React Hook Form + Zod Validation

Status: Production Ready ✅ Last Updated: 2025-11-20 Production Tested: Multiple production applications Token Savings: ~60% Errors Prevented: 12 documented issues

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Auto-Trigger Keywords

Claude Code automatically discovers this skill when you mention:

Primary Keywords

• react-hook-form
• useForm
• zod validation
• form validation
• zodResolver
• @hookform/resolvers
• rhf
• form schema
• zod schema
• react forms

Secondary Keywords

• register form
• handleSubmit
• formState errors
• form validation react
• useFieldArray
• useWatch
• useController
• Controller component
• form errors
• validation schema
• client side validation
• server side validation
• form error handling
• validation errors react

Framework Integration

• shadcn form
• shadcn/ui form
• Form component shadcn
• Field component shadcn
• next.js form validation
• react form validation
• vite form validation

Zod-Specific

• z.object
• z.string
• z.number
• z.array
• z.infer
• zod refine
• zod transform
• zod error messages
• schema validation

Error-Based Keywords

• "resolver not found"
• "zod type inference"
• "form validation failed"
• "schema validation error"
• "useForm types"
• "zod infer"
• "nested validation"
• "array field validation"
• "dynamic fields"
• "uncontrolled to controlled"
• "default values required"
• "field not updating"
• "resolver is not a function"
• "schema parse error"

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What This Skill Does

This skill provides comprehensive knowledge for building type-safe, validated forms in React using React Hook Form + Zod:

• Complete React Hook Form API - useForm, register, Controller, useFieldArray, useWatch, useController
• Zod Schema Patterns - All data types, refinements, transforms, error customization
• shadcn/ui Integration - Form and Field component patterns
• Client + Server Validation - Dual validation with single source of truth
• Advanced Patterns - Dynamic fields, multi-step forms, async validation, nested objects, arrays
• Error Handling - Accessible error display, custom formatting, server error mapping
• Performance Optimization - Form modes, validation strategies, re-render optimization
• TypeScript Type Safety - Full type inference from Zod schemas
• Accessibility - WCAG compliance, ARIA attributes, keyboard navigation

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Known Issues Prevented

This skill prevents 12 documented issues:

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When to Use This Skill

✅ Use when:

• Building forms with validation in React
• Need type-safe form data
• Want client + server validation with single schema
• Using shadcn/ui components
• Need complex validation (nested objects, arrays, conditional)
• Require accessible form error handling
• Building multi-step forms or wizards
• Need dynamic form fields (add/remove items)
• Want performance-optimized forms
• Using Next.js, Vite, or any React framework

❌ Don't use when:

• Building simple forms without validation (plain React state is fine)
• Using different validation library (Yup, Joi, etc.)
• Using different form library (Formik, Final Form, etc.)
• Building non-React forms (use appropriate library)

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Quick Example

import { useForm } from 'react-hook-form'
import { zodResolver } from '@hookform/resolvers/zod'
import { z } from 'zod'

// 1. Define Zod schema
const formSchema = z.object({
  email: z.string().email('Invalid email address'),
  password: z.string().min(8, 'Password must be at least 8 characters'),
})

// 2. Infer TypeScript type
type FormData = z.infer<typeof formSchema>

function LoginForm() {
  // 3. Setup form with zodResolver
  const { register, handleSubmit, formState: { errors } } = useForm<FormData>({
    resolver: zodResolver(formSchema),
    defaultValues: { email: '', password: '' },
  })

  // 4. Handle submission
  const onSubmit = (data: FormData) => {
    console.log('Valid data:', data)
  }

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit(onSubmit)}>
      <input {...register('email')} />
      {errors.email && <span>{errors.email.message}</span>}

      <input type="password" {...register('password')} />
      {errors.password && <span>{errors.password.message}</span>}

      <button type="submit">Login</button>
    </form>
  )
}

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Package Versions

Latest Tested Versions (as of 2025-11-20):

• react-hook-form: 7.66.1
• zod: 4.1.12
• @hookform/resolvers: 5.2.2

Installation:

npm install react-hook-form@7.66.1 zod@4.1.12 @hookform/resolvers@5.2.2

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Token Efficiency

Manual Setup (without skill):

• Initial implementation: ~6,000 tokens
• Debugging validation errors: ~3,000 tokens
• Adding advanced features: ~2,000 tokens
• Total: ~10,000 tokens

With Skill:

• Direct implementation: ~3,000 tokens
• Minimal debugging: ~500 tokens
• Advanced features: ~500 tokens
• Total: ~4,000 tokens

Savings: ~60% (6,000 tokens saved)

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Templates Included

1. basic-form.tsx - Simple login/signup form
2. advanced-form.tsx - Nested objects, arrays, conditional fields
3. shadcn-form.tsx - shadcn/ui Form component integration
4. server-validation.ts - Server-side validation with same schema
5. async-validation.tsx - Async validation with debouncing
6. dynamic-fields.tsx - useFieldArray for adding/removing items
7. multi-step-form.tsx - Wizard with per-step validation
8. custom-error-display.tsx - Custom error formatting and display
9. package.json - Complete dependencies

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Reference Documentation

• zod-schemas-guide.md - Comprehensive Zod schema patterns
• rhf-api-reference.md - Complete React Hook Form API
• error-handling.md - Error messages, formatting, accessibility
• accessibility.md - WCAG compliance, ARIA attributes
• performance-optimization.md - Form modes, validation strategies
• shadcn-integration.md - shadcn/ui Form vs Field components
• top-errors.md - 12 common errors with solutions
• links-to-official-docs.md - Organized documentation links

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Dependencies

• React 18+ or React 19+
• TypeScript 5+ (recommended)
• No other Claude Code skills required (standalone)

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Production Validation

This skill has been tested in:

• ✅ React + Vite applications
• ✅ Next.js App Router with Server Actions
• ✅ Next.js Pages Router with API routes
• ✅ shadcn/ui Form component integration
• ✅ Complex validation scenarios (nested, arrays, async)
• ✅ TypeScript strict mode

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Contributing

Found an issue or have a suggestion? Open an issue at: https://github.com/jezweb/claude-skills/issues

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License: MIT Maintainer: Jeremy Dawes (jeremy@jezweb.net) Repository: https://github.com/jezweb/claude-skills