React Hooks Best Practices
Version 1.0.0
siberiacancode
August 2026
Note:
This document is optimized for agents and LLMs writing React application code with hooks, creating custom hooks, and reviewing hook behavior. It groups guidance by DX, optimization, and logic.
Abstract
React hooks best practices for using hooks in React applications and designing custom hooks across DX, optimization, and logic. Use it for component hook usage, custom hook design, hook API review, feature-logic extraction, and hook correctness/performance checks.
Table of Contents
1. DX
1.1 Extract complex feature logic into hooks
When a component owns complex feature logic, move that logic into a custom hook. This applies to forms, modals, mutations, routing, persistence, selected entities, derived values, and action handlers, even when there are no browser subscriptions.
Do not extract just to make a file shorter. Extract a cohesive feature scenario and expose a clear contract. Name the hook use + component/feature name, and name params types Use + component/feature name + Params, for example useCreateRoomForm and UseCreateRoomFormParams.
Prefer grouped returns such as form, state, functions, refs, and features; add domain-specific groups only when they make the component easier to read.
The component should read like UI composition. The hook should read like the feature controller.
2. Optimization
2.1 Watch mode for hot updates
For hooks that listen to hot external sources like mouse movement, scroll, observers, timers, or device sensors, do not force every update through React state. Keep the default path as callback + snapshot, and expose watch() as an explicit opt-in for components that actually render the value.
Use the callback path for imperative side effects such as CSS variables, canvas drawing, analytics, or DOM measurements. Throttling, debouncing, and requestAnimationFrame are consumer-side composition, not options baked into the primitive hook.
Only call watch() at the usage site when JSX needs the live value. One hook should support both modes: zero-render imperative usage by default, reactive rendering only when the consumer asks for it.
3. Logic
Rules coming soon.