10 React Hooks You Must Know in 2025

The best React hooks in 2025 are more than just utilities. They have revolutionized the way developers write, manage and scale front-end applications. Introduced in React 16.8, hooks enable functional components to manage state, side effects and complex UI logic without relying on class components. This shift not only simplifies code but also improves readability, modularity and reusability which are the key factors in developing maintainable and performant applications.

In 2025, hooks remain the standard for writing modern React applications. From fetching data and optimizing performance to handling responsive behavior and debugging, the right combination of hooks can streamline your entire development process. Whether you’re building an enterprise-level platform or a personal side project, knowing which hooks to use and when can make a substantial difference in both speed and scalability.

This article explores 10 of the most useful and impactful React hooks available today commonly used by developers to solve real-world problems. Each hook comes with a use case and code snippet, so you can understand easily and integrate them into your workflow.

10 React Hooks You Must Know in 2025

These React hooks cover a wide range of use cases, including:

• Improving API performance with debounce
• Persisting state across browser sessions
• Tracking user activity and idle time
• Creating responsive layouts
• Debugging component re-renders

Master these hooks to write cleaner, faster and more reliable React code in 2025 and beyond.

1. useDebounce – A Must-Have React Hook for Input Optimization

Delays a value update until the user has stopped typing, preventing excessive API calls and enhancing performance.

function useDebounce(value, delay = 300) {
  const [debounced, setDebounced] = React.useState(value);

  React.useEffect(() => {
    const handler = setTimeout(() => setDebounced(value), delay);
    return () => clearTimeout(handler);
  }, [value, delay]);

  return debounced;
}

Use Case:

Search bars, live filters, or autocomplete fields.

2. useLocalStorage – Best React Hook to Persist State

Syncs component state with localStorage so data survives page reloads.

function useLocalStorage(key, initialValue) {
  const [storedValue, setStoredValue] = React.useState(() => {
    try {
      const item = window.localStorage.getItem(key);
      return item ? JSON.parse(item) : initialValue;
    } catch (error) {
      return initialValue;
    }
  });

  const setValue = value => {
    setStoredValue(value);
    window.localStorage.setItem(key, JSON.stringify(value));
  };

  return [storedValue, setValue];
}

Use Case:

Theme toggles, auth tokens, or storing form data.

3. usePrevious – Compare Past and Current State

Keeps a reference to the previous value of a prop or state for comparison or transition purposes.

function usePrevious(value) {
  const ref = React.useRef();
  React.useEffect(() => {
    ref.current = value;
  }, [value]);
  return ref.current;
}

Use Case:

Change detection, animations, or logging state transitions.

4. useOnClickOutside – Detect Outside Clicks

Fires a callback when a user clicks outside the referenced element. Perfect for modals and dropdowns.

function useOnClickOutside(ref, handler) {
  React.useEffect(() => {
    const listener = event => {
      if (!ref.current || ref.current.contains(event.target)) return;
      handler(event);
    };

    document.addEventListener("mousedown", listener);
    return () => document.removeEventListener("mousedown", listener);
  }, [ref, handler]);
}

Use Case:

Modal dismissal, closing menus, or tooltips.

5. useFetch – Reusable Custom React Hook for API Requests

Encapsulates API logic and state into a reusable hook.

function useFetch(url) {
  const [data, setData] = React.useState(null);
  const [loading, setLoading] = React.useState(true);

  React.useEffect(() => {
    fetch(url)
      .then(res => res.json())
      .then(setData)
      .finally(() => setLoading(false));
  }, [url]);

  return { data, loading };
}

Use Case:

Reusable API calls across components.

6. useWindowSize – Track Screen Size in Real Time

Respond to window resize events and update layout accordingly.

function useWindowSize() {
  const [size, setSize] = React.useState([window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight]);

  React.useEffect(() => {
    const handleResize = () => setSize([window.innerWidth, window.innerHeight]);
    window.addEventListener("resize", handleResize);
    return () => window.removeEventListener("resize", handleResize);
  }, []);

  return size;
}

Use Case:

Responsive UI components and layout adjustments.

7. useIntersectionObserver – Detect Element Visibility

Triggers a callback when an element becomes visible in the viewport.

function useIntersectionObserver(ref, callback) {
  React.useEffect(() => {
    const observer = new IntersectionObserver(([entry]) => {
      if (entry.isIntersecting) callback();
    });

    if (ref.current) observer.observe(ref.current);
    return () => ref.current && observer.unobserve(ref.current);
  }, [ref, callback]);
}

Use Case:

Lazy loading images, triggering animations on scroll.

8. useHasFocus – Detect Tab Focus

Tracks whether the browser window is currently in focus.

function useHasFocus() {
  const [hasFocus, setHasFocus] = React.useState(document.hasFocus());

  React.useEffect(() => {
    const onFocus = () => setHasFocus(true);
    const onBlur = () => setHasFocus(false);

    window.addEventListener("focus", onFocus);
    window.addEventListener("blur", onBlur);

    return () => {
      window.removeEventListener("focus", onFocus);
      window.removeEventListener("blur", onBlur);
    };
  }, []);

  return hasFocus;
}

Use Case:

Pause timers, analytics tracking, or inactivity warnings.

9. useIdle – Track User Inactivity

Detects when a user has been inactive for a specified duration.

function useIdle(timeout = 5000) {
  const [idle, setIdle] = React.useState(false);

  React.useEffect(() => {
    let timer;
    const reset = () => {
      clearTimeout(timer);
      timer = setTimeout(() => setIdle(true), timeout);
      setIdle(false);
    };

    window.addEventListener("mousemove", reset);
    window.addEventListener("keydown", reset);
    reset();

    return () => {
      window.removeEventListener("mousemove", reset);
      window.removeEventListener("keydown", reset);
    };
  }, [timeout]);

  return idle;
}

Use Case:

Auto-logout, activity tracking, or power-saving behaviors.

10. useWhyDidYouUpdate – Debugging React Hook to Track Re-Renders

Helps identify unnecessary re-renders by comparing props across renders.

function useWhyDidYouUpdate(name, props) {
  const previousProps = React.useRef(props);

  React.useEffect(() => {
    const allKeys = Object.keys({ ...previousProps.current, ...props });
    const changes = {};

    allKeys.forEach(key => {
      if (previousProps.current[key] !== props[key]) {
        changes[key] = {
          from: previousProps.current[key],
          to: props[key],
        };
      }
    });

    if (Object.keys(changes).length > 0) {
      console.log(`[why-did-you-update] ${name}`, changes);
    }

    previousProps.current = props;
  });
}

Use Case:

Performance debugging in development.

Final Thoughts

These 10 React hooks can dramatically improve your development workflow. From performance optimization and user experience to debugging and state management, knowing when and how to use these hooks separates good React apps from great ones.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are React hooks?

Hooks are functions that let you use React features (like state and lifecycle methods) inside functional components.

Why should I use custom hooks?

Custom hooks promote reusability, cleaner code, and separation of concerns by isolating logic from UI components.

What is the best hook for fetching data?

useFetch is a simple and reusable hook for basic API needs. For complex cases, consider tools like React Query.

How do I persist state in React?

Use useLocalStorage to sync state with localStorage, allowing it to persist across sessions.

How can I debug unnecessary re-renders?

useWhyDidYouUpdate helps by logging which props changed during a component re-render.