# Airbnb React/JSX Style Guide
*A mostly reasonable approach to React and JSX*
This style guide is mostly based on the standards that are currently prevalent in JavaScript, although some conventions (i.e async/await or static class fields) may still be included or prohibited on a case-by-case basis. Currently, anything prior to stage 3 is not included nor recommended in this guide.
## Table of Contents
1. [Basic Rules](#basic-rules)
1. [Class vs `React.createClass` vs stateless](#class-vs-reactcreateclass-vs-stateless)
1. [Mixins](#mixins)
1. [Naming](#naming)
1. [Declaration](#declaration)
1. [Alignment](#alignment)
1. [Quotes](#quotes)
1. [Spacing](#spacing)
1. [Props](#props)
1. [Refs](#refs)
1. [Parentheses](#parentheses)
1. [Tags](#tags)
1. [Methods](#methods)
1. [Ordering](#ordering)
1. [`isMounted`](#ismounted)
## Basic Rules
- Only include one React component per file.
- However, multiple [Stateless, or Pure, Components](https://facebook.github.io/react/docs/reusable-components.html#stateless-functions) are allowed per file. eslint: [`react/no-multi-comp`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/no-multi-comp.md#ignorestateless).
- Always use JSX syntax.
- Do not use `React.createElement` unless you’re initializing the app from a file that is not JSX.
- [`react/forbid-prop-types`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/forbid-prop-types.md) will allow `arrays` and `objects` only if it is explicitly noted what `array` and `object` contains, using `arrayOf`, `objectOf`, or `shape`.
## Class vs `React.createClass` vs stateless
- If you have internal state and/or refs, prefer `class extends React.Component` over `React.createClass`. eslint: [`react/prefer-es6-class`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/prefer-es6-class.md) [`react/prefer-stateless-function`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/prefer-stateless-function.md)
```jsx
// bad
const Listing = React.createClass({
// ...
render() {
return
{this.state.hello}
;
}
});
// good
class Listing extends React.Component {
// ...
render() {
return
{this.state.hello}
;
}
}
```
And if you don’t have state or refs, prefer normal functions (not arrow functions) over classes:
```jsx
// bad
class Listing extends React.Component {
render() {
return
{this.props.hello}
;
}
}
// bad (relying on function name inference is discouraged)
const Listing = ({ hello }) => (
{hello}
);
// good
function Listing({ hello }) {
return
{hello}
;
}
```
## Mixins
- [Do not use mixins](https://facebook.github.io/react/blog/2016/07/13/mixins-considered-harmful.html).
> Why? Mixins introduce implicit dependencies, cause name clashes, and cause snowballing complexity. Most use cases for mixins can be accomplished in better ways via components, higher-order components, or utility modules.
## Naming
- **Extensions**: Use `.jsx` extension for React components. eslint: [`react/jsx-filename-extension`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/jsx-filename-extension.md)
- **Filename**: Use PascalCase for filenames. E.g., `ReservationCard.jsx`.
- **Reference Naming**: Use PascalCase for React components and camelCase for their instances. eslint: [`react/jsx-pascal-case`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/jsx-pascal-case.md)
```jsx
// bad
import reservationCard from './ReservationCard';
// good
import ReservationCard from './ReservationCard';
// bad
const ReservationItem = ;
// good
const reservationItem = ;
```
- **Component Naming**: Use the filename as the component name. For example, `ReservationCard.jsx` should have a reference name of `ReservationCard`. However, for root components of a directory, use `index.jsx` as the filename and use the directory name as the component name:
```jsx
// bad
import Footer from './Footer/Footer';
// bad
import Footer from './Footer/index';
// good
import Footer from './Footer';
```
- **Higher-order Component Naming**: Use a composite of the higher-order component’s name and the passed-in component’s name as the `displayName` on the generated component. For example, the higher-order component `withFoo()`, when passed a component `Bar` should produce a component with a `displayName` of `withFoo(Bar)`.
> Why? A component’s `displayName` may be used by developer tools or in error messages, and having a value that clearly expresses this relationship helps people understand what is happening.
```jsx
// bad
export default function withFoo(WrappedComponent) {
return function WithFoo(props) {
return ;
}
}
// good
export default function withFoo(WrappedComponent) {
function WithFoo(props) {
return ;
}
const wrappedComponentName = WrappedComponent.displayName
|| WrappedComponent.name
|| 'Component';
WithFoo.displayName = `withFoo(${wrappedComponentName})`;
return WithFoo;
}
```
- **Props Naming**: Avoid using DOM component prop names for different purposes.
