/frontend-dev-guidelines

Component Patterns

Modern React component architecture for the application emphasizing type safety, lazy loading, and Suspense boundaries.

React.FC Pattern (PREFERRED)

Why React.FC

All components use the React.FC<Props> pattern for:

• Explicit type safety for props
• Consistent component signatures
• Clear prop interface documentation
• Better IDE autocomplete

Basic Pattern

import React from 'react';

interface MyComponentProps {
    /** User ID to display */
    userId: number;
    /** Optional callback when action occurs */
    onAction?: () => void;
}

export const MyComponent: React.FC<MyComponentProps> = ({ userId, onAction }) => {
    return (
        <div>
            User: {userId}
        </div>
    );
};

export default MyComponent;

Key Points:

• Props interface defined separately with JSDoc comments
• React.FC<Props> provides type safety
• Destructure props in parameters
• Default export at bottom

Lazy Loading Pattern

When to Lazy Load

Lazy load components that are:

• Heavy (DataGrid, charts, rich text editors)
• Route-level components
• Modal/dialog content (not shown initially)
• Below-the-fold content

How to Lazy Load

import React from 'react';

// Lazy load heavy component
const PostDataGrid = React.lazy(() =>
    import('./grids/PostDataGrid')
);

// For named exports
const MyComponent = React.lazy(() =>
    import('./MyComponent').then(module => ({
        default: module.MyComponent
    }))
);

Example from PostTable.tsx:

/**
 * Main post table container component
 */
import React, { useState, useCallback } from 'react';
import { Box, Paper } from '@mui/material';

// Lazy load PostDataGrid to optimize bundle size
const PostDataGrid = React.lazy(() => import('./grids/PostDataGrid'));

import { SuspenseLoader } from '~components/SuspenseLoader';

export const PostTable: React.FC<PostTableProps> = ({ formId }) => {
    return (
        <Box>
            <SuspenseLoader>
                <PostDataGrid formId={formId} />
            </SuspenseLoader>
        </Box>
    );
};

export default PostTable;

Suspense Boundaries

SuspenseLoader Component

Import:

import { SuspenseLoader } from '~components/SuspenseLoader';
// Or
import { SuspenseLoader } from '@/components/SuspenseLoader';

Usage:

<SuspenseLoader>
    <LazyLoadedComponent />
</SuspenseLoader>

What it does:

• Shows loading indicator while lazy component loads
• Smooth fade-in animation
• Consistent loading experience
• Prevents layout shift

Where to Place Suspense Boundaries

Route Level:

// routes/my-route/index.tsx
const MyPage = lazy(() => import('@/features/my-feature/components/MyPage'));

function Route() {
    return (
        <SuspenseLoader>
            <MyPage />
        </SuspenseLoader>
    );
}

Component Level:

function ParentComponent() {
    return (
        <Box>
            <Header />
            <SuspenseLoader>
                <HeavyDataGrid />
            </SuspenseLoader>
        </Box>
    );
}

Multiple Boundaries:

function Page() {
    return (
        <Box>
            <SuspenseLoader>
                <HeaderSection />
            </SuspenseLoader>

            <SuspenseLoader>
                <MainContent />
            </SuspenseLoader>

            <SuspenseLoader>
                <Sidebar />
            </SuspenseLoader>
        </Box>
    );
}

Each section loads independently, better UX.

Component Structure Template

Recommended Order

/**
 * Component description
 * What it does, when to use it
 */
import React, { useState, useCallback, useMemo, useEffect } from 'react';
import { Box, Paper, Button } from '@mui/material';
import type { SxProps, Theme } from '@mui/material';
import { useSuspenseQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';

// Feature imports
import { myFeatureApi } from '../api/myFeatureApi';
import type { MyData } from '~types/myData';

// Component imports
import { SuspenseLoader } from '~components/SuspenseLoader';

// Hooks
import { useAuth } from '@/hooks/useAuth';
import { useMuiSnackbar } from '@/hooks/useMuiSnackbar';

// 1. PROPS INTERFACE (with JSDoc)
interface MyComponentProps {
    /** The ID of the entity to display */
    entityId: number;
    /** Optional callback when action completes */
    onComplete?: () => void;
    /** Display mode */
    mode?: 'view' | 'edit';
}

// 2. STYLES (if inline and <100 lines)
const componentStyles: Record<string, SxProps<Theme>> = {
    container: {
        p: 2,
        display: 'flex',
        flexDirection: 'column',
    },
    header: {
        mb: 2,
        display: 'flex',
        justifyContent: 'space-between',
    },
};

// 3. COMPONENT DEFINITION
export const MyComponent: React.FC<MyComponentProps> = ({
    entityId,
    onComplete,
    mode = 'view',
}) => {
    // 4. HOOKS (in this order)
    // - Context hooks first
    const { user } = useAuth();
    const { showSuccess, showError } = useMuiSnackbar();

    // - Data fetching
    const { data } = useSuspenseQuery({
        queryKey: ['myEntity', entityId],
        queryFn: () => myFeatureApi.getEntity(entityId),
    });

    // - Local state
    const [selectedItem, setSelectedItem] = useState<string | null>(null);
    const [isEditing, setIsEditing] = useState(mode === 'edit');

