Common Context Patterns

Let's explore the most common patterns for using React Context effectively. These patterns solve real-world problems and form the foundation of many React applications.

Theme Context Pattern

A theme context manages dark/light mode across your entire application:

Auth Context Pattern

An authentication context manages user state and auth actions:

Context with useReducer Pattern

For complex state, combine Context with a reducer:

Compound Provider Pattern

Combine multiple related contexts in a single provider:

Custom Hook Pattern

Wrap useContext in custom hooks for better ergonomics:

Exercise: Theme Context

Exercise: Auth Context

Exercise: Cart with Reducer

Key Takeaways

1. Theme Context - Store theme values and toggle function; all components can access styling
2. Auth Context - Centralize user state, login/logout actions, and protected route logic
3. Context + Reducer - For complex state with multiple actions, combine Context with useReducer
4. Compound Providers - Bundle related contexts together for cleaner provider hierarchy
5. Custom Hooks - Wrap useContext in descriptive hooks like useTheme, useAuth for better DX