> Why? People expect props like `style` and `className` to mean one specific thing. Varying this API for a subset of your app makes the code less readable and less maintainable, and may cause bugs.
```jsx
// bad
// bad
// good
```
## Declaration
- Do not use `displayName` for naming components. Instead, name the component by reference.
```jsx
// bad
export default React.createClass({
displayName: 'ReservationCard',
// stuff goes here
});
// good
export default class ReservationCard extends React.Component {
}
```
## Alignment
- Follow these alignment styles for JSX syntax. eslint: [`react/jsx-closing-bracket-location`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/jsx-closing-bracket-location.md) [`react/jsx-closing-tag-location`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/jsx-closing-tag-location.md)
```jsx
// bad
// good
// if props fit in one line then keep it on the same line
// children get indented normally
// bad
{showButton &&
}
// bad
{
showButton &&
}
// good
{showButton && (
)}
// good
{showButton && }
// good
{someReallyLongConditional
&& anotherLongConditional
&& (
)
}
// good
{someConditional ? (
) : (
)}
```
## Quotes
- Always use double quotes (`"`) for JSX attributes, but single quotes (`'`) for all other JS. eslint: [`jsx-quotes`](https://eslint.org/docs/rules/jsx-quotes)
> Why? Regular HTML attributes also typically use double quotes instead of single, so JSX attributes mirror this convention.
```jsx
// bad
// good
// bad
// good
```
## Spacing
- Always include a single space in your self-closing tag. eslint: [`no-multi-spaces`](https://eslint.org/docs/rules/no-multi-spaces), [`react/jsx-tag-spacing`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/jsx-tag-spacing.md)
```jsx
// bad
// very bad
// bad
// good
```
- Do not pad JSX curly braces with spaces. eslint: [`react/jsx-curly-spacing`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/jsx-curly-spacing.md)
```jsx
// bad
// good
```
## Props
- Always use camelCase for prop names, or PascalCase if the prop value is a React component.
```jsx
// bad
// good
```
- Omit the value of the prop when it is explicitly `true`. eslint: [`react/jsx-boolean-value`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/jsx-boolean-value.md)
```jsx
// bad
// good
// good
```
- Always include an `alt` prop on `` tags. If the image is presentational, `alt` can be an empty string or the `` must have `role="presentation"`. eslint: [`jsx-a11y/alt-text`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-jsx-a11y/blob/master/docs/rules/alt-text.md)
```jsx
// bad
// good
// good
// good
```
- Do not use words like "image", "photo", or "picture" in `` `alt` props. eslint: [`jsx-a11y/img-redundant-alt`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-jsx-a11y/blob/master/docs/rules/img-redundant-alt.md)
> Why? Screenreaders already announce `img` elements as images, so there is no need to include this information in the alt text.
```jsx
// bad
// good
```
- Use only valid, non-abstract [ARIA roles](https://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria/#usage_intro). eslint: [`jsx-a11y/aria-role`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-jsx-a11y/blob/master/docs/rules/aria-role.md)
```jsx
// bad - not an ARIA role
// bad - abstract ARIA role
// good
```
- Do not use `accessKey` on elements. eslint: [`jsx-a11y/no-access-key`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-jsx-a11y/blob/master/docs/rules/no-access-key.md)
> Why? Inconsistencies between keyboard shortcuts and keyboard commands used by people using screenreaders and keyboards complicate accessibility.
```jsx
// bad
// good
```
- Avoid using an array index as `key` prop, prefer a stable ID. eslint: [`react/no-array-index-key`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/no-array-index-key.md)
> Why? Not using a stable ID [is an anti-pattern](https://medium.com/@robinpokorny/index-as-a-key-is-an-anti-pattern-e0349aece318) because it can negatively impact performance and cause issues with component state.
We don’t recommend using indexes for keys if the order of items may change.
```jsx
// bad
{todos.map((todo, index) =>
)}
// good
{todos.map(todo => (
))}
```
- Always define explicit defaultProps for all non-required props.
> Why? propTypes are a form of documentation, and providing defaultProps means the reader of your code doesn’t have to assume as much. In addition, it can mean that your code can omit certain type checks.
