# React18 Legacy Context

> Migrates React legacy context API (contextTypes, childContextTypes, getChildContext) to the modern createContext API across all provider and consumer files.

- Skill: `github/react18-legacy-context` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 4 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add github/react18-legacy-context`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/github/react18-legacy-context/raw
- Safety review: PASS (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Web & Frontend, Frontend Frameworks
- Tags: Class Components, Context Api, Legacy Context, Migration, React, React 18
- Author: GitHub (Microsoft) (https://skillmd.com/u/github), verified publisher
- Updated: 2026-07-06
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/github/react18-legacy-context

---


# React 18 Legacy Context Migration

Legacy context (`contextTypes`, `childContextTypes`, `getChildContext`) was deprecated in React 16.3 and warns in React 18.3.1. It is **removed in React 19**.

## This Is Always a Cross-File Migration

Unlike most other migrations that touch one file at a time, context migration requires coordinating:
1. Create the context object (usually a new file)
2. Update the **provider** component
3. Update **every consumer** component

Missing any consumer leaves the app broken - it will read from the wrong context or get `undefined`.

## Migration Steps (Always Follow This Order)

```
Step 1: Find the provider (childContextTypes + getChildContext)
Step 2: Find ALL consumers (contextTypes)
Step 3: Create the context file
Step 4: Update the provider
Step 5: Update each consumer (class components → contextType, function components → useContext)
Step 6: Verify - run the app, check no legacy context warnings remain
```

## Scan Commands

```bash
# Find all providers
grep -rn "childContextTypes\|getChildContext" src/ --include="*.js" --include="*.jsx" | grep -v "\.test\."

# Find all consumers
grep -rn "contextTypes\s*=" src/ --include="*.js" --include="*.jsx" | grep -v "\.test\."

# Find this.context usage (may be legacy or modern - check which)
grep -rn "this\.context\." src/ --include="*.js" --include="*.jsx" | grep -v "\.test\."
```

## Reference Files

- **`references/single-context.md`** - complete migration for one context (theme, auth, etc.) with provider + class consumer + function consumer
- **`references/multi-context.md`** - apps with multiple legacy contexts (nested providers, multiple consumers of different contexts)
- **`references/context-file-template.md`** - the standard file structure for a new context module