Interface Segregation Principle (ISP) in React Development

How to build cleaner components

Chhakuli Zingare

February 19, 2025·9 min read

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Welcome back to our SOLID principles in the React series! So far, we’ve covered:

✅ S: Single Responsibility Principle (SRP): Keep components focused.
✅ O: Open/Closed Principle (OCP): Make extensions easy, not modifications.
✅ L: Liskov Substitution Principle (LSP): Keep components interchangeable without breaking behavior.

Today, we’re diving into the Interface Segregation Principle (ISP)—a principle that helps keep our React components and interfaces lean, modular, and easier to maintain.

If SOLID principles were a gym for your code, ISP would be the exercise that trims down bloated, unfocused interfaces. Let’s break it down and then apply it to real-world React examples.

What is the Interface Segregation Principle (ISP)?

ISP is one of the five SOLID principles from object-oriented programming (OOP), but it’s just as relevant in React.

In simple terms:

“A class (or component) should not be forced to depend on interfaces it does not use.”

In React terms:

A component should only receive the props it actually needs.
Interfaces (types) should be small and specific, not overloaded with unrelated properties.
Hooks should return only the data relevant to their purpose.

If an interface has too many properties, components will be bloated, harder to reuse, and difficult to maintain.

In simple terms, ISP states that an interface should only have the methods and properties relevant to a specific use case. In React, this means breaking down component props and interfaces into smaller, focused ones. This improves maintainability, reusability, and readability.

Why Should React Developers Care?

Before we dive into code, let's talk about why this matters in real-world React development:

Easier Testing: When components have fewer responsibilities, they're much easier to test. You don't have to mock a bunch of unused props just to test one feature.

// Basic user information interface interface UserBasicInfoProps { name: string; email: string; avatar: string; } const UserBasicInfo: React.FC<UserBasicInfoProps> = ({ name, email, avatar }) => ( <div className="user-basic-info"> <img src={avatar} alt={name} /> <h2>{name}</h2> <p>{email}</p> </div> ); // Social links interface interface SocialLinksProps { twitter?: string; linkedin?: string; github?: string; } const SocialLinks: React.FC<SocialLinksProps> = ({ twitter, linkedin, github }) => ( <div className="social-links"> {twitter && <a href={twitter}>Twitter</a>} {linkedin && <a href={linkedin}>LinkedIn</a>} {github && <a href={github}>GitHub</a>} </div> ); // Activity stats interface interface ActivityStatsProps { postCount: number; commentCount: number; likeCount: number; } const ActivityStats: React.FC<ActivityStatsProps> = ({ postCount, commentCount, likeCount }) => ( <div className="activity-stats"> <span>Posts: {postCount}</span> <span>Comments: {commentCount}</span> <span>Likes: {likeCount}</span> </div> ); // Admin actions interface interface AdminActionsProps { isAdmin: boolean; canEdit: boolean; canDelete: boolean; onEdit: () => void; onDelete: () => void; } const AdminActions: React.FC<AdminActionsProps> = ({ isAdmin, canEdit, canDelete, onEdit, onDelete }) => { if (!isAdmin) return null; return ( <div className="admin-actions"> {canEdit && <button onClick={onEdit}>Edit</button>} {canDelete && <button onClick={onDelete}>Delete</button>} </div> ); }; // User interaction interface interface UserInteractionProps { onFollow: () => void; onMessage: () => void; } const UserInteractions: React.FC<UserInteractionProps> = ({ onFollow, onMessage }) => ( <div className="user-interactions"> <button onClick={onFollow}>Follow</button> <button onClick={onMessage}>Message</button> </div> ); // Main UserProfile component now composing smaller components interface UserProfileProps { user: UserBasicInfoProps; social: SocialLinksProps; stats: ActivityStatsProps; admin: AdminActionsProps; interactions: UserInteractionProps; } const UserProfile: React.FC<UserProfileProps> = ({ user, social, stats, admin, interactions }) => { return ( <div className="user-profile"> <UserBasicInfo {...user} /> <SocialLinks {...social} /> <ActivityStats {...stats} /> <AdminActions {...admin} /> <UserInteractions {...interactions} /> </div> ); };

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Interface Segregation Principle (ISP) in React Development

What is the Interface Segregation Principle (ISP)?

Why Should React Developers Care?

Why Does ISP Matter in React?

The Problem: A Monolithic Component

Applying ISP: Breaking It Down

What Changed and Why It's Better

Real-World Example: A Data Table Component

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Over-segregation

2. Prop Drilling

3. Premature Abstraction

When to Apply ISP in Real Projects

Good Times to Apply ISP:

Maybe Skip ISP When:

Key Takeaways

Final Thoughts: Keep Your Interfaces Lean & Focused