How to Effectively Use SWR Data in React setState without Redundancy

Discover how to efficiently handle `SWR` data in your React application without unnecessary state management. Simplify your code with practical insights.
---

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Understanding the Problem: Using SWR Data with setState in React

The Given Code

You might have a code snippet that looks something like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Here, you're trying to fetch data using the useSWR hook and then place that data into a local state array called contents. However, this raises a fundamental question: Is it really necessary to use setContents to manage the state of data when SWR is already handling it for you?

The Solution: Leveraging SWR Directly

The good news is that you actually do not need to transfer the data from SWR into another state variable. This is where many developers get tripped up! SWR effectively manages the fetched data's state, so there's no need for additional setState calls for this use case.

Key Points to Consider:

SWR is Designed for Simplicity: With SWR, the fetched data is already part of your component's state. This means you can use it directly without the hassle of duplicating state management.

Code Efficiency: By using data directly, you simplify logic and reduce potential errors associated with state syncing.

Using the Fetched Data

Instead of trying to use the setContents function, you can use the data directly in your component. If you want to rename it for clarity or better context, you can even destructure it as follows:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

With this adjustment, contents can now be used directly throughout your component where you previously intended to use setContents.

Advantages of This Approach

Reduces Boilerplate: You eliminate the unnecessary boilerplate code that comes with managing another layer of state.

Real-time Updates: Since SWR is built to handle data fetching and caching intelligently, using data allows your components to be more responsive to changes in your API data.

Less Complexity: The overall complexity of your state management decreases, making it easier to maintain and understand your React components.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when working with SWR in React, it's crucial to understand that the library is designed to handle state management for the fetched data. You don't need to use setContents to replicate what SWR is already doing efficiently. Instead, utilize the data directly or rename it for clarity, and enjoy a cleaner, more efficient codebase.

By simplifying your approach to state management with SWR, you enhance both your code efficiency and the performance of your React components.