# SolidJS Patterns & Best Practices
Common patterns, recipes, and best practices for SolidJS development.
## Component Patterns
### Controlled vs Uncontrolled Inputs
**Controlled:**
```tsx
function ControlledInput() {
const [value, setValue] = createSignal("");
return (
setValue(e.currentTarget.value)}
/>
);
}
```
**Uncontrolled with ref:**
```tsx
function UncontrolledInput() {
let inputRef: HTMLInputElement;
const handleSubmit = () => {
console.log(inputRef.value);
};
return (
<>
>
);
}
```
### Compound Components
```tsx
const Tabs = {
Root: (props: ParentProps<{ defaultTab?: string }>) => {
const [activeTab, setActiveTab] = createSignal(props.defaultTab ?? "");
return (
{props.children}
);
},
List: (props: ParentProps) => (
{props.children}
),
Tab: (props: ParentProps<{ value: string }>) => {
const ctx = useTabsContext();
return (
);
},
Panel: (props: ParentProps<{ value: string }>) => {
const ctx = useTabsContext();
return (
{props.children}
);
}
};
// Usage
First
Second
First Content
Second Content
```
### Render Props
```tsx
function MouseTracker(props: {
children: (pos: { x: number; y: number }) => JSX.Element;
}) {
const [pos, setPos] = createSignal({ x: 0, y: 0 });
onMount(() => {
const handler = (e: MouseEvent) => setPos({ x: e.clientX, y: e.clientY });
window.addEventListener("mousemove", handler);
onCleanup(() => window.removeEventListener("mousemove", handler));
});
return <>{props.children(pos())}>;
}
// Usage
{(pos) => Mouse: {pos.x}, {pos.y}
}
```
### Higher-Order Components
```tsx
function withAuth(Component: Component
) {
return (props: P) => {
const { user } = useAuth();
return (
}>
);
};
}
const ProtectedDashboard = withAuth(Dashboard);
```
### Polymorphic Components
```tsx
type PolymorphicProps = {
as?: E;
} & JSX.IntrinsicElements[E];
function Box(
props: PolymorphicProps
) {
const [local, others] = splitProps(props as PolymorphicProps<"div">, ["as"]);
return ;
}
// Usage
Default div
Section element
Button
```
## State Patterns
### Derived State with Multiple Sources
```tsx
function SearchResults() {
const [query, setQuery] = createSignal("");
const [filters, setFilters] = createSignal({ category: "all" });
const results = createMemo(() => {
const q = query().toLowerCase();
const f = filters();
return allItems()
.filter(item => item.name.toLowerCase().includes(q))
.filter(item => f.category === "all" || item.category === f.category);
});
return {item => };
}
```
### State Machine Pattern
```tsx
type State = "idle" | "loading" | "success" | "error";
type Event = { type: "FETCH" } | { type: "SUCCESS"; data: any } | { type: "ERROR"; error: Error };
function createMachine(initial: State) {
const [state, setState] = createSignal(initial);
const [data, setData] = createSignal(null);
const [error, setError] = createSignal(null);
const send = (event: Event) => {
const current = state();
switch (current) {
case "idle":
if (event.type === "FETCH") setState("loading");
break;
case "loading":
if (event.type === "SUCCESS") {
setData(event.data);
setState("success");
} else if (event.type === "ERROR") {
setError(event.error);
setState("error");
}
break;
}
};
return { state, data, error, send };
}
```
### Optimistic Updates
```tsx
const [todos, setTodos] = createStore([]);
async function deleteTodo(id: string) {
const original = [...unwrap(todos)];
// Optimistic remove
setTodos(todos => todos.filter(t => t.id !== id));
try {
await api.deleteTodo(id);
} catch {
// Rollback on error
setTodos(reconcile(original));
}
}
```
### Undo/Redo
```tsx
function createHistory(initial: T) {
const [past, setPast] = createSignal([]);
const [present, setPresent] = createSignal(initial);
const [future, setFuture] = createSignal([]);
const canUndo = () => past().length > 0;
const canRedo = () => future().length > 0;
const set = (value: T | ((prev: T) => T)) => {
const newValue = typeof value === "function"
