Core Concepts

Core Concepts in Frontend Architecture - WIP

Understanding the fundamental concepts is crucial before diving into specific architectural patterns. This guide covers the essential principles that form the foundation of good frontend architecture.

What is Frontend Architecture?

Frontend architecture is the structural design and organization of frontend code that determines how components interact, how data flows, and how the application scales. It’s about making intentional decisions about code organization, not just writing working code.

Key Concepts

1. Separation of Concerns

Definition: Dividing your application into distinct sections, each handling a specific aspect of functionality.

2. Data Flow

Definition: How data moves through your application from one component to another.

3. Component Composition

Definition: Building complex components by combining simpler ones.

4. Abstraction

Definition: Hiding complex implementation details behind simple interfaces.

Architecture vs. Implementation

Architecture is about structure and organization - the “what” and “why” of your decisions.

Implementation is about the specific code - the “how” of making it work.

Common Anti-patterns

1. God Components

Components that do too much and know too much about the application.

2. Prop Drilling

Passing props through multiple levels of components that don’t need them.

3. Tight Coupling

Components that are too dependent on each other, making changes difficult.

4. Mixed Responsibilities

Components that handle both UI and business logic.