React Composition Patterns

Composition patterns for building flexible, maintainable React components. Avoid boolean prop proliferation by using compound components, lifting state, and composing internals. These patterns make codebases easier for both humans and AI agents to work with as they scale.

When NOT to Use

Skip these patterns when: fewer than 3 props, simple variants, or single-use components.

When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:

• Refactoring components with many boolean props
• Building reusable component libraries
• Designing flexible component APIs
• Reviewing component architecture
• Working with compound components or context providers

Rule Categories by Priority

Quick Reference

1. Component Architecture (HIGH)

• Avoid boolean props — Don't add boolean props like isThread, isEditing, isDMThread to customize behavior. Each boolean doubles possible states. Use composition instead — see references/architecture-avoid-boolean-props.md
• Compound components — Structure complex components with shared context so each subcomponent accesses state via context, not props — see references/architecture-compound-components.md

2. State Management (MEDIUM)

• Decouple implementation — Provider is the only place that knows how state is managed — see references/state-decouple-implementation.md
• Context interface — Define generic interface with state, actions, meta for dependency injection — see references/state-context-interface.md
• Lift state — Move state into provider components for sibling access — see references/state-lift-state.md

3. Implementation Patterns (MEDIUM)

• Explicit variants — Create explicit variant components instead of boolean modes — see references/patterns-explicit-variants.md
• Children over render props — Use children for composition instead of renderX props — see references/patterns-children-over-render-props.md

4. React 19 APIs (MEDIUM)

React 19+ only. Skip this section if using React 18 or earlier.

• No forwardRef — Don't use forwardRef; pass ref as a regular prop. Use use() instead of useContext() — see references/react19-no-forwardref.md