```jsx
// bad
function SFC({ foo, bar, children }) {
return
{foo}{bar}{children}
;
}
SFC.propTypes = {
foo: PropTypes.number.isRequired,
bar: PropTypes.string,
children: PropTypes.node,
};
// good
function SFC({ foo, bar, children }) {
return
{foo}{bar}{children}
;
}
SFC.propTypes = {
foo: PropTypes.number.isRequired,
bar: PropTypes.string,
children: PropTypes.node,
};
SFC.defaultProps = {
bar: '',
children: null,
};
```
- Use spread props sparingly.
> Why? Otherwise you’re more likely to pass unnecessary props down to components. And for React v15.6.1 and older, you could [pass invalid HTML attributes to the DOM](https://reactjs.org/blog/2017/09/08/dom-attributes-in-react-16.html).
Exceptions:
- HOCs that proxy down props and hoist propTypes
```jsx
function HOC(WrappedComponent) {
return class Proxy extends React.Component {
Proxy.propTypes = {
text: PropTypes.string,
isLoading: PropTypes.bool
};
render() {
return
}
}
}
```
- Spreading objects with known, explicit props. This can be particularly useful when testing React components with Mocha’s beforeEach construct.
```jsx
export default function Foo {
const props = {
text: '',
isPublished: false
}
return ();
}
```
Notes for use:
Filter out unnecessary props when possible. Also, use [prop-types-exact](https://www.npmjs.com/package/prop-types-exact) to help prevent bugs.
```jsx
// bad
render() {
const { irrelevantProp, ...relevantProps } = this.props;
return
}
// good
render() {
const { irrelevantProp, ...relevantProps } = this.props;
return
}
```
## Refs
- Always use ref callbacks. eslint: [`react/no-string-refs`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/no-string-refs.md)
```jsx
// bad
// good
{ this.myRef = ref; }}
/>
```
## Parentheses
- Wrap JSX tags in parentheses when they span more than one line. eslint: [`react/jsx-wrap-multilines`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/jsx-wrap-multilines.md)
```jsx
// bad
render() {
return ;
}
// good
render() {
return (
);
}
// good, when single line
render() {
const body =
hello
;
return {body};
}
```
## Tags
- Always self-close tags that have no children. eslint: [`react/self-closing-comp`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/self-closing-comp.md)
```jsx
// bad
// good
```
- If your component has multiline properties, close its tag on a new line. eslint: [`react/jsx-closing-bracket-location`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/jsx-closing-bracket-location.md)
```jsx
// bad
// good
```
## Methods
- Use arrow functions to close over local variables. It is handy when you need to pass additional data to an event handler. Although, make sure they [do not massively hurt performance](https://www.bignerdranch.com/blog/choosing-the-best-approach-for-react-event-handlers/), in particular when passed to custom components that might be PureComponents, because they will trigger a possibly needless rerender every time.
```jsx
function ItemList(props) {
return (
);
}
```
- Bind event handlers for the render method in the constructor. eslint: [`react/jsx-no-bind`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/jsx-no-bind.md)
> Why? A bind call in the render path creates a brand new function on every single render. Do not use arrow functions in class fields, because it makes them [challenging to test and debug, and can negatively impact performance](https://medium.com/@charpeni/arrow-functions-in-class-properties-might-not-be-as-great-as-we-think-3b3551c440b1), and because conceptually, class fields are for data, not logic.
```jsx
// bad
class extends React.Component {
onClickDiv() {
// do stuff
}
render() {
return ;
}
}
// very bad
class extends React.Component {
onClickDiv = () => {
// do stuff
}
render() {
return
}
}
// good
class extends React.Component {
constructor(props) {
super(props);
this.onClickDiv = this.onClickDiv.bind(this);
}
onClickDiv() {
// do stuff
}
render() {
return ;
}
}
```
- Do not use underscore prefix for internal methods of a React component.
> Why? Underscore prefixes are sometimes used as a convention in other languages to denote privacy. But, unlike those languages, there is no native support for privacy in JavaScript, everything is public. Regardless of your intentions, adding underscore prefixes to your properties does not actually make them private, and any property (underscore-prefixed or not) should be treated as being public. See issues [#1024](https://github.com/airbnb/javascript/issues/1024), and [#490](https://github.com/airbnb/javascript/issues/490) for a more in-depth discussion.
