Atomic Design Organisms

Atomic Design: Organisms

Master the creation of organisms - complex, distinct sections of an interface composed of molecules and atoms. Organisms represent standalone UI sections that could exist independently.

What Are Organisms?

Organisms are relatively complex UI components that form distinct sections of an interface. They are:

• Composed of molecules and atoms: May include both levels
• Standalone sections: Can exist independently on a page
• Context-aware: Often tied to specific business contexts
• Stateful: May manage significant internal state
• Reusable: Used across different templates and pages

Common Organism Types

Navigation Organisms

• Header (logo + navigation + user menu)
• Footer (links + social icons + legal)
• Sidebar (navigation + user info + actions)
• Breadcrumbs (full navigation path)

Content Organisms

• Product cards (image + details + actions)
• Comment sections (comments + reply forms)
• Article previews (title + excerpt + meta)
• User profiles (avatar + bio + stats)

Form Organisms

• Login forms (fields + actions + links)
• Registration forms (multi-step fields)
• Checkout forms (payment + shipping)
• Search with filters

Data Display Organisms

• Data tables (header + rows + pagination)
• Dashboards (stats + charts + actions)
• Timelines (events + connectors)
• Galleries (images + navigation)

Header Organism Example

Complete Implementation

// organisms/Header/Header.tsx
import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { Icon } from '@/components/atoms/Icon';
import { Button } from '@/components/atoms/Button';
import { Avatar } from '@/components/atoms/Avatar';
import { NavItem } from '@/components/molecules/NavItem';
import { SearchForm } from '@/components/molecules/SearchForm';
import styles from './Header.module.css';

export interface NavLink {
  id: string;
  label: string;
  href: string;
  icon?: string;
  badge?: number;
}

export interface User {
  id: string;
  name: string;
  email: string;
  avatar?: string;
}

export interface HeaderProps {
  /** Logo element or image */
  logo: React.ReactNode;
  /** Navigation links */
  navigation: NavLink[];
  /** Current active nav item */
  activeNavId?: string;
  /** Authenticated user */
  user?: User | null;
  /** Show search form */
  showSearch?: boolean;
  /** Search submit handler */
  onSearch?: (query: string) => void;
  /** Login click handler */
  onLogin?: () => void;
  /** Logout click handler */
  onLogout?: () => void;
  /** Profile click handler */
  onProfileClick?: () => void;
}

export const Header: React.FC<HeaderProps> = ({
  logo,
  navigation,
  activeNavId,
  user,
  showSearch = true,
  onSearch,
  onLogin,
  onLogout,
  onProfileClick,
}) => {
  const [mobileMenuOpen, setMobileMenuOpen] = useState(false);
  const [userMenuOpen, setUserMenuOpen] = useState(false);

  return (
    <header className={styles.header}>
      <div className={styles.container}>
        {/* Logo */}
        <div className={styles.logo}>{logo}</div>

        {/* Desktop Navigation */}
        <nav className={styles.nav} aria-label="Main navigation">
          <ul className={styles.navList}>
            {navigation.map((item) => (
              <li key={item.id}>
                <NavItem
                  label={item.label}
                  href={item.href}
                  icon={item.icon}
                  badge={item.badge}
                  isActive={item.id === activeNavId}
                />
              </li>
            ))}
          </ul>
        </nav>

        {/* Search */}
        {showSearch && onSearch && (
          <div className={styles.search}>
            <SearchForm
             
              placeholder="Search..."
              size="sm"
            />
          </div>
        )}

        {/* User Actions */}
        <div className={styles.actions}>
          {user ? (
            <div className={styles.userMenu}>
              <button
                className={styles.userButton}
                => setUserMenuOpen(!userMenuOpen)}
                aria-expanded={userMenuOpen}
                aria-haspopup="true"
              >
                <Avatar
                  src={user.avatar}
                  alt={user.name}
                  initials={user.name.slice(0, 2).toUpperCase()}
                  size="sm"
                />
                <span className={styles.userName}>{user.name}</span>
                <Icon name="chevron-down" size="xs" />
              </button>

