Advanced React Hook Patterns: Building Production-Ready Components on Azure

In This Blog

• Managing Complex State Patterns in TypeScript
• Implementing Robust Cleanup in useEffect
• Building Composable Custom Hooks
• Optimizing Performance with Memory Hooks
• Best Practices for Hook Dependencies
• Deploying React Applications to Azure
• Best Practices for Combining React and Azure
• Need Help? Getting Started with React and Azure
• Frequently Asked Questions

React Hooks have changed the way developers approach building components, making it easier to create scalable, maintainable applications. For businesses using Microsoft Azure to host and manage their apps, it’s important to understand how advanced hook patterns can work seamlessly with Azure App Service, Azure Static Web Apps, and Azure API Management. Whether you’re building a customer portal, tracking inventory, or managing online bookings, combining React with Azure’s tools helps you build applications that are secure, flexible, and ready to grow with your business.

Managing Complex State Patterns in TypeScript

Businesses using Azure App Service to host React frontends often need to manage complex, real-time data. For example, a restaurant using Azure SQL Database to store menu data can benefit from a sophisticated state management approach when building a web-based ordering system. Here’s how a restaurant might approach it:

// Example TypeScript interfaces for order management
interface MenuItemCustomization {  
  size: 'small' | 'medium' | 'large';  
  additions: string[];  
  specialInstructions: string;  
  temperature?: 'hot' | 'cold';  
}

interface OrderItem {  
  itemId: string;  
  quantity: number;  
  customization: MenuItemCustomization;  
  price: number;  
}

interface OrderState {  
  items: OrderItem[];  
  customer: { name: string; phone: string; address?: Address }; 
  delivery: { type: 'pickup' | 'delivery'; scheduledTime: string; specialInstructions: string }; 
}

When applications rely on Azure Functions to process orders or send “order up!” notifications, they may consider using useState and useCallback for clear and predictable state updates and smooth communication between the frontend and backend services.

Implementing Robust Cleanup in useEffect

For React applications integrating with Azure SignalR Service or other real-time data streams, proper cleanup of connections is critical to avoid performance issues or orphaned listeners. Consider a reservation system for a restaurant that uses Azure Web PubSub to share table availability:

function TableAvailabilityMonitor({ restaurantId }: { restaurantId: string }) {
  const [availableTables, setAvailableTables] = useState<Table[]>([]);
  const [connectionStatus, setConnectionStatus] = useState<'connected' | 'disconnected'>('disconnected');

  useEffect(() => {
    const connection = new WebSocket(`wss://my-azure-signalr-service/${restaurantId}`);

    connection.addEventListener('open', () => setConnectionStatus('connected'));
    connection.addEventListener('message', (event) => setAvailableTables(JSON.parse(event.data)));
    connection.addEventListener('close', () => setConnectionStatus('disconnected'));

    return () => connection.close();
  }, [restaurantId]);
}

This pattern is especially important for Azure Static Web Apps that scale dynamically based on user load, ensuring stale connections are properly closed.

Building Composable Custom Hooks

Custom hooks are super useful for modularizing business logic (or, breaking your app’s core functionality into smaller, reusable pieces). They’re particularly helpful when integrating with Azure Functions, Azure Cosmos DB, or Azure SQL Database. For example, an inventory tracking system can store stock levels in Cosmos DB, with React handling local state and updates. Here’s what that could look like:

function useInventoryTracking<T extends { id: string; quantity: number }>(
  initialItems: T[],
  lowStockThreshold: number
) {
  const [items, setItems] = useState<T[]>(initialItems);
  const [lowStockItems, setLowStockItems] = useState<T[]>([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    setLowStockItems(items.filter(item => item.quantity <= lowStockThreshold));
  }, [items, lowStockThreshold]);

  return { items, lowStockItems };
}

When combined with Azure Application Insights monitoring for performance and errors, these hooks provide reliable state management in cloud-based solutions.