    // - Memoized values
    const filteredData = useMemo(() => {
        return data.filter(item => item.active);
    }, [data]);

    // - Effects
    useEffect(() => {
        // Setup
        return () => {
            // Cleanup
        };
    }, []);

    // 5. EVENT HANDLERS (with useCallback)
    const handleItemSelect = useCallback((itemId: string) => {
        setSelectedItem(itemId);
    }, []);

    const handleSave = useCallback(async () => {
        try {
            await myFeatureApi.updateEntity(entityId, { /* data */ });
            showSuccess('Entity updated successfully');
            onComplete?.();
        } catch (error) {
            showError('Failed to update entity');
        }
    }, [entityId, onComplete, showSuccess, showError]);

    // 6. RENDER
    return (
        <Box sx={componentStyles.container}>
            <Box sx={componentStyles.header}>
                <h2>My Component</h2>
                <Button onClick={handleSave}>Save</Button>
            </Box>

            <Paper sx={{ p: 2 }}>
                {filteredData.map(item => (
                    <div key={item.id}>{item.name}</div>
                ))}
            </Paper>
        </Box>
    );
};

// 7. EXPORT (default export at bottom)
export default MyComponent;

Component Separation

When to Split Components

Split into multiple components when:

• Component exceeds 300 lines
• Multiple distinct responsibilities
• Reusable sections
• Complex nested JSX

Example:

// ❌ AVOID - Monolithic
function MassiveComponent() {
    // 500+ lines
    // Search logic
    // Filter logic
    // Grid logic
    // Action panel logic
}

// ✅ PREFERRED - Modular
function ParentContainer() {
    return (
        <Box>
            <SearchAndFilter onFilter={handleFilter} />
            <DataGrid data={filteredData} />
            <ActionPanel onAction={handleAction} />
        </Box>
    );
}

When to Keep Together

Keep in same file when:

• Component < 200 lines
• Tightly coupled logic
• Not reusable elsewhere
• Simple presentation component

Export Patterns

Named Const + Default Export (PREFERRED)

export const MyComponent: React.FC<Props> = ({ ... }) => {
    // Component logic
};

export default MyComponent;

Why:

• Named export for testing/refactoring
• Default export for lazy loading convenience
• Both options available to consumers

Lazy Loading Named Exports

const MyComponent = React.lazy(() =>
    import('./MyComponent').then(module => ({
        default: module.MyComponent
    }))
);

Component Communication

Props Down, Events Up

// Parent
function Parent() {
    const [selectedId, setSelectedId] = useState<string | null>(null);

    return (
        <Child
            data={data}                    // Props down
            onSelect={setSelectedId}       // Events up
        />
    );
}

// Child
interface ChildProps {
    data: Data[];
    onSelect: (id: string) => void;
}

export const Child: React.FC<ChildProps> = ({ data, onSelect }) => {
    return (
        <div onClick={() => onSelect(data[0].id)}>
            {/* Content */}
        </div>
    );
};

Avoid Prop Drilling

Use context for deep nesting:

// ❌ AVOID - Prop drilling 5+ levels
<A prop={x}>
  <B prop={x}>
    <C prop={x}>
      <D prop={x}>
        <E prop={x} />  // Finally uses it here
      </D>
    </C>
  </B>
</A>

// ✅ PREFERRED - Context or TanStack Query
const MyContext = createContext<MyData | null>(null);

function Provider({ children }) {
    const { data } = useSuspenseQuery({ ... });
    return <MyContext.Provider value={data}>{children}</MyContext.Provider>;
}

function DeepChild() {
    const data = useContext(MyContext);
    // Use data directly
}

Advanced Patterns

Compound Components

// Card.tsx
export const Card: React.FC<CardProps> & {
    Header: typeof CardHeader;
    Body: typeof CardBody;
    Footer: typeof CardFooter;
} = ({ children }) => {
    return <Paper>{children}</Paper>;
};

Card.Header = CardHeader;
Card.Body = CardBody;
Card.Footer = CardFooter;

// Usage
<Card>
    <Card.Header>Title</Card.Header>
    <Card.Body>Content</Card.Body>
    <Card.Footer>Actions</Card.Footer>
</Card>

Render Props (Rare, but useful)

interface DataProviderProps {
    children: (data: Data) => React.ReactNode;
}

export const DataProvider: React.FC<DataProviderProps> = ({ children }) => {
    const { data } = useSuspenseQuery({ ... });
    return <>{children(data)}</>;
};

// Usage
<DataProvider>
    {(data) => <Display data={data} />}
</DataProvider>

Summary

Modern Component Recipe:

1. React.FC<Props> with TypeScript
2. Lazy load if heavy: React.lazy(() => import())
3. Wrap in <SuspenseLoader> for loading
4. Use useSuspenseQuery for data
5. Import aliases (@/, ~types, ~components)
6. Event handlers with useCallback
7. Default export at bottom
8. No early returns for loading states

See Also:

• data-fetching.md - useSuspenseQuery details
• loading-and-error-states.md - Suspense best practices
• complete-examples.md - Full working examples