State is the soul of React, especially when it comes to designing a user interface with react components and leveraging react state management libraries .
Every value that changes, every piece of data stored and updated, it's all part of the state. Think of it like handling cash in the context of react state management. You need to keep track of every penny in your pocket. You’re the manager of your wallet, and in React, state management is how that tracking is done.
You don’t just spend blindly. You know how much you have, where it went, and when to add more. That’s exactly how React handles updates to the UI in its various react components. Whenever state changes due to user input, React re-renders the relevant ui components of your app, just like updating your balance after every transaction.
Managing a few states in 2 or 3 different components is totally doable, as long as you understand how to scale it for multiple components. You can count them on your fingers and things are still under control. This is the case in small projects or early-stage ideas, where basic state management is sufficient .
But let’s be real. That’s not always the case!
In large and complex applications, where dozens of components interact, multiple states are shared across different layers of the app, and async data is coming in from APIs, that’s where the real challenge of react state management and react state management libraries begins, often requiring complex state management libraries .
Even seasoned React developers know the pain.
Props drilling, redundant state updates, and inconsistent UI chaos are real when state isn’t managed properly, making state management libraries essential.
React gives us the basics like useState, useReducer, and Context, which are foundational react hooks. But as things scale, you might need more powerful top state management libraries for state management like Redux, Zustand, Jotai, and even the react context api, especially for complex react applications. These help to keep your app organized, clean, and maintainable, especially when you're working in teams or on long term codebases.
Since each type of data serves a different purpose, there are various states to handle different situations. We have curated a list of few-
Local State – Managed inside a component using useState.
Global State – Shared across multiple components using Context or libraries like Redux.
Server State – Data fetched from external APIs, often handled with React Query or SWR.
URL State – Data stored in the URL like query params and route info.
Form State – Manages input values, errors, and touched fields in a form.
Auth State – Tracks user login status, tokens, and access roles.
Theme State – Controls light/dark mode or other UI preferences.
Notification State – Manages toast messages, alerts, and system feedback.
Async State – Represents loading, success, and error states during async tasks.
Derived State – Computed from existing state or props, like filtered or sorted data.
A mutable state is a state that can be changed (or mutated) directly. In React, direct mutation is discouraged because it doesn't trigger re-renders, which is crucial for maintaining observable state .
Example: Doing state.value = 10 instead of using setState() or setValue() can lead to issues with internal state .
Relation: This is more about how observable state is changed, not where it lives (local or global). React encourages using immutable state, following the principle of unidirectional data flow and defining actions where changes result in new copies, ensuring updates are tracked properly, with built in support for such patterns .
State that is managed within a single component can be referred to as react's local state .
Example: useState or useReducer inside a component.
Usage: Best for UI logic like toggles, input values, or modal visibility.
Relation: This is about scope, the state lives and is used locally. It can still be mutable or immutable, depending on how you manage it.
State that is shared across multiple components is crucial for building dynamic user interfaces .
Example: Redux, react context api, Zustand, Recoil, etc.
Usage: Used for things like user authentication, handling network requests user input app themes, shopping cart data, etc.
Relation: Also about scope, but at the application level. You still choose how to manage updates mutably (not ideal) or immutably (recommended).
Props are the lifeline for data flowing downwards in our component hierarchy in the react framework . However, this very mechanism can become a source of inefficiency and code clutter when deeply nested components are involved.
Imagine a scenario where a piece of observable state needs to reach a grandchild component. We might find ourselves reluctantly passing that prop through its direct child, even if that intermediate component has absolutely no use for it. This unnecessary "forwarding" of props, especially during state changes, is precisely what we mean by prop drilling.
This practice not only adds visual noise to our component code but also introduces a degree of rigidity when not using state management libraries . If the structure of our component tree changes, we might need to go back and adjust prop passing even in components that logically shouldn't be affected, unless we utilize context providers . This can become a maintenance headache as our application scales.
