React Patterns Agent Skill

React 19 Development Patterns

Overview

React 19 patterns for Next.js App Router, Server Actions, optimistic UI, and concurrent features. See Quick Reference for API summary and Examples for copy-paste patterns.

When to Use

• Building React 19 applications with Next.js App Router
• Implementing optimistic UI with useOptimistic or useTransition
• Creating Server Actions with form validation
• Migrating from class components to hooks
• Optimizing concurrent rendering with React Compiler
• Managing complex state with useReducer or custom hooks
• Wrapping async operations in Suspense boundaries

Quick Reference

| Pattern | Hook / API | Use Case |

|---------|-----------|----------|

| Local state | useState | Simple component state |

| Complex state | useReducer | Multi-action state machines |

| Side effects | useEffect | Subscriptions, data fetching |

| Shared state | useContext / createContext | Cross-component data |

| DOM access | useRef | Focus, measurements, timers |

| Performance | useMemo / useCallback | Expensive computations |

| Non-urgent updates | useTransition | Search/filter on large lists |

| Defer expensive UI | useDeferredValue | Stale-while-updating |

| Read resources | use() (React 19) | Promises and context in render |

| Optimistic UI | useOptimistic (React 19) | Instant feedback on mutations |

| Form status | useFormStatus (React 19) | Pending state in child components |

| Form state | useActionState (React 19) | Server action results |

| Auto-memoization | React Compiler | Eliminates manual memo/callback |

Instructions

• Identify Component Type: Determine if Server Component or Client Component is needed
• Select Hooks: Use appropriate hooks for state management and side effects
• Type Props: Define TypeScript interfaces for all component props
• Handle Async: Wrap data-fetching components in Suspense boundaries
• Optimize: Use React Compiler or manual memoization for expensive renders
• Handle Errors: Add ErrorBoundary for graceful error handling
• Validate Server Actions: Define Zod/schema validation, then test:
• Submit invalid inputs → verify rejection
• Submit valid inputs → verify success

Examples

Server Component with Client Interaction

// Server Component (default) — async, fetches data
async function ProductPage({ id }: { id: string }) {
  const product = await db.product.findUnique({ where: { id } });

  return (
    <div>
      <h1>{product.name}</h1>
      <AddToCartButton productId={product.id} />
    </div>
  );
}

// Client Component — handles interactivity
'use client';
function AddToCartButton({ productId }: { productId: string }) {
  const [isPending, startTransition] = useTransition();

  const handleAdd = () => {
    startTransition(async () => {
      await addToCart(productId);
    });
  };

  return (
    <button onClick={handleAdd} disabled={isPending}>
      {isPending ? 'Adding...' : 'Add to Cart'}
    </button>
  );
}

useOptimistic for Instant Feedback

'use client';
import { useOptimistic } from 'react';

function TodoList({ todos, addTodo }: { todos: Todo[]; addTodo: (t: Todo) => Promise<void> }) {
  const [optimisticTodos, addOptimisticTodo] = useOptimistic(
    todos,
    (state, newTodo: Todo) => [...state, { ...newTodo, pending: true }]
  );

  const handleSubmit = async (formData: FormData) => {
    const newTodo = { id: Date.now(), text: formData.get('text') as string };
    addOptimisticTodo(newTodo);  // Immediate UI update
    await addTodo(newTodo);      // Actual backend call
  };

  return (
    <form action={handleSubmit}>
      {optimisticTodos.map(todo => (
        <div key={todo.id} style={{ opacity: todo.pending ? 0.5 : 1 }}>
          {todo.text}
        </div>
      ))}
      <input type="text" name="text" />
      <button type="submit">Add</button>
    </form>
  );
}

Server Action with Form

// app/actions.ts
'use server';
import { z } from 'zod';
import { revalidatePath } from 'next/cache';

const schema = z.object({
  title: z.string().min(5),
  content: z.string().min(10),
});

export async function createPost(prevState: any, formData: FormData) {
  const parsed = schema.safeParse({
    title: formData.get('title'),
    content: formData.get('content'),
  });

  if (!parsed.success) {
    return { errors: parsed.error.flatten().fieldErrors };
  }

  await db.post.create({ data: parsed.data });
  revalidatePath('/posts');
  return { success: true };
}

