React Grid Components: How to Combine Layouts and Data Grids in One Framework

When developers search for a React data grid enterprise, they may be looking for a way to arrange cards on a page—or a powerful table for managing thousands of records.

These are different problems, but enterprise applications often need both.

A typical operations dashboard might include a navigation sidebar, filter controls, a central orders table, and a details panel. The layout determines how those sections fit together, while the data grid provides the tools for working with the underlying records.
Choosing these components separately can work well, but it also introduces integration and maintenance considerations.

1. Understand the Two Types of React Grid Layout grids Layout grids control where components appear and how they resize. Common choices include: CSS Grid: Native browser layout for rows, columns, and responsive page structures.

Flexbox: Useful for one-dimensional layouts and flexible alignment.
MUI Grid and similar UI-kit components: Convenient for teams already using a particular design system.
React-Bootstrap and utility classes: Useful for responsive layouts built around established CSS conventions.
These approaches are excellent for websites, content pages, and many application interfaces.

Data grids

A React data grid displays records in rows and columns and lets users interact with them.
Depending on the library and edition, features may include sorting, filtering, editing, grouping, aggregation, and export.
Examples include AG Grid, MUI X Data Grid, TanStack Table, and Ext JS through ReExt.
The important distinction is that a layout grid organizes the interface, while a data grid manages the data presented inside it.

1. Why Enterprise Applications Often Need Both

Imagine an order-management screen with five requirements:
A header with global actions.
A navigation sidebar.
A filter panel.
A data grid containing thousands of orders.
A details panel that changes when a user selects a row.

When separate libraries handle the layout and grid, developers may need to coordinate theme styling, panel resizing, component lifecycles, and library upgrades.
These are solvable problems, but they add integration work.
A framework that provides both layout components and a data grid can reduce the amount of custom coordination required.

1. Using ReExt for Layouts in React ReExt lets React applications render Ext JS components. Ext JS includes several layout types designed for application interfaces. Layout Typical use vbox Stacking sections vertically hbox Placing panels side by side border Creating an application shell with multiple regions fit Filling a panel with a single child card Switching between views accordion Collapsible navigation or filter sections

For example, a horizontal layout can organize KPI cards:

import ReExt from "@sencha/reext";

function MetricsRow() {
  return (
    <ReExt
      xtype="container"
      style={{ height: 140 }}
      config={{
        layout: {
          type: "hbox",
          align: "stretch"
        }
      }}
    >
      <ReExt
        xtype="panel"
        childFlex={1}
        config={{
          title: "Open orders",
          html: "128"
        }}
      />

      <ReExt
        xtype="panel"
        childFlex={2}
        config={{
          title: "Monthly revenue",
          html: "$1.42M"
        }}
      />

      <ReExt
        xtype="panel"
        childFlex={1}
        config={{
          title: "Late shipments",
          html: "7"
        }}
      />
    </ReExt>
  );
}

This example illustrates the layout configuration. Verify the component props and runtime setup against the ReExt version installed in your application.

1. Build an Application Shell with Border Layout Border layouts are useful when an application needs distinct regions: a header, navigation, main content, and a contextual details panel.

xtype="panel"
childRegion="west"
childWidth={220}
childSplit={true}
config={{
title: "Navigation",
collapsible: true
}}
/>

xtype="panel"
childRegion="center"
config={{ title: "Main content" }}
/>

xtype="panel"
childRegion="east"
childWidth={260}
childSplit={true}
config={{
title: "Details",
collapsible: true
}}
/>

The parent layout manages the regions. Splitters let users resize the side panels, while the center region occupies the remaining space.

1. Put a Data Grid Inside the Layout Once the shell is in place, the center region can contain a data grid. A typical enterprise screen might use: A filter panel for narrowing the dataset. A central grid for browsing and editing recor A details panel for the selected row. React state for application-level interactions. With ReExt, the layout and data grid use Ext JS components within a React application. This can be useful when the application needs more than a standalone table. For a working implementation, configure ReExt and its provider, load the required Ext JS resources, and verify the relevant component APIs and license entitlements. Treat snippets as starting points rather than complete production-ready applications.

6. When CSS Grid Is Still the Better Choice
A comprehensive component framework is not the right answer for every screen.

Choose CSS Grid or Flexbox when:

Building responsive marketing or content pages.
Creating mobile-first consumer interfaces.
Arranging a small number of cards or sections.
Avoiding extra dependencies is a priority.
Consider a framework with integrated layouts and data grids when:
Building data-intensive enterprise dashboards.
Supporting resizable and collapsible application panels.
Maintaining consistent UI behavior across many screens.
Requiring a rich set of data-grid and business UI components.
You can also combine approaches: use CSS Grid for public-facing pages and ReExt for the complex operational screens inside the same React application.

7. Best Practices for React Grid Components

Choose the grid type first. Decide whether the main requirement is layout, data interaction, or both.
Give complex layouts a defined height. Layouts that distribute space between child regions need a parent with a suitable sizing context.

Let the layout control the grid size. Avoid unnecessary fixed dimensions when the data grid should expand as side panels resize.
Keep configuration stable. Memoize expensive configuration objects when appropriate so unrelated React state changes don't trigger unnecessary grid reconfiguration.

Avoid duplicate styling systems where possible. A consistent theme reduces visual mismatches and custom CSS.
Evaluate the complete maintenance cost. Compare implementation effort, accessibility, performance, licensing, support, and upgrade requirements—not just the initial component price.

Conclusion
React layout grids and data grids solve different problems, but enterprise applications often need both on the same screen.
CSS Grid, Flexbox, and UI-kit grids remain strong options for responsive page layouts. For data-intensive applications that need complex panels and a full-featured data grid, ReExt provides another approach by bringing Ext JS layouts and data-grid components into React.
The right choice depends on the screen, the data volume, and how much behavior your team wants to build and maintain itself.
Read the original guide: https://www.sencha.com/blog/react-grid-component-layout-and-data-grids-in-one-framework/