Props vs Context vs State: Choosing the Right Tool

Props vs Context vs State: Choosing the Right Tool

State management in React may seem simple at first. You have some data, you store it somewhere, and you use it. But as the project grows, these decisions become critical. Where you store state, how you share it, and how you update it directly shape your architecture.

We generally have three main tools: props, local state, and context. Each one simplifies things when used correctly. When used incorrectly, they create complexity.

Local State: The Starting Point

The most natural starting point in React is local state. A component manages its own data using useState.

function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0)
  return <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>{count}</button>
}

This approach is simple, readable, and isolated. If the data belongs to a single component, local state is the right choice.

Problems start when other components also need that state.

Props: The Simplest Way to Pass Data

When you need to pass state to child components, you use props. This is React’s core data flow model.

function Parent() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0)
  return <Child count={count} />
}

Props are explicit, which makes them easy to follow and debug.

But when the component tree gets deeper, a problem appears:
Prop drilling.

<App>
  <Layout>
    <Sidebar>
      <UserProfile user={user} />
    </Sidebar>
  </Layout>
</App>

The user data may only be needed in UserProfile, but you still have to pass it through multiple layers.

Context: Useful, But Not Free

Context API is often used to solve prop drilling. It allows shared data to be accessed anywhere in the component tree.

const UserContext = createContext()

function App() {
  return (
    <UserContext.Provider value={user}>
      <UserProfile />
    </UserContext.Provider>
  )
}

This looks clean at first.
But Context has a cost.

When the context value changes, all consuming components re-render. This can lead to performance issues in larger applications.

Also, overusing Context makes state location less predictable, which makes debugging harder.

The Biggest Mistake: Making Everything Global

One of the most common mistakes is making state global too early.

Data added to Context "just in case" often becomes hard to manage over time.

This may feel convenient at first, but creates complexity in the long run.

How to Choose the Right Tool?

A simple rule of thumb:

If the data belongs to one component → Local State
If it flows between a few components → Props
If many unrelated components need it → Context

But the key idea is:
Start simple.

Don’t introduce Context before you actually need it.

Real World Example

Think of an e-commerce app:

• Product quantity → Local state

• Cart data → Context or global state

• Product details → Passed via props

Instead of putting everything into Context, structuring state based on usage leads to a healthier architecture.

Conclusion

State management in React is not just technical — it’s architectural.

Props, Context, and Local State are not alternatives. They complement each other.

Wrong choices may not hurt in small projects.
But they become serious problems as the project grows.

Good React developers don’t solve every problem with the same tool.
They choose the right tool for the problem.

Because good architecture starts with the right decisions.