5 React Hooks Patterns That Transformed My Codebase

React Hooks revolutionized how we write components, but mastering them takes more than just useState and useEffect. Over time, I discovered patterns that completely transformed my codebase—making it cleaner, more reusable, and easier to maintain. Here are my top 5:

1. Custom Hooks: Encapsulate Logic Like a Pro
Custom hooks are a game-changer. Instead of duplicating logic across components, I extracted it into reusable hooks. For example, I created a useFetch hook to handle API calls. Now, fetching data is as simple as:

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const { data, loading, error } = useFetch('/api/data');
This keeps components focused and logic centralized.

2. Context + useReducer: State Management Made Simple
For global state, I combined useContext with useReducer. This duo replaces Redux for smaller apps. I created a store context and a reducer to manage complex state transitions. Now, any component can access or update state without prop drilling.

3. useEffect Best Practices: Avoid the Pitfalls
useEffect can be tricky. I learned to always specify dependencies and clean up side effects (like subscriptions or timers) to prevent memory leaks. For example:

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useEffect(() => {
  const timer = setInterval(() => {}, 1000);
  return () => clearInterval(timer);
}, []);
4. useMemo and useCallback: Optimize Expensive Operations
To avoid unnecessary re-renders, I started using useMemo for costly computations and useCallback for stable function references. This keeps performance snappy, especially in large apps.

5. Compound Components with Hooks: Build Flexible UIs
I used hooks to create compound components (e.g., a Tabs component with useTabs). This pattern makes APIs more intuitive and components more composable.

These patterns didn’t just clean up my code—they made it more powerful and maintainable. What’s your favorite React Hooks pattern? Let’s geek out in the comments! 🚀