Props vs Context-Api vs Redux-tolkit vs Zustand

Description: All of these are used for state management in React.js applications. In this blog, I’ve explained each state management tool, discussed which one is best, why it is best, and when to use which one based on different situations.

Topics covered in this blog are:

• What is Props?

• What is Context API?

• What is Redux Toolkit?

• What is Zustand?

• Difference between all of these

• Which one is best and why

• Conclusion

📌 What Are Props in React?

• Props (short for properties) are a way to pass data from one component to another in React.

• I like to think of them as giving your component a "backpack." You put some data in the backpack (the props) and then hand it to a child component. That child component can then look inside the backpack and use the data.

• The biggest takeaway for me was that props flow downwards, from a parent component to a child component. You can't pass props from a child to a parent. It's a one-way street!

When to use props:

• When a component only needs to receive data from its immediate parent.

• For simple, component-specific data like a user's name or a post's title.

Why you might avoid them:

• When you have a deep component tree. This leads to "prop drilling," where you have to pass props through many layers of components that don't even need the data, just to get it to the one component that does. This is where state management solutions come in.

• Example:

    // Parent Component
    function Parent() {
      const name = "Alice";
      return <Child name={name} />;
    }
  
    // Child Component
    function Child(props) {
      return <h1>Hello, {props.name}!</h1>;
    }
  

✅ Why We Need State Management Tools

• When your app gets bigger, managing data using just props becomes difficult. You may want multiple components to:

  • Share login info

  • Show/hide modals

  • Track cart items (in e-commerce apps)

  • Handle theme switching (dark/light)

To manage such shared and changing data easily, we use state management tools like:

• Context API

• Redux Toolkit

• Zustand

📌 What is Context API?

Definition: The Context API is a built-in feature in React that allows you to share state or data across components without manually passing props at every level.

After struggling with prop drilling, I learned about the Context API. It was a game-changer. I think of Context as a "global bulletin board" for your application. You post some data on the board (create a Context), and any component that wants to see that data can just "subscribe" to the board and read it, no matter where it is in the component tree.

This completely solved the prop drilling problem! It allows you to share state across your entire application without passing it through every single component.

When to use Context API:

• For data that is considered "global" to your app, like the current theme (light/dark mode) or the logged-in user.

• When you need a simple solution for managing global state without adding a heavy third-party library.

Why you might avoid it:

• If you have very frequent state updates, Context can cause performance issues because every component subscribed to the context will re-render, even if it doesn't need the updated data.

📌 There a different way to used Context API:

🔹 Method 1: Separate Context and Provider Files (Recommended for larger projects for better separation of concerns.)

• Step 1: Initialize a React application.

• Step 2: Create a Context folder inside src.

• Step 3: Create a context file (e.g., UserContext.js)

    import React from "react";
    const UserContext = React.createContext();
    export default UserContext;
  

• Step 4: Create a provider file (e.g., UserContextProvider.jsx)

import React, { useState } from "react";
import UserContext from "./UserContext";

const UserContextProvider = ({ children }) => {
  const [user, setUser] = useState(null);
  return (
    <UserContext.Provider value={{ user, setUser }}>
      {children}
    </UserContext.Provider>
  );
};

export default UserContextProvider;

• Step 5: Wrap App.jsx with the provider.

import Login from "./components/Login";
import Profile from "./components/Profile";
import UserContextProvider from "./context/UserContextProvider";

const App = () => {
  return (
    <UserContextProvider>
      <Login />
      <Profile />
    </UserContextProvider>
  );
};

export default App;

✅ Pros:

• Clean separation of context logic and provider.

• Easier to scale for complex state management.

🔹 Method 2: Single File for Context + Provider + Custom Hook (Good for smaller projects or quick setups.)

• Step 1: Initialize a React application.

• Step 2: Create a Context folder inside src.

• Step 3: Define context, provider, and custom hook in one file (e.g., ThemeContext.js)

    import { createContext, useContext } from "react";
  
    // Ham 'createContext' ke andr value bhi pass kar sakte hai, state bhi pass kar sakte hai and function() bhi pas kar sakte hai
    export const ThemeContext = createContext({
        themeMode: "light",
        darkTheme: ()=>{},
        lightTheme: ()=>{}
    })
  
    export const ThemeProvider = ThemeContext.Provider;
  
    // Ham custom hook bhi create kar sakte hai
    export default function useTheme(){
        return useContext(ThemeContext);
    }
  

  • Step 4: Wrap App.jsx and use the provider.

    import React, { useEffect, useState } from "react";
    import Card from "./components/Card";
    import ThemeBtn from "./components/ThemeBtn";
    import { ThemeProvider } from "./context/ToggelContext.js";
    const App = () => {
      const [themeMode, setThemeMode] = useState("light");
      const lightTheme = ()=>{
        setThemeMode("light")
      }
      const darkTheme = ()=>{
        setThemeMode("dark")
      }

      useEffect(()=>{
        document.querySelector('html').classList.remove("light","dark")
        document.querySelector('html').classList.add(themeMode)
      },[themeMode])


      return (
        <ThemeProvider value={{themeMode, lightTheme, darkTheme}}>  
            <ThemeBtn />    
            <Card />
        </ThemeProvider>
      );
    };

    export default App;

✅ Pros:

• Everything in one file (compact and quick to set up).

