Optimize React Component State for Better Performance

Use this AI prompt to optimize React state and performance by minimizing re-renders, using memoization, and restructuring component logic. Ideal for developers working with large or complex React apps.

🧠 What This Prompt Does

This AI prompt helps developers analyze and optimize the performance of React components by reviewing how state is managed and how re-renders are triggered.
It’s ideal when you want to refactor components that feel sluggish, over-render, or use redundant state updates.

Run this prompt in Cursor, Claude, or Windsurf when reviewing or rewriting existing React codebases — especially those using heavy props or complex UI trees.

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💬 The Prompt

You are a React performance expert.
Analyze the provided React component code and suggest optimizations for state management and rendering performance.

Focus on:

- Preventing unnecessary re-renders
- Using React.memo, useCallback, and useMemo effectively
- Lifting or colocating state where appropriate
- Ensuring derived state is computed efficiently
- Maintaining clean, readable code

Input Code:
{{component_code}}

Provide both the optimized code and a short explanation of each optimization.

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⚙️ Example Input

function ProductList({ products }) {
  const [selected, setSelected] = useState(null);

  const handleSelect = (id) => setSelected(id);

  return (
    <div>
      {products.map((p) => (
        <ProductCard
          key={p.id}
          product={p}
          onSelect={handleSelect}
          selected={selected === p.id}
        />
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

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🚀 Example Output (AI Generated)

import React, { useState, useCallback, memo } from 'react';

const ProductCard = memo(({ product, onSelect, selected }) => (
  <div
    className={`p-4 border ${selected ? 'border-blue-500' : 'border-gray-300'}`}
    onClick={() => onSelect(product.id)}>
    <h3 className='font-semibold'>{product.name}</h3>
  </div>
));

export default function ProductList({ products }) {
  const [selected, setSelected] = useState(null);

  const handleSelect = useCallback((id) => setSelected(id), []);

  return (
    <div className='grid gap-2'>
      {products.map((p) => (
        <ProductCard
          key={p.id}
          product={p}
          onSelect={handleSelect}
          selected={selected === p.id}
        />
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

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💬 Explanation

• Wrapped ProductCard with React.memo to avoid re-rendering unchanged items.
• Used useCallback for handleSelect to prevent new function references on each render.
• Moved unnecessary computations out of render scope.

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📘 When to Use This Prompt

Use this when:

• Your app feels laggy or re-renders too frequently.
• You’re dealing with large lists, nested components, or dynamic props.
• You want to review state logic during performance audits.
• You’re migrating class components to modern functional ones.

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💡 Best Practices

• Avoid global state when local component state is sufficient.
• Lift state up only when multiple components truly need it.
• Memoize expensive computations or event handlers.
• Don’t blindly wrap everything with React.memo — use it strategically.
• Profile your components regularly using React DevTools Profiler.
• Prefer derived state over duplicating props in local state.

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🏁 Summary

This prompt helps developers improve React component performance by analyzing state handling, memoization, and render flow.
Using it regularly can help you catch re-render issues early, optimize large UIs, and maintain snappy, predictable React apps, even at scale.

Whether you’re working in Cursor, Claude, or Next.js, this AI-assisted workflow ensures you build fast, maintainable components from the start.