              {userMenuOpen && (
                <div className={styles.dropdown}>
                  <button
                    <Icon name="user" size="sm" />
                    Profile
                  </button>
                  <button
                    <Icon name="log-out" size="sm" />
                    Logout
                  </button>
                </div>
              )}
            </div>
          ) : (
            <Button variant="primary" size="sm"
              Login
            </Button>
          )}
        </div>

        {/* Mobile Menu Toggle */}
        <button
          className={styles.mobileToggle}
          => setMobileMenuOpen(!mobileMenuOpen)}
          aria-expanded={mobileMenuOpen}
          aria-label="Toggle menu"
        >
          <Icon name={mobileMenuOpen ? 'x' : 'menu'} size="md" />
        </button>
      </div>

      {/* Mobile Navigation */}
      {mobileMenuOpen && (
        <nav className={styles.mobileNav} aria-label="Mobile navigation">
          <ul>
            {navigation.map((item) => (
              <li key={item.id}>
                <NavItem
                  label={item.label}
                  href={item.href}
                  icon={item.icon}
                  badge={item.badge}
                  isActive={item.id === activeNavId}
                  => setMobileMenuOpen(false)}
                />
              </li>
            ))}
          </ul>
        </nav>
      )}
    </header>
  );
};

Header.displayName = 'Header';

/* organisms/Header/Header.module.css */
.header {
  position: sticky;
  top: 0;
  z-index: 100;
  background-color: var(--color-white);
  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--color-neutral-200);
}

.container {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 24px;
  max-width: 1280px;
  margin: 0 auto;
  padding: 12px 24px;
}

.logo {
  flex-shrink: 0;
}

.nav {
  display: none;
  flex: 1;
}

@media (min-width: 768px) {
  .nav {
    display: block;
  }
}

.navList {
  display: flex;
  gap: 8px;
  list-style: none;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

.search {
  display: none;
  width: 280px;
}

@media (min-width: 1024px) {
  .search {
    display: block;
  }
}

.actions {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 12px;
}

.userMenu {
  position: relative;
}

.userButton {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 8px;
  padding: 6px 12px;
  background: transparent;
  border: 1px solid var(--color-neutral-200);
  border-radius: 6px;
  cursor: pointer;
}

.userName {
  display: none;
}

@media (min-width: 640px) {
  .userName {
    display: inline;
  }
}

.dropdown {
  position: absolute;
  top: 100%;
  right: 0;
  margin-top: 8px;
  min-width: 160px;
  background: var(--color-white);
  border: 1px solid var(--color-neutral-200);
  border-radius: 8px;
  box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
  overflow: hidden;
}

.dropdown button {
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  gap: 8px;
  width: 100%;
  padding: 12px 16px;
  background: transparent;
  border: none;
  cursor: pointer;
  text-align: left;
}

.dropdown button:hover {
  background-color: var(--color-neutral-50);
}

.mobileToggle {
  display: flex;
  padding: 8px;
  background: transparent;
  border: none;
  cursor: pointer;
}

@media (min-width: 768px) {
  .mobileToggle {
    display: none;
  }
}

.mobileNav {
  border-top: 1px solid var(--color-neutral-200);
  padding: 16px;
}

.mobileNav ul {
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  gap: 8px;
  list-style: none;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
}

Footer Organism Example

// organisms/Footer/Footer.tsx
import React from 'react';
import { Icon } from '@/components/atoms/Icon';
import { Text } from '@/components/atoms/Typography';
import styles from './Footer.module.css';

export interface FooterLink {
  label: string;
  href: string;
}

export interface FooterSection {
  title: string;
  links: FooterLink[];
}

export interface SocialLink {
  platform: string;
  href: string;
  icon: string;
}

export interface FooterProps {
  /** Footer logo */
  logo: React.ReactNode;
  /** Tagline or description */
  tagline?: string;
  /** Link sections */
  sections: FooterSection[];
  /** Social media links */
  socialLinks?: SocialLink[];
  /** Copyright text */
  copyright?: string;
  /** Legal links */
  legalLinks?: FooterLink[];
}

export const Footer: React.FC<FooterProps> = ({
  logo,
  tagline,
  sections,
  socialLinks = [],
  copyright,
  legalLinks = [],
}) => {
  const currentYear = new Date().getFullYear();
  const copyrightText = copyright || `${currentYear} Company. All rights reserved.`;

