Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Use Functional Components and Hooks

3. Clean Folder & Component Structure

4. Keep Components Small and Focused

5. Avoid Prop Drilling – Use Context or State Managers

6. Use Memoization Wisely

7. Write Reusable & Testable Code

8. Lazy Loading and Code Splitting

9. Environment-Based Configs & Variables

10. Use TypeScript with React

11. Accessibility (a11y) and Semantic HTML

12. Conclusion

Introduction

React continues to be a dominant force in the frontend development landscape as of 2025, maintaining its position as a preferred choice for developers around the world. This enduring popularity is largely due to its robust ecosystem and the continuous improvements made by the community and contributors. These enhancements ensure that the methodology for developing React applications is constantly evolving, allowing developers to leverage the latest tools and techniques.

By adhering to best practices, developers can create applications that are not only scalable and high-performing but also maintainable in the long term. These practices include using functional components and hooks, optimizing component rendering, and employing state management solutions like Redux or Context API. Additionally, writing clean and modular code enhances readability, making it easier for team members to understand and contribute to the project. This collaborative approach not only speeds up the development process but also fosters a more productive and harmonious team environment. As React continues to evolve, staying updated with these best practices will be crucial for developers aiming to build efficient and effective applications. Here are 10 React best practices every developer should embrace in 2025.

1. Functional Components and Hooks

• • Class components are outdated.

    • Functional components with hooks provide a cleaner way to manage state and side effects.

    • Example:

        import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
      
        function Counter() {
          const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
      
          useEffect(() => {
            document.title = `Count: ${count}`;
          }, [count]);
      
          return <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>Count: {count}</button>;
        }
      

2. Clean Folder & Component Structure

• • Organize files clearly for better scalability.

    • Example structure:

        src/
        │
        ├── components/
        │   ├── Header/
        │   └── Button/
        │
        ├── hooks/
        ├── pages/
        ├── assets/
        ├── context/
        └── utils/
      

3. Components Small and Focused

• • Avoid large components; each should do one thing well.

    • Example:

        // Bad: Combines multiple responsibilities
        function Dashboard() { ... }
      
        // Good: Split into separate components
        <Header />
        <Stats />
        <UserProfile />
      

4. Avoid Prop Drilling – Use Context or State Managers

• • Prop drilling can become a mess in large apps.

    • Use:

      • React Context API for global data

      • Redux, Zustand, or Jotai for complex state

        const ThemeContext = React.createContext();

        function App() {
          return (
            <ThemeContext.Provider value="dark">
              <Layout />
            </ThemeContext.Provider>
          );
        }

• 5. Use Memoization Wisely

• Prevent unnecessary re-renders using:

  • React.memo for components

  • useMemo and useCallback for functions and values

  •   const MemoizedComponent = React.memo(({ value }) => { ... });
    
      const memoizedValue = useMemo(() => computeExpensiveValue(a, b), [a, b]);
    

6. Write Reusable & Testable Code

Encapsulate logic in custom hooks and break reusable UI into components.

     // Custom hook
function useFetch(url) {
  const [data, setData] = useState(null);
  useEffect(() => {
    fetch(url).then(res => res.json()).then(setData);
  }, [url]);
  return data;
}

Use React Testing Library for unit tests:

import { render, screen } from '@testing-library/react';
render(<MyComponent />);
expect(screen.getByText("Hello")).toBeInTheDocument();

7. Lazy Loading and Code Splitting

Improve performance using React.lazy:

const AboutPage = React.lazy(() => import('./About'));

function App() {
  return (
    <Suspense fallback={<Loader />}>
      <AboutPage />
    </Suspense>
  );
}

8. Environment-Based Configs & Variables

Store secrets safely using .env:

REACT_APP_API_URL=https://api.example.com

Access with process.env.REACT_APP_API_URL.

9. Use TypeScript with React

Avoid runtime bugs by adding types:

interface UserProps {
  name: string;
  age: number;
}

const User: React.FC<UserProps> = ({ name, age }) => (
  <p>{name} is {age} years old.</p>
);

10. Accessibility (a11y) and Semantic HTML

Build inclusive apps:

• Use semantic tags (<nav>, <header>, <main>, etc.)

• Add aria labels where needed

• Use tools like eslint-plugin-jsx-a11y

•   <button aria-label="Close menu">X</button>
  

Conclusion

These 10 practices will make your React apps faster, cleaner, and easier to maintain. Whether you're working on a side project or scaling a large app, following these habits will be beneficial.

What other best practices do you follow? Share them in the comments!

#reactjs #frontend #javascript #webdev #typescript #2025