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Frontend Academy · Lesson

TypeScript with React: FC generics hooks

Type React components with generic props, annotate useState and useRef with explicit types, and type custom hooks that return tuples.

TypeScript with React: FC generics hooks is a free Frontend Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Frontend Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

Typing Components

Modern React: type props with an interface and use a plain function. React.FC exists but is no longer recommended (implicit children, no generics support).

// Recommended:
interface ButtonProps {
  label: string;
  onClick: () => void;
  disabled?: boolean;
}

function Button({ label, onClick, disabled }: ButtonProps) {
  return <button onClick={onClick} disabled={disabled}>{label}</button>;
}

Typing children

Use React.ReactNode for any renderable child.

interface CardProps {
  title: string;
  children: React.ReactNode;
}

function Card({ title, children }: CardProps) {
  return (
    <div className="card">
      <h2>{title}</h2>
      {children}
    </div>
  );
}

Typing useState

useState usually infers from the initial value. Provide an explicit type when initial value is null or doesn't represent the full possible type.

const [count, setCount] = useState(0);              // number
const [name, setName] = useState('');                // string

const [user, setUser] = useState<User | null>(null); // explicit
const [items, setItems] = useState<Item[]>([]);      // explicit array type

Typing useRef

Two forms: ref to a DOM element (initialised to null), or a mutable container.

const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
const timerRef = useRef<number | null>(null);

useEffect(() => {
  inputRef.current?.focus();
  timerRef.current = window.setInterval(tick, 1000);
  return () => clearInterval(timerRef.current!);
}, []);

Typing Event Handlers

Use React's synthetic event types.

function Form() {
  function onSubmit(e: React.FormEvent<HTMLFormElement>) {
    e.preventDefault();
  }
  function onChange(e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) {
    setValue(e.target.value);
  }
  function onClick(e: React.MouseEvent<HTMLButtonElement>) {
    /* ... */
  }
  return <form onSubmit={onSubmit}>...</form>;
}

Generic Components

Components can be generic — TypeScript infers the type parameter from the call site.

interface ListProps<T> {
  items: T[];
  renderItem: (item: T) => React.ReactNode;
  keyOf: (item: T) => string | number;
}

function List<T>({ items, renderItem, keyOf }: ListProps<T>) {
  return <ul>{items.map(i => <li key={keyOf(i)}>{renderItem(i)}</li>)}</ul>;
}

<List<User>
  items={users}
  renderItem={u => u.name}
  keyOf={u => u.id}
/>

Typing Custom Hooks

Custom hooks are functions — type them like any other function. Return tuples need explicit annotation to avoid array widening.

function useToggle(initial = false): [boolean, () => void] {
  const [value, setValue] = useState(initial);
  const toggle = () => setValue(v => !v);
  return [value, toggle]; // tuple — annotation makes this stable
}

const [isOpen, toggle] = useToggle();

Typing Context

createContext needs an initial value of the same type as the value you'll provide. Use a non-null assertion or a default object.

interface AuthContextValue {
  user: User | null;
  signIn: (email: string, pw: string) => Promise<void>;
  signOut: () => void;
}

const AuthContext = createContext<AuthContextValue | null>(null);

export function useAuth() {
  const ctx = useContext(AuthContext);
  if (!ctx) throw new Error('useAuth must be inside AuthProvider');
  return ctx;
}

Typing useReducer

Type the state and the action union explicitly.

type State = { count: number };
type Action =
  | { type: 'increment' }
  | { type: 'decrement' }
  | { type: 'set'; value: number };

function reducer(state: State, action: Action): State {
  switch (action.type) {
    case 'increment': return { count: state.count + 1 };
    case 'decrement': return { count: state.count - 1 };
    case 'set':       return { count: action.value };
  }
}

const [state, dispatch] = useReducer(reducer, { count: 0 });

Avoiding React.FC

React.FC has fallen out of favour: it implicitly adds children, doesn't support generic components cleanly, and inhibits some optimisations. Prefer plain function components with typed props.

ComponentPropsWithoutRef Utility

To inherit a native element's props (extending a button or input), use ComponentPropsWithoutRef.

type ButtonProps = React.ComponentPropsWithoutRef<'button'> & {
  variant?: 'primary' | 'secondary';
};

function Button({ variant = 'primary', ...rest }: ButtonProps) {
  return <button className={`btn ${variant}`} {...rest} />;
}

Quick Check

Why is using React.FC generally discouraged in favour of plain typed function components?

Recap: TypeScript + React

Type props with interfaces, prefer plain functions over React.FC. children: React.ReactNode. useState often infers, annotate for null/empty arrays. useRef for DOM elements. React event types for handlers. Generic components for reusable lists/forms. Tuple return from custom hooks needs annotation. ComponentPropsWithoutRef to extend native elements.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “TypeScript with React: FC generics hooks” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “TypeScript with React: FC generics hooks” is free to read here on the web, and the Frontend Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Frontend Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “TypeScript with React: FC generics hooks”?

Type React components with generic props, annotate useState and useRef with explicit types, and type custom hooks that return tuples. You practise Frontend Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start Frontend Academy?

No prior experience is required. Frontend Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “TypeScript with React: FC generics hooks” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this Frontend Academy lesson?

Yes. Every Frontend Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

  1. Template Literal Types
  2. Decorators and Metadata
  3. TypeScript with React: FC generics hooks
  4. Strict Mode and Eliminating any
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