Enters the "Context API" and the concept of a tiny state manager ! It offers an elegant solution by establishing centralized state management through a context, a sort of global data reservoir that sits above our component tree. Once we've created a context and placed a Provider at an appropriate level (usually near the top of the component tree where the data originates), any component nestled within that Provider's scope can consume the context's values without needing to receive them through a chain of props.
This direct access eliminates the need for intermediate components to act as mere data channel. Components that genuinely need the data can subscribe to the context and pull it directly, leading to cleaner, more focused components and a more streamlined data flow.
So, while props remain a fundamental mechanism for direct parent-child communication, the Context API provides a strategic bypass for scenarios where data needs to be broadly accessible, allowing us to build more scalable and maintainable React applications by avoiding the pitfalls of prop drilling and utilizing various state management libraries . It's about choosing the right tool for the job, and when it comes to widely needed data in your react project, Context API often emerges as the more optimized and elegant solution to simplify state management .
import React, { createContext, useContext } from 'react';
// Create Context
const InfoContext = createContext(null);
// Provider
const InfoProvider = ({ children, info }) => (
<InfoContext.Provider value={info}>{children}</InfoContext.Provider>
);
// Consumer Component
const DisplayInfo = () => {
const info = useContext(InfoContext);
return <p>Data: {info ? info.value : 'No Info'}</p>;
};
// Intermediate Component (no prop drilling!)
const Middle = () => <DisplayInfo />;
// Parent Component
const Top = () => <Middle />;
// App Component
const App = () => {
const sharedInfo = { value: 'Shared!' };
return (
<InfoProvider value={sharedInfo}>
<Top />
</InfoProvider>
);
};
export default App;In this concise example:
InfoContext is created.
InfoProvider makes the sharedInfo accessible.
DisplayInfo directly consumes the info using useContext.
The Middle component doesn't need to pass any props.
State Management Libraries
React's development team has released a number of state management libraries for React by now that aim to reduce boilerplate code, but we have mentioned the most common libraries and other state management libraries to guide you towards using them in your react app.
Alright, let's revisit those state management libraries one by one:
Redux is a predictable way to manage app-wide state using a centralized store, which can be enhanced by concepts like finite state machines . You send actions to change the state, and reducers decide how those changes happen. Inspired by Facebook's Flux architecture, Redux offers a single source of truth and powerful debugging tools, which makes it a strong choice.
It's especially useful for large applications where full control and advanced debugging are essential, highlighting the importance of selecting the right state management library . However, the setup can feel heavy at times, just that the steep learning curve isn’t as smooth as React.
MobX is another powerful library where state updates automatically reflect in the UI, so you don’t need to track them manually. It’s a strong competitor in the state management space as it requires less code and behaves more like regular JavaScript, something most developers find easy to work with. MobX is considered a simpler alternative to Flux and Redux.
It shines in scenarios where reactivity is key and quick setup is preferred. However, since everything is automated, tracking changes can sometimes be tricky. Ultimately, whether to use it depends on the features your project needs.
Zustand is a lightweight state management library designed and maintained by a small community and is generally not recommended for large, highly complex applications. However, it's extremely lightweight and offers a much simpler setup compared to other libraries. Zustand works great for small to medium-sized projects.
One of its biggest advantages is how easily it facilitates shared state across components without much hassle. It’s a small, fast, and efficient state manager making it a solid choice for simpler applications.
This reactive state management library is built by Facebook and uses tiny state units and computed values called atoms and selectors. It performs exceptionally well when it comes to focused re-rendering and handling asynchronous data. Recoil is best suited for complex react applications that involve a lot of dynamic data and require extendable state management .
While it still has a relatively small and experimental community, it was specifically designed to address performance concerns in large, demanding apps.
Not sure which state management library fits your app best? Our React Development Company can guide you from selection to implementation.
Hookstate is a hooks-based library that keeps state local by default but allows it to be shared when needed. It’s built for developers who truly enjoy working with React Hooks.
Being a purely hooks-driven solution, it’s highly flexible and a great choice for TypeScript users. It’s ideal for those who want modern, hook-based state management without getting bogged down in complex rules. However, as your app grows, you’ll need to stay organized, otherwise, things can get messy.