? (value as (prev: T) => T)(present())
: value;
setPast(p => [...p, present()]);
setPresent(newValue);
setFuture([]);
};
const undo = () => {
if (!canUndo()) return;
const previous = past()[past().length - 1];
setPast(p => p.slice(0, -1));
setFuture(f => [present(), ...f]);
setPresent(previous);
};
const redo = () => {
if (!canRedo()) return;
const next = future()[0];
setPast(p => [...p, present()]);
setFuture(f => f.slice(1));
setPresent(next);
};
return { value: present, set, undo, redo, canUndo, canRedo };
}
```
## Custom Hooks/Primitives
### useLocalStorage
```tsx
function createLocalStorage(key: string, initialValue: T) {
const stored = localStorage.getItem(key);
const initial = stored ? JSON.parse(stored) : initialValue;
const [value, setValue] = createSignal(initial);
createEffect(() => {
localStorage.setItem(key, JSON.stringify(value()));
});
return [value, setValue] as const;
}
```
### useDebounce
```tsx
function createDebounce(source: () => T, delay: number) {
const [debounced, setDebounced] = createSignal(source());
createEffect(() => {
const value = source();
const timer = setTimeout(() => setDebounced(() => value), delay);
onCleanup(() => clearTimeout(timer));
});
return debounced;
}
// Usage
const debouncedQuery = createDebounce(query, 300);
```
### useThrottle
```tsx
function createThrottle(source: () => T, delay: number) {
const [throttled, setThrottled] = createSignal(source());
let lastRun = 0;
createEffect(() => {
const value = source();
const now = Date.now();
if (now - lastRun >= delay) {
lastRun = now;
setThrottled(() => value);
} else {
const timer = setTimeout(() => {
lastRun = Date.now();
setThrottled(() => value);
}, delay - (now - lastRun));
onCleanup(() => clearTimeout(timer));
}
});
return throttled;
}
```
### useMediaQuery
```tsx
function createMediaQuery(query: string) {
const mql = window.matchMedia(query);
const [matches, setMatches] = createSignal(mql.matches);
onMount(() => {
const handler = (e: MediaQueryListEvent) => setMatches(e.matches);
mql.addEventListener("change", handler);
onCleanup(() => mql.removeEventListener("change", handler));
});
return matches;
}
// Usage
const isMobile = createMediaQuery("(max-width: 768px)");
```
### useClickOutside
```tsx
function createClickOutside(
ref: () => HTMLElement | undefined,
callback: () => void
) {
onMount(() => {
const handler = (e: MouseEvent) => {
const el = ref();
if (el && !el.contains(e.target as Node)) {
callback();
}
};
document.addEventListener("click", handler);
onCleanup(() => document.removeEventListener("click", handler));
});
}
// Usage
let dropdownRef: HTMLDivElement;
createClickOutside(() => dropdownRef, () => setOpen(false));
```
### useIntersectionObserver
```tsx
function createIntersectionObserver(
ref: () => HTMLElement | undefined,
options?: IntersectionObserverInit
) {
const [isIntersecting, setIsIntersecting] = createSignal(false);
onMount(() => {
const el = ref();
if (!el) return;
const observer = new IntersectionObserver(([entry]) => {
setIsIntersecting(entry.isIntersecting);
}, options);
observer.observe(el);
onCleanup(() => observer.disconnect());
});
return isIntersecting;
}
```
## Form Patterns
### Form Validation
```tsx
function createForm>(initial: T) {
const [values, setValues] = createStore(initial);
const [errors, setErrors] = createStore>>({});
const [touched, setTouched] = createStore>>({});
const handleChange = (field: keyof T) => (e: Event) => {
const target = e.target as HTMLInputElement;
setValues(field as any, target.value as any);
};
const handleBlur = (field: keyof T) => () => {
setTouched(field as any, true);
};
const validate = (validators: Partial string | undefined>>) => {
let isValid = true;
for (const [field, validator] of Object.entries(validators)) {
if (validator) {
const error = validator(values[field as keyof T]);
setErrors(field as any, error as any);
if (error) isValid = false;
}
}
return isValid;
