Renderprops vs Custom Hooks: Which one to use?

Introduction

React Hooks have revolutionized the way we write React components. They provide a way to reuse stateful logic across components, making our code more modular and easier to maintain. Two of the most commonly used techniques for reusing logic in React are renderprops and custom hooks. In this post, we'll explore the differences between renderprops and custom hooks, and when to use each one.

Renderprops

Renderprops is a technique where a component accepts a function as a prop, which it then calls and passes some data to it. The function then returns some JSX, which the component renders. The main advantage of using renderprops is that it allows for a lot of flexibility in the way that data is passed between components. It's also a great way to share stateful logic between components without needing to use Redux or other state management libraries.

For example, let's say that we have a component that fetches some data from an API and needs to render it. We could use a renderprop to pass the data to a child component:

function DataFetcher({ url, children }) {
  const [data, setData] = useState(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    fetch(url)
      .then(response => response.json())
      .then(setData);
  }, [url]);

  return children(data);
}

function DisplayData({ data }) {
  return (
    <ul>
      {data.map(item => (
        <li key={item.id}>{item.name}</li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
}

function App() {
  return (
    <DataFetcher url="https://api.example.com/data">
      {data => <DisplayData data={data} />}
    </DataFetcher>
  );
}

In this example, we have a DataFetcher component that fetches data from an API and passes it to its child component using a renderprop. The child component, DisplayData, receives the data and renders it as a list.

Custom Hooks

Custom hooks are functions that use React hooks to provide some reusable logic. They allow us to extract stateful logic from components and reuse it in other components. Custom hooks are great for encapsulating complex logic and making it easy to reuse across our application.

For example, let's say that we have a component that needs to fetch some data from an API and update its state when the data changes. We could create a custom hook to handle the fetching logic:

function useData(url) {
  const [data, setData] = useState(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    fetch(url)
      .then(response => response.json())
      .then(setData);
  }, [url]);

  return data;
}

function DisplayData() {
  const data = useData('<https://api.example.com/data>');

  if (!data) {
    return <div>Loading...</div>;
  }

  return (
    <ul>
      {data.map(item => (
        <li key={item.id}>{item.name}</li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
}

function App() {
  return <DisplayData />;
}

In this example, we have a custom hook called useData that fetches data from an API and returns it. We then use this hook in our DisplayData component to fetch and display the data. This makes our DisplayData component much simpler and easier to read.

When to use Renderprops vs Custom Hooks

So, which one should you use? The answer is: it depends. Both renderprops and custom hooks have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice between them depends on the specific use case.

Renderprops are great for passing data between components that aren't directly related. They allow for a lot of flexibility in the way that data is passed, and they're a good way to share stateful logic without requiring a lot of boilerplate code. On the other hand, renderprops can be difficult to read and understand, especially when you have a lot of nested components.

Custom hooks are great for encapsulating complex logic and making it easy to reuse across your application. They're also very easy to use and understand, and they don't require any additional boilerplate code. However, custom hooks can only be used within a component, so they're not as flexible as renderprops.

Conclusion

In summary, both renderprops and custom hooks are powerful techniques for reusing logic in React. Renderprops are great for passing data between components, while custom hooks are great for encapsulating complex logic and making it easy to reuse across your application. The choice between them depends on the specific use case, so it's important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each one. By using these techniques effectively, we can write more modular and maintainable code in React.