How do React hooks work under the hood?

They're a per-component linked list traversed by a resetting cursor. Ensures same order every render.

Why can't I call hooks in loops or conditions?

Skips mess cursor, swapping hook states across renders.

What's the real reason for useEffect dependency array?

Closes over stable hook position refs, preventing stale closures.

React Hooks Aren't Magic: Build Them from Scratch to See Why the Rules Make Perfect Sense

You've called useState a thousand times. But do you know why loops break it? This deep dive builds React's hooks system piece by piece — and unlocks the 'why' behind the rules.

theAIcatchup Apr 09, 2026 4 min read

Simplified diagram of React hooks as a linked list with cursor traversal during render

⚡ Key Takeaways

Hooks rules stem from a linked list + cursor — break order, break state. 𝕏
Build it yourself: array slots reveal why top-level calls are mandatory. 𝕏
Master this, banish useEffect frustrations; React's power unlocks. 𝕏

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theAIcatchup

Community-driven. Code-first.

#hooks #javascript #react #react hooks #react-internals #useState

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⚡ Key Takeaways

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