React State Management: Comparing Modern Approaches

React offers many state management options. This guide compares modern approaches to help you choose the right solution for your needs.

Local State: useState and useReducer#

useState for Simple State#

useReducer for Complex State#

Zustand#

Minimal, flexible store:

Jotai#

Atomic state management:

React Query for Server State#

When to Use What#

• useState: Local component state
• Context: Theme, auth, infrequent updates
• Zustand/Jotai: Global client state
• React Query: Server state and caching
• Redux: Complex apps with middleware needs

Start simple and add complexity only when needed.