Optimizing Performance with Memory Hooks

For businesses using Azure Data Explorer to analyze large datasets, optimizing React components with useMemo and useCallback can significantly improve performance when working with data-heavy dashboards.

function SalesDashboard({ transactions }: { transactions: SaleTransaction[] }) {
  const dailyRevenue = useMemo(() => {
    return transactions.reduce((acc, transaction) => {
      const date = transaction.date.split('T')[0];
      acc[date] = (acc[date] || 0) + transaction.amount;
      return acc;
    }, {} as Record<string, number>);
  }, [transactions]);

  // Further visualization with Power BI embedded in the same dashboard
}

Combining React dashboards with Power BI Embedded allows businesses to blend custom front-end experiences with deep analytical insights, all within the Azure ecosystem.

Best Practices for Hook Dependencies

When building applications that pull data from Azure App Configuration or Azure Key Vault, managing hook dependencies ensures data stays current while minimizing unnecessary calls. Here’s how you could do it:

function AppointmentScheduler({ businessId, serviceId }: Props) {
  const config = useEnvironmentConfig(); // retrieves from Azure App Configuration

  const dependencies = useMemo(() => ({
    apiEndpoint: `${config.apiUrl}/businesses/${businessId}/services/${serviceId}`,
    refreshInterval: config.environment === 'production' ? 60000 : 5000,
  }), [businessId, serviceId, config]);

  const [slots, setSlots] = useState<TimeSlot[]>([]);

  useEffect(() => {
    const fetchSlots = async () => {
      const response = await fetch(dependencies.apiEndpoint);
      setSlots(await response.json());
    };

    fetchSlots();
    const intervalId = setInterval(fetchSlots, dependencies.refreshInterval);
    return () => clearInterval(intervalId);
  }, [dependencies]);
}

With Azure-hosted configurations, this pattern ensures smooth integration across environments (dev, staging, production) without the need for manual adjustments.

Deploying React Applications to Azure

React applications can be deployed to Azure Static Web Apps or Azure App Service, with environment-specific settings managed through Azure App Configuration. Here’s an example of a simple configuration management hook:

function useEnvironmentConfig() {
  return useMemo(() => {
    const environment = process.env.REACT_APP_ENVIRONMENT || 'development';
    return config[environment];
  }, []);
}

Best Practices for Combining React and Azure

There are some tried and true best practices that can help you build production-ready React applications within the Microsoft ecosystem. Stick to these guidelines:

• Leverage Azure Static Web Apps for modern frontend hosting.
• Integrate Azure Functions or Azure API Management for backend processes.
• Use Azure App Configuration to manage environment-specific settings.
• Implement Application Insights for monitoring, ensuring visibility across development, testing, and production.

This setup ensures React apps remain secure, scalable, and manageable across the software lifecycle.

Need Help?

Combining React and Azure could mean powerful results for your business. Not sure how to get started? Contact us for guidance on building, deploying, and maintaining React applications on Microsoft Azure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use React with Azure?

Yes, React works seamlessly with Azure and is often used to build scalable, cloud-based web applications. You can deploy React apps to Azure Static Web Apps or Azure App Service and easily integrate them with services like Azure Functions, Azure API Management, and Azure Cosmos DB for robust backend processes. This combination allows you to create flexible, secure, and high-performing applications.

Is React Hooks still used?

Yes, React Hooks are still widely used and remain a fundamental part of modern React development. They provide a simpler and more efficient way to manage state, handle side effects, and share logic between components. Hooks like useState, useEffect, and custom hooks make it easier to build modular, maintainable, and scalable applications.

What are webhooks in Azure?

Webhooks in Azure are HTTP callbacks that enable external services to communicate with Azure resources and trigger automated workflows. They’re often used with Azure Functions or Logic Apps to respond to real-time events, like database updates or form submissions. By using webhooks, you can create event-driven architectures that improve responsiveness and streamline application processes.

What is useMsal in React?

useMsal is a hook provided by the @azure/msal-react library, designed to simplify authentication and user session management in React applications. It works with Microsoft’s identity platform, allowing you to securely handle sign-ins, access tokens, and user context. This makes it easy to implement single sign-on (SSO) and integrate Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) into your app.