<strong>Component architecture</strong> is building UIs from small, reusable, self-contained pieces that manage their own logic and appearance. It promotes code reuse, maintainability, and separation of concerns.
The LEGO Blocks Analogy
Components are like LEGO blocks—each piece is self-contained and reusable. You combine them to build complex structures (apps).
LEGO Blocks (Components)
Reusable pieces
Builder (Developer)
Assembles blocks
Castle (App)
Final product
UI + Logic + State
Data Flow Down
Component Tree
Define component
function Button({ text, onClick }) { ... }
Encapsulate logic
Component manages its own state and behavior
Accept props
Parent passes data via props
Compose components
<Form><Button /><Input /></Form>
Reuse everywhere
Same Button used across entire app
Wrong
"Components must be small and simple"
Correct
<strong>Components can be any size</strong>. Balance between too granular (many tiny components) and too large (monolithic components). Aim for single responsibility.
Building a dashboard:
Create <Card> component (reusable container)
Create <Chart> component (data visualization)
Create <Table> component (data display)
Compose: <Dashboard><Card><Chart /></Card></Dashboard>
Reuse components across different pages