  return (
    <footer className={styles.footer}>
      <div className={styles.container}>
        <div className={styles.top}>
          {/* Brand Column */}
          <div className={styles.brand}>
            <div className={styles.logo}>{logo}</div>
            {tagline && (
              <Text color="muted" className={styles.tagline}>
                {tagline}
              </Text>
            )}
            {socialLinks.length > 0 && (
              <div className={styles.social}>
                {socialLinks.map((link) => (
                  <a
                    key={link.platform}
                    href={link.href}
                    className={styles.socialLink}
                    aria-label={`Follow us on ${link.platform}`}
                    target="_blank"
                    rel="noopener noreferrer"
                  >
                    <Icon name={link.icon} size="md" />
                  </a>
                ))}
              </div>
            )}
          </div>

          {/* Link Sections */}
          <div className={styles.sections}>
            {sections.map((section) => (
              <div key={section.title} className={styles.section}>
                <Text weight="semibold" className={styles.sectionTitle}>
                  {section.title}
                </Text>
                <ul className={styles.linkList}>
                  {section.links.map((link) => (
                    <li key={link.href}>
                      <a href={link.href} className={styles.link}>
                        {link.label}
                      </a>
                    </li>
                  ))}
                </ul>
              </div>
            ))}
          </div>
        </div>

        {/* Bottom Bar */}
        <div className={styles.bottom}>
          <Text size="sm" color="muted">
            {copyrightText}
          </Text>
          {legalLinks.length > 0 && (
            <div className={styles.legalLinks}>
              {legalLinks.map((link, index) => (
                <React.Fragment key={link.href}>
                  {index > 0 && <span className={styles.separator}>|</span>}
                  <a href={link.href} className={styles.legalLink}>
                    {link.label}
                  </a>
                </React.Fragment>
              ))}
            </div>
          )}
        </div>
      </div>
    </footer>
  );
};

Footer.displayName = 'Footer';

ProductCard Organism Example

// organisms/ProductCard/ProductCard.tsx
import React from 'react';
import { Button } from '@/components/atoms/Button';
import { Badge } from '@/components/atoms/Badge';
import { Icon } from '@/components/atoms/Icon';
import { Text, Heading } from '@/components/atoms/Typography';
import styles from './ProductCard.module.css';

export interface Product {
  id: string;
  name: string;
  description?: string;
  price: number;
  originalPrice?: number;
  currency?: string;
  image: string;
  rating?: number;
  reviewCount?: number;
  inStock?: boolean;
  badge?: string;
}

export interface ProductCardProps {
  /** Product data */
  product: Product;
  /** Add to cart handler */
  onAddToCart?: (productId: string) => void;
  /** Quick view handler */
  onQuickView?: (productId: string) => void;
  /** Favorite toggle handler */
  onFavorite?: (productId: string) => void;
  /** Whether product is favorited */
  isFavorite?: boolean;
  /** Loading state for add to cart */
  isAddingToCart?: boolean;
}

export const ProductCard: React.FC<ProductCardProps> = ({
  product,
  onAddToCart,
  onQuickView,
  onFavorite,
  isFavorite = false,
  isAddingToCart = false,
}) => {
  const {
    id,
    name,
    description,
    price,
    originalPrice,
    currency = '$',
    image,
    rating,
    reviewCount,
    inStock = true,
    badge,
  } = product;

  const discount = originalPrice
    ? Math.round(((originalPrice - price) / originalPrice) * 100)
    : null;

  const formatPrice = (value: number) => {
    return `${currency}${value.toFixed(2)}`;
  };

  return (
    <article className={styles.card}>
      {/* Image Section */}
      <div className={styles.imageContainer}>
        <img src={image} alt={name} className={styles.image} />

        {badge && (
          <Badge variant="primary" className={styles.badge}>
            {badge}
          </Badge>
        )}

        {discount && (
          <Badge variant="danger" className={styles.discountBadge}>
            -{discount}%
          </Badge>
        )}

