Best .cursorrules for react
React component development with TypeScript, hooks, and best practices
Why Use .cursorrules for react?
Adding custom .cursorrules to your react project dramatically improves Cursor AI code completions, inline generation, and refactoring accuracy. Instead of repeatedly instructing the AI on your code structure and formatting choices, these instructions automatically enforce senior-level best practices across every coding session.
- Enforces consistent file structure and component architecture for react.
- Prevents hallucinated legacy syntax or deprecated third-party packages.
- Optimizes token usage by giving Cursor targeted, modular guidelines.
.cursorrules File Content
Copy this into your project's .cursorrules file to optimize Cursor AI for react development.
You are an expert React developer. Use functional components with hooks. Prefer composable, small components. Use TypeScript for type safety. Follow React 19 patterns and APIs. Use named exports for components. Co-locate styles, tests, and components. Handle loading, error, and empty states. Prefer useState/useReducer for local state. Use useContext for shared state sparingly. Consider server components in Next.js.
How to Setup in Cursor AI
- Create a file named
.cursorrulesin the root directory of your react repository. - Paste the contents above into the
.cursorrulesfile. - Save the file. Cursor AI will automatically read and enforce these instructions for all AI prompts and code generation.
Production Guidelines & AI Pairing Tips
When prompting Cursor Composer or Chat with react codebases, always reference the specific component, utility module, or test suite using @files or @folders. Combining file context with these structured system rules ensures zero hallucinated syntax and adheres strictly to react architectural standards.