SOLID Principles in Web development (2023)

A set of guidelines known as the SOLID principles can be used to create code that is clear, scalable, and maintainable. They may be used with a variety of programming languages, such as React, and are widely acknowledged as best practices in software engineering.

We'll go through each of the SOLID principles in this article and talk about how they may be used in React.

• Single Responsibility Principle (SRP)

A class should only have one obligation and one changeable factor, according to the Single Responsibility Principle. In other words, each class should be assigned a single task. Make sure that every component in React has a single duty if you want to put this approach into practice. For instance, a component that displays user data shouldn't also be in charge of calling APIs to get that data.

import React from "react";

class UserProfile extends React.Component {
  render() {
    return (
      <div>
        <h1>{this.props.username}</h1>
        <p>{this.props.email}</p>
      </div>
    );
  }
}

export default UserProfile;

In this code sample, the UserProfile component only handles rendering a user's username and email, making it easy to understand and maintain.

• Open/Closed Principle (OCP)

A class should be available for extension but closed for modification, according to the Open/Closed Principle. In other words, a class's existing code should not need to be altered in order to add new capabilities. To put this notion into practice in React, you may utilize render properties or higher-order components to give a component new capabilities without modifying its code.

import React from "react";

const UserInfo = ({ username, email }) => (
  <div>
    <h1>{username}</h1>
    <p>{email}</p>
  </div>
);

class UserProfile extends React.Component {
  render() {
    return <UserInfo {...this.props} />;
  }
}

export default UserProfile;

In this code sample, the UserProfile component extends the UserInfo component through composition, allowing for easy customization and extension without modifying the UserInfo component.

• Liskov Substitution Principle (LSP)

According to the Liskov Substitution Principle, objects from a superclass should be able to be swapped out for objects from a subclass without compromising the program's validity. Writing replaceable components that can be swapped out for one another without changing the program's behavior is the best way to apply this notion in React.

import React from "react";

const UserInfo = ({ username, email, children }) => (
  <div>
    {children}
    <h1>{username}</h1>
    <p>{email}</p>
  </div>
);

class UserProfile extends React.Component {
  render() {
    return (
      <UserInfo {...this.props}>
        <img src={this.props.avatarUrl} />
      </UserInfo>
    );
  }
}

export default UserProfile;

In this code sample, the UserProfile component is interchangeable with the UserInfo component, as it extends it through composition and passes in the necessary props and children.

• Interface Segregation Principle (ISP)

Clients shouldn't be made to rely on interfaces they don't utilize, according to the Interface Segregation Principle. Instead of building big, generic components, you should use React to implement this approach by building small, specialized components that only offer the functionality required for a particular activity.

import React from "react";

const UserInfo = ({ username, email }) => (
  <div>
    <h1>{username}</h1>
    <p>{email}</p>
  </div>
);

const UserAvatar = ({ avatarUrl }) => (
  <img src={avatarUrl} />
);

class UserProfile extends React.Component {
  render() {
    return (
      <div>
        <UserAvatar avatarUrl={this.props.avatarUrl} />
        <UserInfo username={this.props.username} email={this.props.email} />
      </div>
    );
  }
}

export default UserProfile;

In this code sample, the UserInfo and UserAvatar components are small and specialized, providing only the functionality needed for their specific tasks. This makes it easier to understand and maintain the code.

• Dependency Inversion Principle (DIP)

According to the Dependency Inversion Principle, both high-level and low-level modules should depend on abstractions rather than the other way around. To put this approach into practice in React, you should design detached components that only rely on abstractions like hooks and props.

import React from "react";

const UserInfo = ({ username, email }) => (
  <div>
    <h1>{username}</h1>
    <p>{email}</p>
  </div>
);

const UserAvatar = ({ avatarUrl }) => (
  <img src={avatarUrl} />
);

const UserProfile = ({ avatarUrl, username, email }) => (
  <div>
    <UserAvatar avatarUrl={avatarUrl} />
    <UserInfo username={username} email={email} />
  </div>
);

export default UserProfile;

In this code sample, the UserProfile component is a high-level module that does not depend on low-level modules, such as UserInfo and UserAvatar. Instead, it depends on abstractions, such as the props it receives, making it more decoupled and easier to maintain.

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SOLID principles are an excellent method to develop scalable and maintainable code with React. You may make your code simpler to comprehend, maintain, and extend by using these concepts.