        {/* Quick Actions Overlay */}
        <div className={styles.overlay}>
          {onFavorite && (
            <button
              className={`${styles.iconButton} ${isFavorite ? styles.favorited : ''}`}
              => onFavorite(id)}
              aria-label={isFavorite ? 'Remove from favorites' : 'Add to favorites'}
            >
              <Icon name={isFavorite ? 'heart-filled' : 'heart'} size="sm" />
            </button>
          )}

          {onQuickView && (
            <button
              className={styles.iconButton}
              => onQuickView(id)}
              aria-label="Quick view"
            >
              <Icon name="eye" size="sm" />
            </button>
          )}
        </div>
      </div>

      {/* Content Section */}
      <div className={styles.content}>
        <Heading level={4} className={styles.name}>
          <a href={`/products/${id}`}>{name}</a>
        </Heading>

        {description && (
          <Text size="sm" color="muted" className={styles.description} truncate>
            {description}
          </Text>
        )}

        {/* Rating */}
        {rating !== undefined && (
          <div className={styles.rating}>
            <div className={styles.stars}>
              {[1, 2, 3, 4, 5].map((star) => (
                <Icon
                  key={star}
                  name={star <= Math.round(rating) ? 'star-filled' : 'star'}
                  size="xs"
                  className={star <= Math.round(rating) ? styles.starFilled : styles.starEmpty}
                />
              ))}
            </div>
            {reviewCount !== undefined && (
              <Text size="xs" color="muted">
                ({reviewCount})
              </Text>
            )}
          </div>
        )}

        {/* Price */}
        <div className={styles.priceContainer}>
          <Text weight="bold" className={styles.price}>
            {formatPrice(price)}
          </Text>
          {originalPrice && (
            <Text size="sm" color="muted" className={styles.originalPrice}>
              <s>{formatPrice(originalPrice)}</s>
            </Text>
          )}
        </div>

        {/* Actions */}
        <div className={styles.actions}>
          {inStock ? (
            <Button
              fullWidth
              variant="primary"
              => onAddToCart?.(id)}
              isLoading={isAddingToCart}
              leftIcon={<Icon name="shopping-cart" size="sm" />}
            >
              Add to Cart
            </Button>
          ) : (
            <Button fullWidth variant="secondary" disabled>
              Out of Stock
            </Button>
          )}
        </div>
      </div>
    </article>
  );
};

ProductCard.displayName = 'ProductCard';

CommentSection Organism Example

// organisms/CommentSection/CommentSection.tsx
import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { Button } from '@/components/atoms/Button';
import { Heading, Text } from '@/components/atoms/Typography';
import { MediaObject } from '@/components/molecules/MediaObject';
import { FormField } from '@/components/molecules/FormField';
import styles from './CommentSection.module.css';

export interface Comment {
  id: string;
  author: {
    name: string;
    avatar?: string;
  };
  content: string;
  createdAt: string;
  likes: number;
  replies?: Comment[];
}

export interface CommentSectionProps {
  /** Comments list */
  comments: Comment[];
  /** Total comment count */
  totalCount: number;
  /** Current user (for comment form) */
  currentUser?: { name: string; avatar?: string };
  /** Submit comment handler */
  onSubmit?: (content: string, parentId?: string) => void;
  /** Like comment handler */
  onLike?: (commentId: string) => void;
  /** Delete comment handler */
  onDelete?: (commentId: string) => void;
  /** Loading state */
  isLoading?: boolean;
}

export const CommentSection: React.FC<CommentSectionProps> = ({
  comments,
  totalCount,
  currentUser,
  onSubmit,
  onLike,
  onDelete,
  isLoading = false,
}) => {
  const [newComment, setNewComment] = useState('');
  const [replyingTo, setReplyingTo] = useState<string | null>(null);
  const [replyContent, setReplyContent] = useState('');

  const handleSubmit = (e: React.FormEvent) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    if (newComment.trim() && onSubmit) {
      onSubmit(newComment.trim());
      setNewComment('');
    }
  };

  const handleReply = (parentId: string) => {
    if (replyContent.trim() && onSubmit) {
      onSubmit(replyContent.trim(), parentId);
      setReplyContent('');
      setReplyingTo(null);
    }
  };

  const formatDate = (dateString: string) => {
    return new Date(dateString).toLocaleDateString('en-US', {
      month: 'short',
      day: 'numeric',
      year: 'numeric',
    });
  };

  const renderComment = (comment: Comment, isReply = false) => (
    <div
      key={comment.id}
      className={`${styles.comment} ${isReply ? styles.reply : ''}`}
    >
      <MediaObject
        avatarSrc={comment.author.avatar}
        avatarAlt={comment.author.name}
        avatarInitials={comment.author.name.slice(0, 2).toUpperCase()}
        avatarSize="sm"
        title={
          <Text weight="semibold" size="sm">
            {comment.author.name}
          </Text>
        }
        subtitle={formatDate(comment.createdAt)}
      />

