Common Mistakes in LWC Development: A Guide for Beginners to Intermediates

Introduction:

Lightning Web Components (LWC) is one of the most powerful and efficient ways to build dynamic, modern user interfaces in Salesforce. However, as with any new framework, developers—whether beginners or intermediate—often run into common pitfalls that can affect the performance, usability, and maintainability of their components. In this article, we’ll highlight the most common mistakes made by LWC developers, and provide tips on how to avoid them. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your skills, these insights will help you become a better LWC developer.

1. Misusing @track, @api, and @wire

The Mistake: One of the first challenges developers face in LWC is understanding how to properly use decorators like @track, @api, and @wire. These decorators help manage data reactivity and expose component functionality, but beginners often misuse them, causing unnecessary re-renders or inefficient data fetching.

How to Fix It:

• @track: Only use @track for nested objects (objects or arrays) to ensure proper reactivity.
• @api: Use @api for properties or events that need to be accessed from outside the component. Be selective about what you expose.
• @wire: Use @wire for reactive data fetching from Apex or other sources. For user-driven actions, prefer imperative calls.

Tip: When using @api, only expose what's necessary for the parent component to interact with, following the principle of minimal exposure.

2. Poor Component Structure

The Mistake: It’s tempting to cram all the logic and UI into one big component when you're starting out. But this quickly leads to bloated files that are difficult to maintain and scale.

How to Fix It:

• Modularize: Break your component into smaller, single-responsibility components. Each component should have one clear function.
• Reuse: Create reusable components for common UI elements like buttons, cards, or tables. This reduces code duplication and promotes maintainability.

Tip: Follow the atomic design principles: small building blocks like buttons or inputs, then compose them into more complex components like forms or modals.

3. Ignoring UX in Forms

The Mistake: Forms are often one of the most interactive parts of an application, and when they are messy—lacking validation or proper feedback—they lead to a poor user experience.

How to Fix It:

• Use SLDS components: Leverage lightning-input, lightning-combobox, and other SLDS components for built-in validation, error messages, and accessibility.
• Inline Validation: Provide real-time feedback on form fields, so users know instantly if they’ve made a mistake.
• Layout: Organize form fields using grids or flex layouts to maintain consistency.

Tip: Group related fields together logically, keep spacing consistent, and avoid overwhelming the user with too many fields on a single screen.

4. Not Using Lightning Design System (SLDS)

The Mistake: Custom CSS is a common culprit for creating a UI that’s inconsistent with Salesforce’s native look and feel. Over-customizing styles can break platform responsiveness and accessibility.

How to Fix It:

• Stick to SLDS: Use Salesforce's standard SLDS utility classes to handle layouts, colors, typography, and other UI elements.
• Custom CSS: Only use custom styles for truly unique elements that can’t be achieved with SLDS classes.

Tip: Ensure your components align with Salesforce’s platform by sticking to SLDS for a consistent, responsive design. Use design tokens for colors, typography, and spacing.

5. Hardcoding Labels & Picklist Values

The Mistake: Hardcoding text, labels, or picklist values directly into your LWC components is a practice that can create issues down the road, particularly when it comes to internationalization (i18n) or making changes to business logic.

How to Fix It:

• Custom Labels: Use custom labels to store text that may need to be localized or changed. This ensures that labels are easy to maintain and support translation.
• Dynamic Picklists: Use getPicklistValues to dynamically fetch picklist values instead of hardcoding them in the component.

Tip: Always plan for localization (i18n) from the start, even if you don’t need it immediately.

6. No Loading or Empty States

The Mistake: Leaving components blank while data is loading or showing a screen without any data (empty state) can leave users frustrated, wondering if something’s wrong.

How to Fix It:

• Loading States: Use <lightning-spinner> or skeleton loaders to indicate when data is being fetched.
• Empty States: Display friendly empty-state messages when no data is available. Consider using lightning-icon to add visual clarity.

Tip: Users appreciate progress indicators—don’t leave them in the dark. Use loading spinners or fallback messages to keep the user informed.

7. No Accessibility or Keyboard Navigation

The Mistake: Forgetting to add proper accessibility (ARIA attributes) or keyboard navigation makes your components less usable, particularly for users relying on screen readers or keyboard navigation.

How to Fix It:

• ARIA attributes: Add necessary ARIA attributes like aria-labelledby, aria-hidden, and aria-required for accessibility.
• Keyboard Navigation: Ensure that interactive elements (modals, buttons, forms) are fully navigable via keyboard using tabindex.

Tip: Start with accessibility in mind—test your components with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation to ensure they are usable by everyone.

Conclusion:

Building with Lightning Web Components is both rewarding and challenging. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can write cleaner, more maintainable code, and create user-friendly interfaces. Remember that LWC development is an iterative process. As you build more complex components, don’t be afraid to refactor, test your designs, and keep up with Salesforce updates.

Pro Tip: Stay up to date with Salesforce’s official documentation on LWC, SLDS, and accessibility. The better you know the tools, the better your apps will become.

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