Propbased

Propbased is a software design approach that emphasizes configuring and rendering components primarily through properties, or props. The term is used in developer discussions of component-driven UI libraries, where data, callbacks, and configuration are supplied from a parent context so that each component can render deterministically given its inputs.

Key characteristics include explicit, unidirectional data flow from parent to child, stateless or minimally stateful components, and a clear contract defined by prop types or interfaces. Props serve as the primary interface for customization, with default values and validation to ensure robust usage. This approach often relies on composition over inheritance and favors predictable rendering and easier testing.

Benefits of propbased design include improved testability, reusability, and easier reasoning about a component tree. It also supports better separation of concerns, as behavior is driven by inputs rather than internal implementation details. However, it can lead to prop drilling and increased boilerplate in deeply nested structures, unless mitigated by context providers, higher-order components, or state management solutions. Balancing stateless renderers with localized state or derived values is a common consideration.

Propbased patterns are commonly seen in modern UI toolkits and frameworks that use component trees and explicit props, such as React, Vue, and Svelte, as well as in API design where function inputs drive behavior. The term remains colloquial in many circles and may be used to describe a disciplined, input-driven style of component composition rather than a formal standard.

See also: component-based architecture, prop drilling, UI composition, typed props.