Advanced techniques and patterns for building complex applications with Zustand, including transient updates, optimistic updates, and sophisticated state management strategies.
Key Concepts
Transient Updates
Update state without triggering re-renders:
const useStore = create((set) => ({
count: 0,
increment: () =>
set((state) => ({ count: state.count + 1 }), false, 'increment'),
}))
// Usage: Update without re-rendering
useStore.setState({ count: 10 }, true) // replace: true, skip re-render
Subscriptions with Selectors
Subscribe to specific slices of state:
const useStore = create<Store>()((set) => ({ /* ... */ }))
// Subscribe only to count changes
const unsubscribe = useStore.subscribe(
(state) => state.count,
(count, prevCount) => {
console.log(`Count changed from ${prevCount} to ${count}`)
},
{
equalityFn: (a, b) => a === b,
fireImmediately: false,
}
)
Best Practices
1. Optimistic Updates
Update UI immediately, then sync with server:
interface TodoStore {
todos: Todo[]
addTodo: (text: string) => Promise<void>
updateTodo: (id: string, text: string) => Promise<void>
deleteTodo: (id: string) => Promise<void>
}
const useTodoStore = create<TodoStore>()((set, get) => ({
todos: [],
addTodo: async (text) => {
const optimisticTodo = {
id: `temp-${Date.now()}`,
text,
completed: false,
}
// Optimistic update
set((state) => ({
todos: [...state.todos, optimisticTodo],
}))
try {
const savedTodo = await api.createTodo({ text })
// Replace optimistic todo with real one
set((state) => ({
todos: state.todos.map((todo) =>
todo.id === optimisticTodo.id ? savedTodo : todo
),
}))
} catch (error) {
// Rollback on error
set((state) => ({
todos: state.todos.filter((todo) => todo.id !== optimisticTodo.id),
}))
throw error
}
},
updateTodo: async (id, text) => {
const previousTodos = get().todos
// Optimistic update
set((state) => ({
todos: state.todos.map((todo) =>
todo.id === id ? { ...todo, text } : todo
),
}))
try {
await api.updateTodo(id, { text })
} catch (error) {
// Rollback on error
set({ todos: previousTodos })
throw error
}
},
deleteTodo: async (id) => {
const previousTodos = get().todos
// Optimistic update
set((state) => ({
todos: state.todos.filter((todo) => todo.id !== id),
}))
try {
await api.deleteTodo(id)
} catch (error) {
// Rollback on error
set({ todos: previousTodos })
throw error
}
},
}))
2. Undo/Redo Pattern
Implement time-travel functionality:
interface HistoryState<T> {
past: T[]
present: T
future: T[]
}
interface HistoryStore<T> {
history: HistoryState<T>
canUndo: boolean
canRedo: boolean
set: (newPresent: T) => void
undo: () => void
redo: () => void
reset: (initialState: T) => void
}
function createHistoryStore<T>(initialState: T) {
return create<HistoryStore<T>>()((set, get) => ({
history: {
past: [],
present: initialState,
future: [],
},
get canUndo() {
return get().history.past.length > 0
},
get canRedo() {
return get().history.future.length > 0
},
set: (newPresent) =>
set((state) => ({
history: {
past: [...state.history.past, state.history.present],
present: newPresent,
future: [],
},
})),
undo: () =>
set((state) => {
if (state.history.past.length === 0) return state
const previous = state.history.past[state.history.past.length - 1]
const newPast = state.history.past.slice(0, -1)
return {
history: {
past: newPast,
present: previous,
future: [state.history.present, ...state.history.future],
},
}
}),
redo: () =>
set((state) => {
if (state.history.future.length === 0) return state
const next = state.history.future[0]
const newFuture = state.history.future.slice(1)
return {
history: {
past: [...state.history.past, state.history.present],
present: next,
future: newFuture,
},
}
}),
reset: (initialState) =>
set({
history: {
past: [],
present: initialState,
future: [],
},
}),
}))
}
// Usage
interface CanvasState {
shapes: Shape[]
selectedId: string | null
}
const useCanvasStore = createHistoryStore<CanvasState>({
shapes: [],
selectedId: null,
})
function Canvas() {
const { present } = useCanvasStore((state) => state.history)
const { canUndo, canRedo, undo, redo } = useCanvasStore()
return (
<div>
<button onClick={undo} disabled={!canUndo}>
Undo
</button>
<button onClick={redo} disabled={!canRedo}>
Redo
</button>
{/* Render canvas */}
</div>
)
}
3. Store Composition
Compose multiple stores together:
import { create, StoreApi } from 'zustand'
// Create bound stores that can access each other
function createBoundStore() {
const useAuthStore = create<AuthStore>()((set, get) => ({
user: null,
login: async (credentials) => {
const user = await api.login(credentials)
set({ user })
// Access cart store after login
