React Useeffect
React useEffect best practices from official docs. Use when writing/reviewing useEffect, useState for derived values, data fetching, or state synchronization. Teaches when NOT to use Effect and better alternatives.
Specification
- Skill ID
- davila7/claude-code-templates/react-useeffect
- Publisher
- davila7
- Repository
- claude-code-templates
- Installs
- 0
- Files
- 4
- Synced
- Sep 23, 2026
How to use it
Open any RiverX project, open the Skills panel in the chat, and search for this identifier. The files are fetched from the source repository at install time.
davila7/claude-code-templates/react-useeffectInstalls these files- README.md
- SKILL.md
- alternatives.md
- anti-patterns.md
What this skill tells the agent
You Might Not Need an Effect
Effects are an escape hatch from React. They let you synchronize with external systems. If there is no external system involved, you shouldn't need an Effect.
Quick Reference
| Situation | DON'T | DO |
|---|---|---|
| Derived state from props/state | useState + useEffect | Calculate during render |
| Expensive calculations | useEffect to cache | useMemo |
| Reset state on prop change | useEffect with setState | key prop |
| User event responses | useEffect watching state | Event handler directly |
| Notify parent of changes | useEffect calling onChange | Call in event handler |
| Fetch data | useEffect without cleanup | useEffect with cleanup OR framework |
When You DO Need Effects
- Synchronizing with external systems (non-React widgets, browser APIs)
- Subscriptions to external stores (use
useSyncExternalStorewhen possible) - Analytics/logging that runs because component displayed
- Data fetching with proper cleanup (or use framework's built-in mechanism)
When You DON'T Need Effects
- Transforming data for rendering - Calculate at top level, re-runs automatically
- Handling user events - Use event handlers, you know exactly what happened
- Deriving state - Just compute it:
const fullName = firstName + ' ' + lastName - Chaining state updates - Calculate all next state in the event handler
Decision Tree
Need to respond to something?
├── User interaction (click, submit, drag)?
│ └── Use EVENT HANDLER
├── Component appeared on screen?
│ └── Use EFFECT (external sync, analytics)
├── Props/state changed and need derived value?
│ └── CALCULATE DURING RENDER
│ └── Expensive? Use useMemo
└── Need to reset state when prop changes?
└── Use KEY PROP on componentDetailed Guidance
- Anti-Patterns - Common mistakes with fixes
- Better Alternatives - useMemo, key prop, lifting state, useSyncExternalStore
More from davila7
Use this skill in a project
Open any RiverX project, search the Skills panel for davila7/claude-code-templates/react-useeffect, and install it in one click.