State Management

When to use this skill

• Global State Required: Multiple components share the same data
• Props Drilling Problem: Passing props through 5+ levels
• Complex State Logic: Authentication, shopping cart, themes, etc.
• State Synchronization: Sync server data with client state

Instructions

Step 1: Determine State Scope

Distinguish between local and global state.

Decision Criteria:

• Local State: Used only within a single component

  • Form input values, toggle states, dropdown open/close
  • Use useState, useReducer

• Global State: Shared across multiple components

  • User authentication, shopping cart, theme, language settings
  • Use Context API, Redux, Zustand

Example:

// ✅ Local state (single component)
function SearchBox() {
  const [query, setQuery] = useState('');
  const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(false);

  return (
    <div>
      <input
        value={query}
        onChange={(e) => setQuery(e.target.value)}
        onFocus={() => setIsOpen(true)}
      />
      {isOpen && <SearchResults query={query} />}
    </div>
  );
}

// ✅ Global state (multiple components)
// User authentication info is used in Header, Profile, Settings, etc.
const { user, logout } = useAuth();  // Context or Zustand

Step 2: React Context API (Simple Global State)

Suitable for lightweight global state management.

Example (Authentication Context):

// contexts/AuthContext.tsx
import { createContext, useContext, useState, ReactNode } from 'react';

interface User {
  id: string;
  email: string;
  name: string;
}

interface AuthContextType {
  user: User | null;
  login: (email: string, password: string) => Promise<void>;
  logout: () => void;
  isAuthenticated: boolean;
}

const AuthContext = createContext<AuthContextType | undefined>(undefined);

export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
  const [user, setUser] = useState<User | null>(null);

  const login = async (email: string, password: string) => {
    const response = await fetch('/api/auth/login', {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
      body: JSON.stringify({ email, password })
    });

    const data = await response.json();
    setUser(data.user);
    localStorage.setItem('token', data.token);
  };

  const logout = () => {
    setUser(null);
    localStorage.removeItem('token');
  };

  return (
    <AuthContext.Provider value={{
      user,
      login,
      logout,
      isAuthenticated: !!user
    }}>
      {children}
    </AuthContext.Provider>
  );
}

// Custom hook
export function useAuth() {
  const context = useContext(AuthContext);
  if (!context) {
    throw new Error('useAuth must be used within AuthProvider');
  }
  return context;
}

Usage:

// App.tsx
function App() {
  return (
    <AuthProvider>
      <Router>
        <Header />
        <Routes />
      </Router>
    </AuthProvider>
  );
}

// Header.tsx
function Header() {
  const { user, logout, isAuthenticated } = useAuth();

  return (
    <header>