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Compound Components in React

Build flexible component APIs with compound components. From basic patterns to context to render props.

B
Bootspring Team
Engineering
November 24, 2021
6 min read

Compound components create flexible, expressive APIs. Here's how to build them effectively.

Basic Compound Pattern#

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Context for State Sharing#

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Flexible Accordion#

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Slot Pattern#

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Render Props Variant#

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Best Practices#

Design: ✓ Use context for state sharing ✓ Provide clear error messages ✓ Support controlled and uncontrolled ✓ Keep components focused API: ✓ Attach sub-components to parent ✓ Use descriptive component names ✓ Allow customization via props ✓ Document expected children Accessibility: ✓ Use proper ARIA attributes ✓ Support keyboard navigation ✓ Manage focus appropriately ✓ Test with screen readers

Conclusion#

Compound components create intuitive, flexible APIs. Use context for shared state, attach sub-components for discoverability, and provide both controlled and uncontrolled modes. This pattern scales well for complex UI components like tabs, accordions, and menus.

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