Build React Components

Build React Components

Purpose

Provide patterns for building reusable, testable React components with clear responsibilities and predictable behavior.

When to use

Use this skill when you are:

• Creating new components (pages, feature components, shared UI)
• Refactoring large components into smaller units
• Implementing modals/dialogs and forms
• Building lists with filtering, pagination, and empty states

Inputs

• Component responsibilities and expected interactions
• Data dependencies (what inputs come via props vs fetched)
• Styling approach (UI kit, CSS modules, styled components, etc.)

Outputs

• Typed component props and public API
• Component structure (container vs presentational as needed)
• Explicit handling for loading/empty/error states
• Example usage and acceptance criteria

Rules

• Components MUST have typed props (no implicit any).
• Components SHOULD be small and composable.
• Components MUST render explicit loading/empty/error states when dependent on async data.
• Components SHOULD avoid hidden side effects; prefer hooks.

Steps

1. Define the component contract (props, callbacks, UI states).
2. Decide whether it is:
   • presentational (props in, UI out)
   • container (fetching/orchestration + composition)
3. Implement rendering logic:
   • default state
   • loading/empty/error
4. Implement interactions:
   • event handlers
   • accessibility considerations
5. Add a minimal verification:
   • renders
   • primary interaction works
   • error state renders

Verification

• Component renders with valid props
• Component handles loading state (when applicable)
• Component handles empty state (when applicable)
• Component handles error state (when applicable)
• Primary interaction triggers expected callback
• Component is accessible (keyboard navigation, focus visible)

Boundaries

• MUST NOT use implicit any for props
• MUST NOT hide side effects in render (use hooks)
• MUST NOT skip loading/empty/error states for async-dependent components
• SHOULD NOT create large components (decompose into smaller units)
• SHOULD NOT mix container and presentational concerns without clear boundaries
• SHOULD NOT ignore accessibility (aria labels, focus management)

Included assets

• Templates: ./templates/ includes component scaffolds (presentational, container, list, modal).
• Examples: ./examples/ includes a complete "profile-style" component example.

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