The State Management Tax
React state management discussions generate endless threads, but the reality is simpler than the discourse suggests: most applications don't need specialized libraries.
State is data that changes while your app runs - logged-in users, cart contents, form values. React's core hook useState handles this:
const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
When state updates via setCount, React re-renders automatically. No manual DOM manipulation. This pattern scales further than developers expect.
When Built-In Hooks Are Enough
For local component state, useState suffices. For complex logic - think form validation or multi-step workflows - useReducer provides structure without external dependencies.
Sharing state across components? Lifting state up to parent components works until it doesn't. The breaking point typically comes when passing props through 3+ layers causes maintenance headaches ("prop drilling").
Context API fills this gap for authentication, themes, or user preferences. Worth noting: Context performance degrades in large component trees - a pattern enterprises hit when applications scale beyond initial MVPs.
The Library Question
Redux holds ~40% adoption in legacy surveys, but official React documentation now advises against premature optimization. Redux Toolkit reduces boilerplate, yet adds conceptual overhead most teams don't need.
Lightweight alternatives like Zustand and Jotai gained traction precisely because they feel like enhanced useState. For server state - API data, caching, background updates - TanStack Query (React Query) usage surged 200% year-over-year among enterprises. It's not state management; it's server synchronization.
WebSocket integration for real-time features (collaboration tools, live dashboards) pairs naturally with Zustand's subscription model or Jotai's atomic updates, avoiding Context's re-render costs.
The Real Pattern
Enterprise teams see better outcomes following this sequence:
- Local state with
useState - Shared state via props
- Context API for cross-cutting concerns
- Server state with TanStack Query
- External libraries only when provably necessary
The contrarian view holds weight: state management fatigue stems from over-engineering. React's primitives handle more than developers credit. The trade-off isn't capability - it's team familiarity versus maintenance burden.
History suggests the winning pattern is boring: start simple, add complexity when pain points emerge with measurable impact. Redux isn't wrong for large-scale apps; it's premature for most.
What This Means In Practice
CTOs evaluating React stacks should question whether their teams need Redux at all. URL state for shareability, reducers with Context for deep component trees, and TanStack Query for API layers cover 90% of enterprise requirements.
The fine print matters here: React 19 (2024) refined hooks but introduced no paradigm shifts. The 2025-2026 consensus favors built-in solutions over heavy libraries. We'll see if emerging React Compiler discussions around signals change this calculus.
For now, the smartest move is starting with what React ships. Add libraries when you can articulate exactly why built-in options failed.