const cartStore = stores.cart.getState()
await cartStore.syncCart()
},
logout: () => {
set({ user: null })
// Clear cart on logout
stores.cart.getState().clearCart()
},
}))
const useCartStore = create<CartStore>()((set, get) => ({
items: [],
addItem: (item) =>
set((state) => ({ items: [...state.items, item] })),
clearCart: () => set({ items: [] }),
syncCart: async () => {
const user = stores.auth.getState().user
if (!user) return
const items = await api.fetchCart(user.id)
set({ items })
},
}))
return {
auth: useAuthStore,
cart: useCartStore,
}
}
const stores = createBoundStore()
export const useAuthStore = stores.auth
export const useCartStore = stores.cart
4. React Context Integration
Use Zustand with React Context for scoped stores:
import { createContext, useContext, useRef } from 'react'
import { createStore, useStore } from 'zustand'
interface TodoStore {
todos: Todo[]
addTodo: (text: string) => void
toggleTodo: (id: string) => void
}
type TodoStoreApi = ReturnType<typeof createTodoStore>
const createTodoStore = (initialTodos: Todo[] = []) => {
return createStore<TodoStore>()((set) => ({
todos: initialTodos,
addTodo: (text) =>
set((state) => ({
todos: [
...state.todos,
{ id: Date.now().toString(), text, completed: false },
],
})),
toggleTodo: (id) =>
set((state) => ({
todos: state.todos.map((todo) =>
todo.id === id ? { ...todo, completed: !todo.completed } : todo
),
})),
}))
}
const TodoStoreContext = createContext<TodoStoreApi | null>(null)
export function TodoStoreProvider({
children,
initialTodos,
}: {
children: React.ReactNode
initialTodos?: Todo[]
}) {
const storeRef = useRef<TodoStoreApi>()
if (!storeRef.current) {
storeRef.current = createTodoStore(initialTodos)
}
return (
<TodoStoreContext.Provider value={storeRef.current}>
{children}
</TodoStoreContext.Provider>
)
}
export function useTodoStore<T>(selector: (state: TodoStore) => T): T {
const store = useContext(TodoStoreContext)
if (!store) {
throw new Error('useTodoStore must be used within TodoStoreProvider')
}
return useStore(store, selector)
}
// Usage
function App() {
return (
<TodoStoreProvider initialTodos={[]}>
<TodoList />
</TodoStoreProvider>
)
}
function TodoList() {
const todos = useTodoStore((state) => state.todos)
const addTodo = useTodoStore((state) => state.addTodo)
return (
<div>
{todos.map((todo) => (
<div key={todo.id}>{todo.text}</div>
))}
<button onClick={() => addTodo('New todo')}>Add</button>
</div>
)
}
5. Derived State with Selectors
Create memoized derived state:
import { create } from 'zustand'
import { shallow } from 'zustand/shallow'
interface Store {
items: Item[]
filter: 'all' | 'active' | 'completed'
sortBy: 'name' | 'date'
}
const useStore = create<Store>()((set) => ({ /* ... */ }))
// Memoized selector
const selectFilteredAndSortedItems = (state: Store) => {
let items = state.items
// Filter
if (state.filter === 'active') {
items = items.filter((item) => !item.completed)
} else if (state.filter === 'completed') {
items = items.filter((item) => item.completed)
}
// Sort
if (state.sortBy === 'name') {
items = [...items].sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name))
} else {
items = [...items].sort((a, b) => b.date.getTime() - a.date.getTime())
}
return items
}
// Usage
function ItemList() {
const items = useStore(selectFilteredAndSortedItems)
return <div>{items.map((item) => <Item key={item.id} item={item} />)}</div>
}
Examples
WebSocket Integration
interface ChatStore {
messages: Message[]
isConnected: boolean
connect: () => void
disconnect: () => void
sendMessage: (text: string) => void
}
const useChatStore = create<ChatStore>()((set, get) => {
let ws: WebSocket | null = null
return {
messages: [],
isConnected: false,
connect: () => {
ws = new WebSocket('wss://chat.example.com')
ws.onopen = () => {
set({ isConnected: true })
}
ws.onmessage = (event) => {
const message = JSON.parse(event.data)
set((state) => ({
messages: [...state.messages, message],
}))
}
ws.onclose = () => {
set({ isConnected: false })
}
ws.onerror = (error) => {
console.error('WebSocket error:', error)
set({ isConnected: false })
}
},
disconnect: () => {
ws?.close()
ws = null
set({ isConnected: false })
},
sendMessage: (text) => {
if (!ws || ws.readyState !== WebSocket.OPEN) return
const message = {
id: Date.now().toString(),
text,
timestamp: new Date(),
userId: 'current-user',
}
ws.send(JSON.stringify(message))
// Optimistically add to messages
set((state) => ({
messages: [...state.messages, message],
}))
},
}
})
Pagination Pattern
interface PaginatedStore
fetchPage: (page: number) => Promise
function createPaginatedStore