Sharing Data Across Next.js Components Using Context API and Hooks (with REST API Example)

Prop drilling, the process of passing data through many components in React, becomes problematic in large applications, leading to unreadable and hard-to-maintain code. This issue is exacerbated when numerous components require the same data. A superior solution involves using React's Context API and Hooks to create a global data store. This approach allows any component to access or update shared state without prop drilling. The Context API provides a global data store, while Hooks manage state and side effects in functional components. This combination facilitates efficient global data management. An example demonstrates fetching user data, storing it in a Context, and accessing it using the `useContext()` hook. The example involves creating a Context, wrapping the application with a provider, and accessing the Context within a component. This results in a single data fetch and globally accessible user data. This method enhances code maintainability and scalability, particularly beneficial for large-scale applications. Using TypeScript ensures type safety and supports a robust, scalable architecture.