React Flow Architecture

Architectural guidance for building node-based UIs with React Flow. Use when designing flow-based applications, making decisions about state management, integration patterns, or evaluating whether React Flow fits a use case.

When to Use React Flow

Good Fit

• Visual programming interfaces
• Workflow builders and automation tools
• Diagram editors (flowcharts, org charts)
• Data pipeline visualization
• Mind mapping tools
• Node-based audio/video editors
• Decision tree builders
• State machine designers

Consider Alternatives

• Simple static diagrams (use SVG or canvas directly)
• Heavy real-time collaboration (may need custom sync layer)
• 3D visualizations (use Three.js, react-three-fiber)
• Graph analysis with 10k+ nodes (use WebGL-based solutions like Sigma.js)

Decision workflow (gates)

Run this sequence before locking the stack or sprinting implementation. Skip only for throwaway prototypes.

1. Name the interactions — List the top user actions (e.g. drag, connect, delete, group). Pass: Each action maps to a concrete React Flow callback you will implement (onNodesChange, onConnect, …).

2. Classify scale — Estimate peak nodes (visible canvas or document total). Pass: Your range matches a row in Node Count Guidelines and you accept the listed strategy (e.g. onlyRenderVisibleElements when that row implies it).

3. Place state — Choose local hooks, an external store, or Redux/other. Pass: One sentence states where persistence, undo, or cross-surface sync will live, or explicitly “not needed yet.”

4. Re-check alternatives — If the use case matches Consider Alternatives, Pass: One sentence explains why React Flow still fits or which listed alternative you chose instead.

Architecture Patterns

Package Structure (xyflow)

text

@xyflow/system (vanilla TypeScript)
├── Core algorithms (edge paths, bounds, viewport)
├── xypanzoom (d3-based pan/zoom)
├── xydrag, xyhandle, xyminimap, xyresizer
└── Shared types

@xyflow/react (depends on @xyflow/system)
├── React components and hooks
├── Zustand store for state management
└── Framework-specific integrations

@xyflow/svelte (depends on @xyflow/system)
└── Svelte components and stores

Implication: Core logic is framework-agnostic. When contributing or debugging, check if issue is in @xyflow/system or framework-specific package.

State Management Approaches

1. Local State (Simple Apps)

tsx

// useNodesState/useEdgesState for prototyping
const [nodes, setNodes, onNodesChange] = useNodesState(initialNodes);
const [edges, setEdges, onEdgesChange] = useEdgesState(initialEdges);

Pros: Simple, minimal boilerplate Cons: State isolated to component tree

2. External Store (Production)

tsx

// Zustand store example
import { create } from 'zustand';

interface FlowStore {
  nodes: Node[];
  edges: Edge[];
  setNodes: (nodes: Node[]) => void;
  onNodesChange: OnNodesChange;
}

const useFlowStore = create<FlowStore>((set, get) => ({
  nodes: initialNodes,
  edges: initialEdges,
  setNodes: (nodes) => set({ nodes }),
  onNodesChange: (changes) => {
    set({ nodes: applyNodeChanges(changes, get().nodes) });
  },
}));

// In component
function Flow() {
  const { nodes, edges, onNodesChange } = useFlowStore();
  return <ReactFlow nodes={nodes} onNodesChange={onNodesChange} />;
}

Pros: State accessible anywhere, easier persistence/sync Cons: More setup, need careful selector optimization

3. Redux/Other State Libraries

tsx

// Connect via selectors
const nodes = useSelector(selectNodes);
const dispatch = useDispatch();

const onNodesChange = useCallback((changes: NodeChange[]) => {
  dispatch(nodesChanged(changes));
}, [dispatch]);

Data Flow Architecture

text

User Input → Change Event → Reducer/Handler → State Update → Re-render
     ↓
[Drag node] → onNodesChange → applyNodeChanges → setNodes → ReactFlow
     ↓
[Connect]   → onConnect → addEdge → setEdges → ReactFlow
     ↓
[Delete]    → onNodesDelete → deleteElements → setNodes/setEdges → ReactFlow

Sub-Flow Pattern (Nested Nodes)

tsx

// Parent node containing child nodes
const nodes = [
  {
    id: 'group-1',
    type: 'group',
    position: { x: 0, y: 0 },
    style: { width: 300, height: 200 },
  },
  {
    id: 'child-1',
    parentId: 'group-1',  // Key: parent reference
    extent: 'parent',      // Key: constrain to parent
    position: { x: 10, y: 30 },  // Relative to parent
    data: { label: 'Child' },
  },
];

Considerations:

• Use extent: 'parent' to constrain dragging
• Use expandParent: true to auto-expand parent
• Parent z-index affects child rendering order

Viewport Persistence

tsx

// Save viewport state
const { toObject, setViewport } = useReactFlow();

const handleSave = () => {
  const flow = toObject();
  // flow.nodes, flow.edges, flow.viewport
  localStorage.setItem('flow', JSON.stringify(flow));
};

const handleRestore = () => {
  const flow = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('flow'));
  setNodes(flow.nodes);
  setEdges(flow.edges);
  setViewport(flow.viewport);
};

Integration Patterns

With Backend/API

tsx

// Load from API
useEffect(() => {
  fetch('/api/flow')
    .then(r => r.json())
    .then(({ nodes, edges }) => {
      setNodes(nodes);
      setEdges(edges);
    });
}, []);

// Debounced auto-save
const debouncedSave = useMemo(
  () => debounce((nodes, edges) => {
    fetch('/api/flow', {
      method: 'POST',
      body: JSON.stringify({ nodes, edges }),
    });
  }, 1000),
  []
);

useEffect(() => {
  debouncedSave(nodes, edges);
}, [nodes, edges]);

With Layout Algorithms

tsx

import dagre from 'dagre';

function getLayoutedElements(nodes: Node[], edges: Edge[]) {
  const g = new dagre.graphlib.Graph();
  g.setGraph({ rankdir: 'TB' });
  g.setDefaultEdgeLabel(() => ({}));

  nodes.forEach((node) => {
    g.setNode(node.id, { width: 150, height: 50 });
  });

  edges.forEach((edge) => {
    g.setEdge(edge.source, edge.target);
  });

  dagre.layout(g);

  return {
    nodes: nodes.map((node) => {
      const pos = g.node(node.id);
      return { ...node, position: { x: pos.x, y: pos.y } };
    }),
    edges,
  };
}

Performance Scaling

Node Count Guidelines

Nodes	Strategy
< 100	Default settings
100-500	Enable onlyRenderVisibleElements
500-1000	Simplify custom nodes, reduce DOM elements
> 1000	Consider virtualization, WebGL alternatives

Optimization Techniques

tsx

<ReactFlow
  // Only render nodes/edges in viewport
  onlyRenderVisibleElements={true}

  // Reduce node border radius (improves intersect calculations)
  nodeExtent={[[-1000, -1000], [1000, 1000]]}

  // Disable features not needed
  elementsSelectable={false}
  panOnDrag={false}
  zoomOnScroll={false}
/>

Trade-offs

Controlled vs Uncontrolled

Controlled	Uncontrolled
More boilerplate	Less code
Full state control	Internal state
Easy persistence	Need toObject()
Better for complex apps	Good for prototypes

Connection Modes

Strict (default)	Loose
Source → Target only	Any handle → any handle
Predictable behavior	More flexible
Use for data flows	Use for diagrams

tsx

<ReactFlow connectionMode={ConnectionMode.Loose} />

Edge Rendering

Default edges	Custom edges
Fast rendering	More control
Limited styling	Any SVG/HTML
Simple use cases	Complex labels