```jsx
// bad
React.createClass({
_onClickSubmit() {
// do stuff
},
// other stuff
});
// good
class extends React.Component {
onClickSubmit() {
// do stuff
}
// other stuff
}
```
- Be sure to return a value in your `render` methods. eslint: [`react/require-render-return`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/require-render-return.md)
```jsx
// bad
render() {
();
}
// good
render() {
return ();
}
```
## Ordering
- Ordering for `class extends React.Component`:
1. optional `static` methods
1. `constructor`
1. `getChildContext`
1. `componentWillMount`
1. `componentDidMount`
1. `componentWillReceiveProps`
1. `shouldComponentUpdate`
1. `componentWillUpdate`
1. `componentDidUpdate`
1. `componentWillUnmount`
1. *event handlers starting with 'handle'* like `handleSubmit()` or `handleChangeDescription()`
1. *event handlers starting with 'on'* like `onClickSubmit()` or `onChangeDescription()`
1. *getter methods for `render`* like `getSelectReason()` or `getFooterContent()`
1. *optional render methods* like `renderNavigation()` or `renderProfilePicture()`
1. `render`
- How to define `propTypes`, `defaultProps`, `contextTypes`, etc...
```jsx
import React from 'react';
import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
const propTypes = {
id: PropTypes.number.isRequired,
url: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
text: PropTypes.string,
};
const defaultProps = {
text: 'Hello World',
};
class Link extends React.Component {
static methodsAreOk() {
return true;
}
render() {
return {this.props.text};
}
}
Link.propTypes = propTypes;
Link.defaultProps = defaultProps;
export default Link;
```
- Ordering for `React.createClass`: eslint: [`react/sort-comp`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/sort-comp.md)
1. `displayName`
1. `propTypes`
1. `contextTypes`
1. `childContextTypes`
1. `mixins`
1. `statics`
1. `defaultProps`
1. `getDefaultProps`
1. `getInitialState`
1. `getChildContext`
1. `componentWillMount`
1. `componentDidMount`
1. `componentWillReceiveProps`
1. `shouldComponentUpdate`
1. `componentWillUpdate`
1. `componentDidUpdate`
1. `componentWillUnmount`
1. *clickHandlers or eventHandlers* like `onClickSubmit()` or `onChangeDescription()`
1. *getter methods for `render`* like `getSelectReason()` or `getFooterContent()`
1. *optional render methods* like `renderNavigation()` or `renderProfilePicture()`
1. `render`
## `isMounted`
- Do not use `isMounted`. eslint: [`react/no-is-mounted`](https://github.com/jsx-eslint/eslint-plugin-react/blob/master/docs/rules/no-is-mounted.md)
> Why? [`isMounted` is an anti-pattern][anti-pattern], is not available when using ES6 classes, and is on its way to being officially deprecated.
[anti-pattern]: https://facebook.github.io/react/blog/2015/12/16/ismounted-antipattern.html
## Translation
This JSX/React style guide is also available in other languages:
-  **Chinese (Simplified)**: [jhcccc/javascript](https://github.com/jhcccc/javascript/tree/master/react)
-  **Chinese (Traditional)**: [jigsawye/javascript](https://github.com/jigsawye/javascript/tree/master/react)
-  **Español**: [agrcrobles/javascript](https://github.com/agrcrobles/javascript/tree/master/react)
-  **Japanese**: [mitsuruog/javascript-style-guide](https://github.com/mitsuruog/javascript-style-guide/tree/master/react)
-  **Korean**: [apple77y/javascript](https://github.com/apple77y/javascript/tree/master/react)
-  **Polish**: [pietraszekl/javascript](https://github.com/pietraszekl/javascript/tree/master/react)
-  **Portuguese**: [ronal2do/javascript](https://github.com/ronal2do/airbnb-react-styleguide)
-  **Russian**: [leonidlebedev/javascript-airbnb](https://github.com/leonidlebedev/javascript-airbnb/tree/master/react)
-  **Thai**: [lvarayut/javascript-style-guide](https://github.com/lvarayut/javascript-style-guide/tree/master/react)
-  **Turkish**: [alioguzhan/react-style-guide](https://github.com/alioguzhan/react-style-guide)
-  **Ukrainian**: [ivanzusko/javascript](https://github.com/ivanzusko/javascript/tree/master/react)
-  **Vietnam**: [uetcodecamp/jsx-style-guide](https://github.com/UETCodeCamp/jsx-style-guide)
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