How to type React children correctly in TypeScript

Alright fellow craftspeople, let's talk about wrangling those pesky React children in TypeScript. We've all been there, staring at a type error that just doesn't make sense when passing components aro...

How to type React children correctly in TypeScript
Photo by Lautaro Andreani / Unsplash

Alright fellow craftspeople, let's talk about wrangling those pesky React children in TypeScript. We've all been there, staring at a type error that just doesn't make sense when passing components around. This piece from LogRocket dives deep into modern best practices, showing us how to properly define and expect children in our React components using TypeScript. Forget the old ways; we're going to explore the power of `ReactNode` for flexible child types and `PropsWithChildren` when your component *absolutely* needs to nest something. It's all about building robust, predictable components, the craftsman's way.

The article steers us away from the once-popular `React.FC` approach, explaining its limitations and why it's often an anti-pattern now. Instead, we get a clear look at leveraging explicit type definitions. Think about it: when you're building a complex UI, understanding exactly what kind of content a component can accept is crucial for maintainability. You'll learn how to correctly type props that *might* include children, and how to handle cases where children are mandatory. This isn't just about avoiding red squiggly lines; it's about writing cleaner, more intentional React code that's a joy to work with, even months down the line.


📰 Original article: https://blog.logrocket.com/react-children-prop-typescript/

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