React in 2025: Patterns That Actually Matter

We're at the end of 2025, and the React ecosystem has settled into some clear patterns. The good news? You don't need to chase every new thing anymore. The bad news? You still need to know what actually works.

Here are three patterns that have proven themselves this year.

1. Server Components Are Not Optional Anymore

If you're using Next.js 16 (and you probably should be), Server Components are the default. The mental model is simple: fetch data on the server, render UI on the client.

// The 2024 way: useEffect soup
export default function UserProfile({ id }: { id: string }) {
  const [user, setUser] = useState(null);
  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);

  useEffect(() => {
    fetch(`/api/user/${id}`)
      .then((res) => res.json())
      .then(setUser)
      .finally(() => setLoading(false));
  }, [id]);

  if (loading) return <Skeleton />;
  return <div>{user.name}</div>;
}

// The 2025 way: just... do it
export default async function UserProfile({ id }: { id: string }) {
  const user = await db.user.findUnique({ where: { id } });
  return <div>{user.name}</div>;
}

No loading states to manage. No race conditions. The server does the work, and the client gets HTML. Revolutionary? No. But it works, and that's the point.

The catch: You'll end up with more files (server component + client component pairs). Worth it.

2. TypeScript: Stop Using any

I know, I know. You've heard this before. But 2025 is the year where "I'll fix the types later" stopped being acceptable.

The pattern that works: define your types first.

// Before you write any implementation
interface UserConfig {
  theme: "light" | "dark";
  notifications: boolean;
  role: "admin" | "user";
}

// Now TypeScript catches your mistakes
function getDashboardUrl(role: UserConfig["role"]): string {
  switch (role) {
    case "admin":
      return "/admin";
    case "user":
      return "/dashboard";
    // If you add a new role, TypeScript will yell at you here
  }
}

The compiler becomes your pair programmer. It's annoying at first, then you realize it's saving you from 3 AM debugging sessions.

3. Composition Over Configuration (Still)

This one isn't new, but people keep getting it wrong. If your component has more than 5 boolean props, something went wrong.

// This is a cry for help
<Card
  title="Hi"
  showFooter
  showHeader
  isLoading
  hasError
  isCompact
  showBorder
/>

// This is peace
<Card>
  <CardHeader>Hi</CardHeader>
  <CardContent>...</CardContent>
  <CardFooter>
    <Button>Action</Button>
  </CardFooter>
</Card>

When requirements change (and they will), composition handles it gracefully. Configuration props turn into a game of whack-a-mole.

Looking Ahead

2025 gave us stable Server Components, better TypeScript tooling, and AI assistants that actually help with code (hi there). The fundamentals haven't changed, they've just gotten easier to implement well.

Pick patterns that make your codebase boring in a good way.