};
return { values, errors, touched, handleChange, handleBlur, validate, setValues };
}
// Usage
const form = createForm({ email: "", password: "" });
{form.errors.email}
```
### Field Array
```tsx
function createFieldArray(initial: T[] = []) {
const [fields, setFields] = createStore(initial);
const append = (value: T) => setFields(f => [...f, value]);
const remove = (index: number) => setFields(f => f.filter((_, i) => i !== index));
const update = (index: number, value: Partial) => setFields(index, v => ({ ...v, ...value }));
const move = (from: number, to: number) => {
setFields(produce(f => {
const [item] = f.splice(from, 1);
f.splice(to, 0, item);
}));
};
return { fields, append, remove, update, move };
}
```
## Performance Patterns
### Virtualized List
```tsx
function VirtualList(props: {
items: T[];
itemHeight: number;
height: number;
renderItem: (item: T, index: number) => JSX.Element;
}) {
const [scrollTop, setScrollTop] = createSignal(0);
const startIndex = createMemo(() =>
Math.floor(scrollTop() / props.itemHeight)
);
const visibleCount = createMemo(() =>
Math.ceil(props.height / props.itemHeight) + 1
);
const visibleItems = createMemo(() =>
props.items.slice(startIndex(), startIndex() + visibleCount())
);
return (
setScrollTop(e.currentTarget.scrollTop)}
>
{(item, i) => (
{props.renderItem(item, startIndex() + i())}
)}
);
}
```
### Lazy Loading with Intersection Observer
```tsx
function LazyLoad(props: ParentProps<{ placeholder?: JSX.Element }>) {
let ref: HTMLDivElement;
const [isVisible, setIsVisible] = createSignal(false);
onMount(() => {
const observer = new IntersectionObserver(
([entry]) => {
if (entry.isIntersecting) {
setIsVisible(true);
observer.disconnect();
}
},
{ rootMargin: "100px" }
);
observer.observe(ref);
onCleanup(() => observer.disconnect());
});
return (
{props.children}
);
}
```
### Memoized Component
```tsx
// For expensive components that shouldn't re-render on parent updates
function MemoizedExpensiveList(props: { items: Item[] }) {
// Component only re-renders when items actually change
return (
{(item) => }
);
}
```
## Testing Patterns
### Component Testing
```tsx
import { render, fireEvent, screen } from "@solidjs/testing-library";
test("Counter increments", async () => {
render(() => );
const button = screen.getByRole("button", { name: /increment/i });
expect(screen.getByText("Count: 0")).toBeInTheDocument();
fireEvent.click(button);
expect(screen.getByText("Count: 1")).toBeInTheDocument();
});
```
### Testing with Context
```tsx
function renderWithContext(component: () => JSX.Element) {
return render(() => (
{component()}
));
}
test("Dashboard shows user", () => {
renderWithContext(() => );
// ...
});
```
### Testing Async Components
```tsx
import { render, waitFor, screen } from "@solidjs/testing-library";
test("Loads user data", async () => {
render(() => );
expect(screen.getByText(/loading/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
await waitFor(() => {
expect(screen.getByText("John Doe")).toBeInTheDocument();
});
});
```
## Error Handling Patterns
### Global Error Handler
```tsx
function App() {
return (
(
)}
>
}>
{/* Routes */}
);
}
```
### Async Error Handling
```tsx
function DataComponent() {
const [data] = createResource(fetchData);
return (
refetch()} />
{(data) => }
);
}
```
## Accessibility Patterns
### Focus Management
```tsx
function Modal(props: ParentProps<{ isOpen: boolean; onClose: () => void }>) {
let dialogRef: HTMLDivElement;
let previousFocus: HTMLElement | null;
createEffect(() => {
if (props.isOpen) {
previousFocus = document.activeElement as HTMLElement;
dialogRef.focus();
} else if (previousFocus) {
previousFocus.focus();
}
});
return (
e.key === "Escape" && props.onClose()}
>
{props.children}
);
}
```
### Live Regions
```tsx
function Notifications() {
const [message, setMessage] = createSignal("");
return (
{message()}
);
}
```