      <div className={styles.commentContent}>
        <Text>{comment.content}</Text>

        <div className={styles.commentActions}>
          <button
            className={styles.actionButton}
            => onLike?.(comment.id)}
          >
            Like {comment.likes > 0 && `(${comment.likes})`}
          </button>

          {!isReply && currentUser && (
            <button
              className={styles.actionButton}
              => setReplyingTo(comment.id)}
            >
              Reply
            </button>
          )}

          {onDelete && (
            <button
              className={styles.actionButton}
              => onDelete(comment.id)}
            >
              Delete
            </button>
          )}
        </div>

        {/* Reply Form */}
        {replyingTo === comment.id && (
          <div className={styles.replyForm}>
            <FormField
              name="reply"
              label=""
              placeholder="Write a reply..."
              value={replyContent}
              => setReplyContent(e.target.value)}
            />
            <div className={styles.replyActions}>
              <Button size="sm" => handleReply(comment.id)}>
                Reply
              </Button>
              <Button
                size="sm"
                variant="tertiary"
                => setReplyingTo(null)}
              >
                Cancel
              </Button>
            </div>
          </div>
        )}

        {/* Nested Replies */}
        {comment.replies && comment.replies.length > 0 && (
          <div className={styles.replies}>
            {comment.replies.map((reply) => renderComment(reply, true))}
          </div>
        )}
      </div>
    </div>
  );

  return (
    <section className={styles.section} aria-label="Comments">
      <Heading level={3} className={styles.title}>
        Comments ({totalCount})
      </Heading>

      {/* New Comment Form */}
      {currentUser && onSubmit && (
        <form className={styles.form}>
          <MediaObject
            avatarSrc={currentUser.avatar}
            avatarAlt={currentUser.name}
            avatarInitials={currentUser.name.slice(0, 2).toUpperCase()}
            avatarSize="sm"
            title={
              <FormField
                name="comment"
                label=""
                placeholder="Write a comment..."
                value={newComment}
                => setNewComment(e.target.value)}
              />
            }
          />
          <div className={styles.formActions}>
            <Button type="submit" disabled={!newComment.trim()} isLoading={isLoading}>
              Post Comment
            </Button>
          </div>
        </form>
      )}

      {/* Comments List */}
      <div className={styles.list}>
        {comments.length > 0 ? (
          comments.map((comment) => renderComment(comment))
        ) : (
          <Text color="muted" className={styles.empty}>
            No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
          </Text>
        )}
      </div>
    </section>
  );
};

CommentSection.displayName = 'CommentSection';

Sidebar Organism Example

// organisms/Sidebar/Sidebar.tsx
import React from 'react';
import { Avatar } from '@/components/atoms/Avatar';
import { Text } from '@/components/atoms/Typography';
import { NavItem } from '@/components/molecules/NavItem';
import styles from './Sidebar.module.css';

export interface SidebarLink {
  id: string;
  label: string;
  href: string;
  icon: string;
  badge?: number;
}

export interface SidebarSection {
  title?: string;
  links: SidebarLink[];
}

export interface SidebarProps {
  /** User info */
  user?: {
    name: string;
    email: string;
    avatar?: string;
  };
  /** Navigation sections */
  sections: SidebarSection[];
  /** Active link ID */
  activeId?: string;
  /** Collapsed state */
  isCollapsed?: boolean;
  /** Toggle collapse handler */
  onToggleCollapse?: () => void;
}

