Core Components

---
name: core-components
description: "Core component library and design system patterns. Use when building UI, using design tokens, or working with the component library."
risk: none
source: community
date_added: "2026-02-27"
---

# Core Components

## Design System Overview

Inspect the actual project component exports, token definitions and framework first. The names, $ tokens and props below illustrate an assumed local library; none is bundled here. Use its real documented API, preserve accessibility/native behavior and do not invent components/core imports or variantStyles. Reuse project primitives when appropriate rather than replacing valid native components solely to match this example.

## Design Tokens

**NEVER hard-code values. Always use design tokens.**

### Spacing Tokens

```tsx
// CORRECT - Use tokens
<Box padding="$4" marginBottom="$2" />

// WRONG - Hard-coded values
<Box padding={16} marginBottom={8} />
```

| Token | Value |
|-------|-------|
| `$1` | 4px |
| `$2` | 8px |
| `$3` | 12px |
| `$4` | 16px |
| `$6` | 24px |
| `$8` | 32px |

### Color Tokens

```tsx
// CORRECT - Semantic tokens
<Text color="$textPrimary" />
<Box backgroundColor="$backgroundSecondary" />

// WRONG - Hard-coded colors
<Text color="#333333" />
<Box backgroundColor="rgb(245, 245, 245)" />
```

| Semantic Token | Use For |
|----------------|---------|
| `$textPrimary` | Main text |
| `$textSecondary` | Supporting text |
| `$textTertiary` | Disabled/hint text |
| `$primary500` | Brand/accent color |
| `$statusError` | Error states |
| `$statusSuccess` | Success states |

### Typography Tokens

```tsx
<Text fontSize="$lg" fontWeight="$semibold" />
```

| Token | Size |
|-------|------|
| `$xs` | 12px |
| `$sm` | 14px |
| `$md` | 16px |
| `$lg` | 18px |
| `$xl` | 20px |
| `$2xl` | 24px |

## Core Components

### Box

Base layout component with token support:

```tsx
<Box
  padding="$4"
  backgroundColor="$backgroundPrimary"
  borderRadius="$lg"
>
  {children}
</Box>
```

### HStack / VStack

Horizontal and vertical flex layouts:

```tsx
<HStack gap="$3" alignItems="center">
  <Icon name="user" />
  <Text>Username</Text>
</HStack>

<VStack gap="$4" padding="$4">
  <Heading>Title</Heading>
  <Text>Content</Text>
</VStack>
```

### Text

Typography with token support:

```tsx
<Text
  fontSize="$lg"
  fontWeight="$semibold"
  color="$textPrimary"
>
  Hello World
</Text>
```

### Button

Interactive button with variants:

```tsx
<Button
  onPress={handlePress}
  variant="solid"
  size="md"
  isLoading={loading}
  isDisabled={disabled}
>
  Click Me
</Button>
```

| Variant | Use For |
|---------|---------|
| `solid` | Primary actions |
| `outline` | Secondary actions |
| `ghost` | Tertiary/subtle actions |
| `link` | Inline actions |

### Input

Form input with validation:

```tsx
<Input
  value={value}
  onChangeText={setValue}
  placeholder="Enter text"
  error={touched ? errors.field : undefined}
  label="Field Name"
/>
```

### Card

Content container:

```tsx
<Card padding="$4" gap="$3">
  <CardHeader>
    <Heading size="sm">Card Title</Heading>
  </CardHeader>
  <CardBody>
    <Text>Card content</Text>
  </CardBody>
</Card>
```

## Layout Patterns

### Screen Layout

```tsx
const MyScreen = () => (
  <Screen>
    <ScreenHeader title="Page Title" />
    <ScreenContent padding="$4">
      {/* Content */}
    </ScreenContent>
  </Screen>
);
```

### Form Layout

```tsx
<VStack gap="$4" padding="$4">
  <Input label="Name" {...nameProps} />
  <Input label="Email" {...emailProps} />
  <Button isLoading={loading}>Submit</Button>
</VStack>
```

### List Item Layout

```tsx
<HStack
  padding="$4"
  gap="$3"
  alignItems="center"
  borderBottomWidth={1}
  borderColor="$borderLight"
>
  <Avatar source={{ uri: imageUrl }} size="md" />
  <VStack flex={1}>
    <Text fontWeight="$semibold">{title}</Text>
    <Text color="$textSecondary" fontSize="$sm">{subtitle}</Text>
  </VStack>
  <Icon name="chevron-right" color="$textTertiary" />
</HStack>
```

## Anti-Patterns

```tsx
// WRONG - Hard-coded values
<View style={{ padding: 16, backgroundColor: '#fff' }}>

// CORRECT - Design tokens
<Box padding="$4" backgroundColor="$backgroundPrimary">


// WRONG - Raw platform components
import { View, Text } from 'react-native';

// CORRECT - Core components
import { Box, Text } from 'components/core';


// WRONG - Inline styles
<Text style={{ fontSize: 18, fontWeight: '600' }}>

// CORRECT - Token props
<Text fontSize="$lg" fontWeight="$semibold">
```

## Component Props Pattern

When creating components, use token-based props:

```tsx
interface CardProps {
  padding?: '$2' | '$4' | '$6';
  variant?: 'elevated' | 'outlined' | 'filled';
  children: React.ReactNode;
}

const Card = ({ padding = '$4', variant = 'elevated', children }: CardProps) => (
  <Box
    padding={padding}
    backgroundColor="$backgroundPrimary"
    borderRadius="$lg"
    {...variantStyles[variant]}
  >
    {children}
  </Box>
);
```

## Integration with Other Skills

- **react-ui-patterns**: Use core components for UI states
- **testing-patterns**: Mock core components in tests
- **storybook**: Document component variants

## When to Use
This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.

## Limitations
- Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
- Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
- Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.