If this kind of architecture interests you but you’re short on the team or resources to bring your idea to life, incorporating state machines can help streamline the process. You can always connect with us! The ODs (Original Full Stack Developers) are all under one roof at Angular Minds!
Rematch is a cleaner, more developer-friendly version of Redux, similar to other state management libraries that aim to reduce boilerplate code . It hides the boring setup and introduces helpful shortcuts to simplify development, reducing boilerplate code in the process . Built to reduce boilerplate, it retains the power and reliability of Redux while making the experience easier to manage and maintain.
Although it still relies on core Redux concepts, some of the built-in shortcuts might feel limiting in certain situations. Nevertheless, it's an evolving library that continues to improve with time.
Jotai is a minimal state management library inspired by atomic state management principles, so it also uses atoms and selectors, where components re-render only when the atoms they rely on change. It’s known for being simpler and stands out due to its super minimal API and fast performance. Jotai is best suited for apps that need fine-grained control with minimal setup.
However, because it’s very flexible and un-opinionated, you’ll need to design your own structure if you're working on larger, more complex projects.
The following React state management tools are compared to help choose the right library based on key factors such as performance, learning curve, and boilerplate code.
Library | Learning Curve | Boilerplate | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
Redux | Steep | High | Good, but requires optimization to avoid extra re-renders |
Recoil | Moderate | Low | High – fine-grained reactivity and async-friendly |
Hookstate | Easy | Low – plug-and-play style | High – reactive with minimal re-renders |
Zustand | Very Easy | Very Low | Very High – built for performance |
MobX | Moderate | Low | High – reactive and fast |
Rematch | Moderate | Low | Good – depends on Redux but improved |
Jotai | Easy | Smallest setup | Very High – only affected components re-render |
Try to use local state for local UI: Don't use global state for component-specific UI.
Keep State as Simple as possible: Avoid overly complex state structures in your react project .
Memoize for Performance: Prevent unnecessary re-renders.
Minimal Global State: Only store truly shared data globally.
Manage Async in State: Handle loading/error states within your state system
User Interaction
→ The user clicks a button, types in a field, scrolls, etc.
Event Handler Triggers
→ A function like onClick or onChange runs.
State Update
→ That function calls setState() (like setCount()) or dispatches an action (in Redux, for example).
State Changes
→ React updates the state internally.
Component Re-renders
→ React re-renders the component with the new state.
UI Updates Automatically
→ The user sees the updated result in the browser.
The future of state management in React seems to be heading towards frictionless state management, more built-in capabilities, simpler and more performant libraries with a focus on granular state, better handling of asynchronous operations, and potentially less manual optimization needed with advancements in React itself.
Developers will likely have a wider range of specialized and lightweight tools to choose from, allowing them to select the best approach based on their project's specific needs and complexity.
State management, sometimes perceived as a complex topic, is becoming increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of effective state management in building robust and scalable React applications, particularly when utilizing various react components. As React matures and applications become more intricate, the need for effective ways to handle data flow and updates becomes undeniable.
The appreciation for well-designed state management libraries is indeed growing. They offer structure, predictability, and often significant developer experience improvements essential for modern web applications by leveraging pure functions to abstract away the complexities of manual state propagation and updates.
Developers get to focus more on the core logic and UI of their applications, ultimately leading to increased productivity and easier maintenance.
While small projects might initially seem manageable with just local state, understanding the principles of react state management and managing multiple entities alongside complex state logic knowing when and how to leverage more sophisticated tools becomes invaluable as those projects grow or when tackling more complex scenarios.
It's about equipping developers with the right models and tools to handle data effectively, regardless of the application's size.
The future of React development will likely see efforts to simplify state management continue to evolve. The journey towards "par excellence" in web development with the react ecosystem is definitely intertwined with the ongoing refinement and adoption of effective state management strategies. The power lies in the community's ability to learn, share best practices, and build tools that truly simplify and empower developer's lives.
This website uses cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Privacy Policy.