export const Sidebar: React.FC<SidebarProps> = ({
  user,
  sections,
  activeId,
  isCollapsed = false,
  onToggleCollapse,
}) => {
  return (
    <aside
      className={`${styles.sidebar} ${isCollapsed ? styles.collapsed : ''}`}
    >
      {/* User Info */}
      {user && (
        <div className={styles.user}>
          <Avatar
            src={user.avatar}
            alt={user.name}
            initials={user.name.slice(0, 2).toUpperCase()}
            size={isCollapsed ? 'sm' : 'md'}
          />
          {!isCollapsed && (
            <div className={styles.userInfo}>
              <Text weight="semibold" truncate>
                {user.name}
              </Text>
              <Text size="sm" color="muted" truncate>
                {user.email}
              </Text>
            </div>
          )}
        </div>
      )}

      {/* Navigation Sections */}
      <nav className={styles.nav}>
        {sections.map((section, index) => (
          <div key={index} className={styles.section}>
            {section.title && !isCollapsed && (
              <Text size="xs" color="muted" className={styles.sectionTitle}>
                {section.title}
              </Text>
            )}
            <ul className={styles.links}>
              {section.links.map((link) => (
                <li key={link.id}>
                  <NavItem
                    label={isCollapsed ? '' : link.label}
                    href={link.href}
                    icon={link.icon}
                    badge={isCollapsed ? undefined : link.badge}
                    isActive={link.id === activeId}
                  />
                </li>
              ))}
            </ul>
          </div>
        ))}
      </nav>

      {/* Collapse Toggle */}
      {onToggleCollapse && (
        <button className={styles.collapseButton}
          {isCollapsed ? '>' : '<'}
        </button>
      )}
    </aside>
  );
};

Sidebar.displayName = 'Sidebar';

DataTable Organism Example

// organisms/DataTable/DataTable.tsx
import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { Checkbox } from '@/components/atoms/Checkbox';
import { Button } from '@/components/atoms/Button';
import { Icon } from '@/components/atoms/Icon';
import { Text } from '@/components/atoms/Typography';
import { ListItem } from '@/components/molecules/ListItem';
import styles from './DataTable.module.css';

export interface Column<T> {
  id: string;
  header: string;
  accessor: keyof T | ((row: T) => React.ReactNode);
  sortable?: boolean;
  width?: string;
}

export interface DataTableProps<T extends { id: string }> {
  /** Table columns */
  columns: Column<T>[];
  /** Table data */
  data: T[];
  /** Selected row IDs */
  selectedIds?: string[];
  /** Selection change handler */
  onSelectionChange?: (ids: string[]) => void;
  /** Sort field */
  sortField?: string;
  /** Sort direction */
  sortDirection?: 'asc' | 'desc';
  /** Sort change handler */
  onSort?: (field: string) => void;
  /** Row click handler */
  onRowClick?: (row: T) => void;
  /** Loading state */
  isLoading?: boolean;
  /** Empty state message */
  emptyMessage?: string;
}

export function DataTable<T extends { id: string }>({
  columns,
  data,
  selectedIds = [],
  onSelectionChange,
  sortField,
  sortDirection,
  onSort,
  onRowClick,
  isLoading = false,
  emptyMessage = 'No data available',
}: DataTableProps<T>) {
  const allSelected = data.length > 0 && selectedIds.length === data.length;
  const someSelected = selectedIds.length > 0 && !allSelected;

  const handleSelectAll = () => {
    if (onSelectionChange) {
      onSelectionChange(allSelected ? [] : data.map((row) => row.id));
    }
  };

  const handleSelectRow = (id: string, selected: boolean) => {
    if (onSelectionChange) {
      onSelectionChange(
        selected
          ? [...selectedIds, id]
          : selectedIds.filter((selectedId) => selectedId !== id)
      );
    }
  };

  const getCellValue = (row: T, column: Column<T>) => {
    if (typeof column.accessor === 'function') {
      return column.accessor(row);
    }
    return row[column.accessor] as React.ReactNode;
  };

  return (
    <div className={styles.tableContainer}>
      <table className={styles.table}>
        <thead className={styles.thead}>
          <tr>
            {onSelectionChange && (
              <th className={styles.checkboxCell}>
                <Checkbox
                  checked={allSelected}
                  indeterminate={someSelected}
                 
                  aria-label="Select all rows"
                />
              </th>
            )}
            {columns.map((column) => (
              <th
                key={column.id}
                style={{ width: column.width }}
                className={column.sortable ? styles.sortable : ''}
                => column.sortable && onSort?.(column.id)}
              >
                <div className={styles.headerContent}>
                  {column.header}
                  {column.sortable && sortField === column.id && (
                    <Icon
                      name={sortDirection === 'asc' ? 'arrow-up' : 'arrow-down'}
                      size="xs"
                    />
                  )}
                </div>
              </th>
            ))}
          </tr>
        </thead>