• Custom hook (useTheme) simplifies consumption.

🔹 Which One Should You Choose?

• Use Method 1 if your project is large or state logic is complex.

• Use Method 2 for smaller apps or when you prefer a single-file approach.

📌 What is Redux Toolkit?

Definition: Redux gives you a central store where you keep your app’s data. Components can access or update this store using actions and reducers.

Redux was one of the most intimidating things I encountered at first. There were so many files and so much boilerplate code. But once I got a handle on the core concepts, it started to make sense. Redux Toolkit is the modern, simpler way to use Redux. It handles a lot of the confusing parts for you.

I think of Redux Toolkit as a centralized "control center" for your app's state. All the data is stored in one single place, called the "store." Components don't change the state directly; instead, they send a request (an "action"). A specialized function ("reducer") then takes the action and the current state and returns a brand new state.

This is a great approach for complex applications because it makes state changes predictable and easy to debug.

When to use Redux Toolkit:

• For large, complex applications with a lot of shared state.

• When you need a predictable state container with powerful debugging tools.

Why you might avoid it:

• For smaller, simpler applications, Redux can be overkill. It adds a good amount of code and concepts that you might not need.

Boilerplate:

// store.js
import { configureStore, createSlice } from '@reduxjs/toolkit';

const counterSlice = createSlice({
  name: 'counter',
  initialState: { value: 0 },
  reducers: {
    increment: (state) => {
      state.value += 1;
    },
    decrement: (state) => {
      state.value -= 1;
    },
  },
});

export const { increment, decrement } = counterSlice.actions;

export const store = configureStore({
  reducer: {
    counter: counterSlice.reducer,
  },
});

📌 What is Zustand?

Definition: It’s a small, lightweight state management library that feels like hooks + magic. No boilerplate, no reducers, just simple functions.

After feeling overwhelmed by Redux' s setup, I stumbled upon Zustand. It was a breath of fresh air. Zustand is a small, fast, and simple state management library. I think of Zustand as a "global state hook." It allows you to create a store that you can then just use in your components like a regular React hook.

The best part? It's incredibly minimal. You don't need providers or a bunch of boilerplate. It's just a few lines of code to set up a store, and you can access and update the state anywhere in your app.

When to use Zustand:

• When you need a simple and lightweight solution for global state.

• For projects where Context API might be too slow due to frequent updates.

• When you want a Redux-like experience without the boilerplate.

Why you might avoid it:

• It might lack some of the advanced features and middleware that a library like Redux offers. However, for most use cases, this isn't an issue.

Boilerplate:

import create from 'zustand';

// Create your store
const useCounterStore = create((set) => ({
  count: 0,
  increment: () => set((state) => ({ count: state.count + 1 })),
  decrement: () => set((state) => ({ count: state.count - 1 })),
}));

// Use it in your component
function Counter() {
  const count = useCounterStore((state) => state.count);
  const { increment, decrement } = useCounterStore();
  return (
    <div>
      <span>{count}</span>
      <button onClick={increment}>+</button>
      <button onClick={decrement}>-</button>
    </div>
  );
}

Difference between all of these

• Props: Ideal for passing data from parent to child. The simplest method, but suffers from prop drilling in complex applications.

• Context API: A built-in React solution for managing global state. It's great for simple use cases but can have performance issues with frequent updates.

• Redux Toolkit: The most robust and feature-rich option. It's perfect for large, complex apps where you need a predictable state and powerful debugging tools. It has a steeper learning curve and more boilerplate.

• Zustand: A modern, minimal, and performant alternative. It gives you the power of a centralized store with the simplicity of a React hook.

Feature	Props	Context API	Redux Toolkit	Zustand
Best For	Component-to-component data	App-wide "global" data	Large, complex apps	Simple global state
Learning Curve	Very easy	Easy	Moderate to steep	Easy
Boilerplate	Low	Low to Moderate	High	Very low
Performance	High	Can be slow	High	High

Which one is best and why?

• This is the golden question, and the answer is: it depends on your project.

There is no single "best" solution. Here's how I think about it now:

1. Start with Props: Always. If your app is simple and props can handle the data flow, don't over-engineer it.

2. Move to Context: If you start running into prop drilling, the Context API is a great next step. It's built into React and simple to use for things like themes or user authentication.

3. Consider Zustand: If you need more power than Context but don't want the complexity of Redux, Zustand is an amazing choice. It's lightweight and easy to integrate, and it will likely be sufficient for most of your projects.

4. Go to Redux Toolkit: If you are working on a massive application with complex, frequently changing state, and you need a centralized, predictable state container with advanced debugging capabilities, then Redux Toolkit is the way to go.

---

Conclusion

Learning React state management felt like climbing a mountain. It was tough at first, and I got lost a few times. But once I reached the top, the view was incredible. The key is to start with the simplest solution and only add complexity when your project truly demands it. Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works for you. You've got this! Happy coding! 🚀