asHooks

asHooks is a library and design pattern for turning asynchronous operations into reusable hooks in JavaScript ecosystems, with a focus on React. It provides abstractions that encapsulate the lifecycle of asynchronous work, including loading states, successful data, error handling, and cancellation.

At its core, asHooks offers a factory that accepts an asynchronous function and returns a hook. The resulting hook exposes state for data, error, and loading, along with control methods such as execute or refresh, and optional flags for idle or suspended rendering. This approach aims to standardize how asynchronous tasks are invoked and observed within components.

Features commonly associated with asHooks include caching and request deduplication, automatic cancellation of in-flight requests on unmount, configurable revalidation strategies, and support for suspense integration. Many implementations also provide plugin or middleware systems to customize behavior or integrate with different data sources, such as REST endpoints or GraphQL.

Usage typically involves defining an asynchronous operation and wrapping it with asHooks to produce a reusable hook. Components invoke the hook to initiate the operation by supplying parameters, monitor the current state, and trigger a re-fetch or refresh when needed. The pattern emphasizes composability, allowing complex async flows to be assembled from smaller, testable units.

Benefits of asHooks include reduced boilerplate, consistency across components, and clearer separation of concerns between data fetching and presentation. Considerations include the potential for over-abstraction and the need to learn the library’s conventions to avoid unnecessary complexity. See also: hooks, React Query, SWR, data-fetching patterns.