        <tbody className={styles.tbody}>
          {isLoading ? (
            <tr>
              <td colSpan={columns.length + (onSelectionChange ? 1 : 0)}>
                <div className={styles.loading}>Loading...</div>
              </td>
            </tr>
          ) : data.length === 0 ? (
            <tr>
              <td colSpan={columns.length + (onSelectionChange ? 1 : 0)}>
                <div className={styles.empty}>
                  <Text color="muted">{emptyMessage}</Text>
                </div>
              </td>
            </tr>
          ) : (
            data.map((row) => (
              <tr
                key={row.id}
                className={`${styles.row} ${
                  selectedIds.includes(row.id) ? styles.selected : ''
                } ${onRowClick ? styles.clickable : ''}`}
                => onRowClick?.(row)}
              >
                {onSelectionChange && (
                  <td
                    className={styles.checkboxCell}
                    => e.stopPropagation()}
                  >
                    <Checkbox
                      checked={selectedIds.includes(row.id)}
                      => handleSelectRow(row.id, e.target.checked)}
                      aria-label={`Select row ${row.id}`}
                    />
                  </td>
                )}
                {columns.map((column) => (
                  <td key={column.id}>{getCellValue(row, column)}</td>
                ))}
              </tr>
            ))
          )}
        </tbody>
      </table>
    </div>
  );
}

DataTable.displayName = 'DataTable';

Best Practices

1. Keep Business Logic Contained

// GOOD: Organism manages its own related state
const ProductCard = ({ product, onAddToCart }) => {
  const [isAdding, setIsAdding] = useState(false);

  const handleAddToCart = async () => {
    setIsAdding(true);
    await onAddToCart(product.id);
    setIsAdding(false);
  };

  return <Button isLoading={isAdding}>Add</Button>;
};

// BAD: State managed externally for no reason
const ProductCard = ({ product, isAdding, onAddToCart }) => {
  return <Button => onAddToCart(product.id)} isLoading={isAdding}>Add</Button>;
};

2. Accept Data Objects

// GOOD: Accept domain objects
interface HeaderProps {
  user: User;
  navigation: NavLink[];
}

// BAD: Flat props explosion
interface HeaderProps {
  userName: string;
  userEmail: string;
  userAvatar: string;
  navItem1Label: string;
  navItem1Href: string;
  // ...endless props
}

3. Compose with Clear Hierarchy

// GOOD: Clear molecule/atom composition
const Header = () => (
  <header>
    <Logo />                    {/* Atom */}
    <Navigation>                {/* Molecule */}
      <NavItem />
      <NavItem />
    </Navigation>
    <SearchForm />              {/* Molecule */}
    <UserMenu />                {/* Molecule */}
  </header>
);

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

1. Organisms Within Organisms

// BAD: Nesting organisms
const Dashboard = () => (
  <div>
    <Header />                  {/* Organism */}
    <Sidebar />                 {/* Organism */}
    <MainContent>
      <DataTable />             {/* Another organism */}
    </MainContent>
  </div>
);

// This should be a template, not an organism!

2. Too Generic Organisms

// BAD: Generic "Section" organism
const Section = ({ children }) => <section>{children}</section>;

// GOOD: Specific, purposeful organisms
const ProductSection = ({ products }) => { ... };
const CommentSection = ({ comments }) => { ... };

When to Use This Skill

• Building page sections like headers and footers
• Creating complex interactive components
• Assembling product or content cards
• Building data display components
• Creating form containers with validation

Related Skills

• atomic-design-fundamentals - Core methodology overview
• atomic-design-molecules - Composing atoms into molecules
• atomic-design-templates - Page layouts without content