Modern React Native Styling Patterns

Modern React Native Styling Patterns

Follow these styling patterns for cleaner, more consistent React Native code.

Always use borderCurve: 'continuous' with borderRadius:

// Incorrect
{ borderRadius: 12 }

// Correct – smoother iOS-style corners
{ borderRadius: 12, borderCurve: 'continuous' }

Use gap instead of margin for spacing between elements:

// Incorrect – margin on children
<View>
  <Text style={{ marginBottom: 8 }}>Title</Text>
  <Text style={{ marginBottom: 8 }}>Subtitle</Text>
</View>

// Correct – gap on parent
<View style={{ gap: 8 }}>
  <Text>Title</Text>
  <Text>Subtitle</Text>
</View>

Use padding for space within, gap for space between:

<View style={{ padding: 16, gap: 12 }}>
  <Text>First</Text>
  <Text>Second</Text>
</View>

Use experimental_backgroundImage for linear gradients:

// Incorrect – third-party gradient library
<LinearGradient colors={['#000', '#fff']} />

// Correct – native CSS gradient syntax
<View
  style={{
    experimental_backgroundImage: 'linear-gradient(to bottom, #000, #fff)',
  }}
/>

Use CSS boxShadow string syntax for shadows:

// Incorrect – legacy shadow objects or elevation
{ shadowColor: '#000', shadowOffset: { width: 0, height: 2 }, shadowOpacity: 0.1 }
{ elevation: 4 }

// Correct – CSS box-shadow syntax
{ boxShadow: '0 2px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)' }

Avoid multiple font sizes – use weight and color for emphasis:

// Incorrect – varying font sizes for hierarchy
<Text style={{ fontSize: 18 }}>Title</Text>
<Text style={{ fontSize: 14 }}>Subtitle</Text>
<Text style={{ fontSize: 12 }}>Caption</Text>

// Correct – consistent size, vary weight and color
<Text style={{ fontWeight: '600' }}>Title</Text>
<Text style={{ color: '#666' }}>Subtitle</Text>
<Text style={{ color: '#999' }}>Caption</Text>

Limiting font sizes creates visual consistency. Use fontWeight (bold/semibold) and grayscale colors for hierarchy instead.