// app/blog/new/page.tsx
'use client';
import { useActionState } from 'react';
import { createPost } from '../actions';

export default function NewPostPage() {
  const [state, formAction, pending] = useActionState(createPost, {});

  return (
    <form action={formAction}>
      <input name="title" placeholder="Title" />
      {state.errors?.title && <span>{state.errors.title[0]}</span>}
      <textarea name="content" placeholder="Content" />
      <button type="submit" disabled={pending}>
        {pending ? 'Publishing...' : 'Publish'}
      </button>
    </form>
  );
}

Custom Hook

export function useOnlineStatus() {
  const [isOnline, setIsOnline] = useState(true);

  useEffect(() => {
    function handleOnline() { setIsOnline(true); }
    function handleOffline() { setIsOnline(false); }

    window.addEventListener('online', handleOnline);
    window.addEventListener('offline', handleOffline);

    return () => {
      window.removeEventListener('online', handleOnline);
      window.removeEventListener('offline', handleOffline);
    };
  }, []);

  return isOnline;
}

useTransition for Non-Urgent Updates

function SearchableList({ items }: { items: Item[] }) {
  const [query, setQuery] = useState('');
  const [isPending, startTransition] = useTransition();
  const [filteredItems, setFilteredItems] = useState(items);

  const handleChange = (e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
    setQuery(e.target.value);
    startTransition(() => {
      setFilteredItems(items.filter(i => i.name.toLowerCase().includes(e.target.value.toLowerCase())));
    });
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <input value={query} onChange={handleChange} />
      {isPending && <span>Filtering...</span>}
      <ul>{filteredItems.map(i => <li key={i.id}>{i.name}</li>)}</ul>
    </div>
  );
}

Best Practices

Server vs Client Decision

• Start with Server Component (no directive needed)
• Add 'use client' only for: hooks, browser APIs, event handlers

State Management

• Keep state minimal — compute derived values during render, not in effects
• Use useReducer for state with multiple related actions
• Lift state up to the nearest common ancestor

Effects

• Use effects only for external system synchronization
• Always specify correct dependency arrays
• Return cleanup functions for subscriptions and timers
• Never mutate state directly — always create new references

Performance

• With React Compiler: avoid manual useMemo, useCallback, memo
• Without React Compiler: use useMemo for expensive computations, useCallback for stable callbacks
• Use useTransition for low-priority state updates
• Use stable IDs as list keys, not array indices

React 19 Specifics

• Wrap use(promise) components in Suspense boundaries
• Use useActionState for form-server action integration
• Validate Server Action inputs — they are public endpoints
• Pass serializable data from Server to Client Components

Constraints and Warnings

• Server Components: Cannot use hooks, event handlers, or browser APIs
• use() Hook: Can only be called during render, not in callbacks or effects
• Server Actions: Must include 'use server' directive; always validate inputs
• State Mutations: Never mutate state directly — always create new references
• Effect Dependencies: Include all dependencies in useEffect dependency arrays
• Memory Leaks: Always clean up subscriptions and event listeners in useEffect return

References

Consult these files for detailed patterns:

• references/hooks-patterns.md — useState, useEffect, useRef, useReducer, custom hooks, common pitfalls
• references/component-patterns.md — Props, composition, lifting state, context, compound components, error boundaries
• references/react19-features.md — use(), useOptimistic, useFormStatus, useActionState, Server Actions, Server Components, migration guide
• references/performance-patterns.md — React Compiler setup, useMemo, useCallback, useTransition, useDeferredValue, lazy loading
• references/typescript-patterns.md — Typed props, generic components, event handlers, discriminated unions, context typing
• references/learn.md — Progressive learning guide from basics to advanced React 19
• references/reference.md — Complete API reference for all React hooks and component APIs