put auth, theme, and other widely-shared, rarely-changed state in Context, and split Contexts by change rate to avoid unnecessary re-renders.
To handle server state properly: caching, invalidation, and loading states. Treating fetched data like local state means you write more boilerplate and miss these features. React Query removes most of that work.
Use URL parameters for identity, query parameters for filters, Link state for one-time transitions, and server fetches for large data. The question of whether data should survive a reload dictates the pattern.
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