How to Extend Styled Components in React

Styled-components is a powerful library for styling React applications. However, extending styled components without running into specificity issues can sometimes be tricky. In this guide, we'll explore various approaches to extending styled-components effectively.

Basic Way to Extend Styled Components

One of the most straightforward ways to extend a styled-component is by using the styled() function directly on an existing component:

import styled from 'styled-components'

const FlexContainer = styled.div`
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  justify-content: flex-start;
`

const FlexContainerExtended = styled(FlexContainer)`
  flex-direction: column-reverse;
`

export default FlexContainerExtended

Using the `as` Prop for Extending Components

An alternative way to extend a component dynamically is by using the as prop:

const FlexContainerExtended = styled.div`
  flex-direction: column-reverse;
`

;<FlexContainerExtended as={FlexContainer} />

Extending Functional Styled Components

If your component is a functional component using styled-components internally, it's best to separate the styled component from the React component:

type FlexContainerProps = {
  className?: string
}

const StyledFlexContainer = styled.div<FlexContainerProps>`
  display: flex;
  flex-direction: column;
  justify-content: flex-start;
`

export const FlexContainer: React.FC<FlexContainerProps> = ({ className, children }) => {
  return <StyledFlexContainer className={className}>{children}</StyledFlexContainer>
}

const FlexContainerExtended = styled(StyledFlexContainer)`
  flex-direction: column-reverse;
`

FAQs

Can I extend a styled-component inline?

Yes, but it's better to define an extended component separately for better readability and maintainability.

Why does my extended component's styles not apply correctly?

Ensure you're extending from the styled component and not the React functional component itself. Also, check for conflicting classNames and the order of styles being applied.

Is there a performance concern with extending styled-components?

Not really, as long as you're not recreating styled-components inside the render method.