20 Jetpack Compose Tips for Beginners
It lets you build UIs faster, with less boilerplate and more flexibility. But as a beginner, you might face challenges: state resets, recompositions, or tricky animations.
That’s why I’ve compiled 20 unique tips with beginner-friendly code examples. Each one is short, practical, and copy-ready — so you can level up your Compose skills immediately.
Let’s dive in! 👇
🔹 Section 1: State and Lifecycle
1. Use remember to Save State
remember keeps values across recompositions.
@Composable
fun RememberExample() {
var count by remember { mutableStateOf(0) }
Button(onClick = { count++ }) {
Text("Clicked $count times")
}
}2. Save State Across Rotation with rememberSaveable
Keeps state even after configuration changes.
@Composable
fun RememberSaveableExample() {
var name by rememberSaveable { mutableStateOf("") }
TextField(value = name, onValueChange = { name = it }, label = { Text("Enter name") })
}
3. Avoid Recalculation with derivedStateOf
Efficiently computes values from state.
@Composable
fun DerivedStateExample() {
var text by remember { mutableStateOf("") }
val length by remember { derivedStateOf { text.length } }
Column {
TextField(value = text, onValueChange = { text = it })
Text("Length: $length")
}
}
4. State Hoisting (Pass State Upwards)
Keep child composables stateless.
@Composable
fun Counter(count: Int, onIncrement: () -> Unit) {
Button(onClick = onIncrement) { Text("Count: $count") }
}
@Composable
fun CounterScreen() {
var count by remember { mutableStateOf(0) }
Counter(count, onIncrement = { count++ })
}
5. Use LaunchedEffect for Side Effects
Run tasks when inputs change.
@Composable
fun LaunchedEffectExample(userId: String) {
LaunchedEffect(userId) {
Log.d("Compose", "Loading data for $userId")
}
}
6. Stable Callbacks with rememberUpdatedState
Keeps lambdas fresh inside effects.
@Composable
fun Timer(onTimeout: () -> Unit) {
val callback by rememberUpdatedState(onTimeout)
LaunchedEffect(Unit) {
delay(3000)
callback()
}
}
🔹 Section 2: Lists & Performance
7. Use LazyColumn for Large Lists Efficient scrolling list.
@Composable
fun LazyListExample() {
val items = (1..100).toList()
LazyColumn {
items(items) { item -> Text("Item $item", Modifier.padding(8.dp)) }
}
}
8. Provide key in LazyColumn
Prevents UI glitches.
@Composable
fun LazyListWithKey() {
val users = listOf("A", "B", "C")
LazyColumn {
items(users, key = { it }) { user -> Text("User: $user") }
}
}
9. Track UI Changes with snapshotFlow
Convert state into a flow.
@Composable
fun SnapshotFlowExample() {
val listState = rememberLazyListState()
LaunchedEffect(Unit) {
snapshotFlow { listState.firstVisibleItemIndex }
.collect { Log.d("Scroll", "First visible: $it") }
}
LazyColumn(state = listState) {
items(50) { Text("Item $it") }
}
}
10. Collect Flow with collectAsState
Connect ViewModel data to UI.
@Composable
fun FlowExample(viewModel: MyViewModel = viewModel()) {
val text by viewModel.textFlow.collectAsState(initial = "Loading...")
Text(text)
}
🔹 Section 3: Animations & Effects
11. Animate Values with animate*AsState
Smooth size transition.
@Composable
fun AnimateExample() {
var big by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
val size by animateDpAsState(if (big) 100.dp else 40.dp)
Box(
Modifier
.size(size)
.background(Color.Blue)
.clickable { big = !big }
)
}
12. Auto Animation with animateContentSize()
No manual animation needed.
@Composable
fun ExpandableCard() {
var expanded by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
Column(
Modifier
.fillMaxWidth()
.background(Color.Gray)
.padding(16.dp)
.animateContentSize()
) {
Text("Jetpack Compose")
if (expanded) Text("This is hidden content!")
Button(onClick = { expanded = !expanded }) {
Text(if (expanded) "Hide" else "Show More")
}
}
}
13. Use produceState for Async Data
Cleaner async handling.
@Composable
fun ProduceStateExample(): State {
return produceState(initialValue = "Loading...") {
delay(2000)
value = "Data Loaded ✅"
}
}
🔹 Section 4: Layouts & UI Design
14. Custom Modifiers
Make modifiers reusable.
fun Modifier.cardStyle() = this
.padding(8.dp)
.shadow(4.dp, RoundedCornerShape(12.dp))
.background(Color.White)
@Composable
fun CardItem() {
Text("Styled Card", modifier = Modifier.cardStyle().padding(16.dp))
}
15. ConstraintLayout for Complex UI
Flexibility beyond Row/Column.
@Composable
fun ConstraintLayoutExample() {
ConstraintLayout(Modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
val (title, button) = createRefs()
Text("Hello", Modifier.constrainAs(title) { top.linkTo(parent.top, 32.dp) })
Button(
onClick = {},
Modifier.constrainAs(button) { top.linkTo(title.bottom, 16.dp) }
) { Text("Click") }
}
}
16. Custom Layout
Manually arrange children.
@Composable
fun CustomLayoutExample() {
Layout(content = {
Text("One")
Text("Two")
}) { measurables, constraints ->
val placeables = measurables.map { it.measure(constraints) }
layout(constraints.maxWidth, constraints.maxHeight) {
var y = 0
placeables.forEach {
it.place(0, y)
y += it.height
}
}
}
}
17. SubcomposeLayout for Overlays
Perfect for tooltips.
@Composable
fun SubcomposeExample() {
SubcomposeLayout { constraints ->
val main = subcompose("main") { Text("Main") }.map { it.measure(constraints) }
val overlay = subcompose("overlay") { Text("Overlay!", color = Color.Red) }.map { it.measure(constraints) }
layout(constraints.maxWidth, constraints.maxHeight) {
main.forEach { it.place(0, 0) }
overlay.forEach { it.place(20, 20) }
}
}
}
🔹 Section 5: Debugging and Accessibility
18. Preview Composables
Test without running app.
@Preview(showBackground = true)
@Composable
fun PreviewExample() {
Text("Hello Preview")
}
19. Accessibility with Modifier.semantics
Helps TalkBack users.
@Composable
fun AccessibleButton() {
Button(
onClick = {},
modifier = Modifier.semantics { contentDescription = "Submit Form" }
) {
Text("Submit")
}
}
20. Debug Recompositions
Find performance issues.
@Composable
fun DebugRecompose() {
androidx.compose.ui.tooling.debug.DebugRecomposeCounter { count ->
Text("Recomposed $count times")
}
}
🎯 Conclusion
These 20 Jetpack Compose tips cover everything from state management and lists to animations, custom layouts, and debugging.
As a beginner, you don’t need to memorize everything — just start experimenting. Try building a small app (like a notes app or a todo list) and apply these tips as you go.
👉 The more you practice, the more Compose will feel natural — and soon you’ll be building clean, reactive, and modern Android UIs with ease.