TanStack Query Patterns

Purpose

Modern data fetching with TanStack Query v5 (latest: 5.90.5, November 2025), emphasizing Suspense-based queries, cache-first strategies, and centralized API services.

Note: v5 (released October 2023) has breaking changes from v4:

• isLoading → isPending for status
• cacheTime → gcTime (garbage collection time)
• React 18.0+ required
• Callbacks removed from useQuery (onError, onSuccess, onSettled)
• keepPreviousData replaced with placeholderData function

When to Use This Skill

• Fetching data with TanStack Query
• Using useSuspenseQuery or useQuery
• Managing mutations
• Cache invalidation and updates
• API service patterns

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Quick Start

Primary Pattern: useSuspenseQuery

For all new components, use useSuspenseQuery:

import { useSuspenseQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
import { postsApi } from '~/features/posts/api/postsApi';

function PostList() {
  const { data: posts } = useSuspenseQuery({
    queryKey: ['posts'],
    queryFn: postsApi.getAll,
  });

  return (
    <div>
      {posts.map(post => (
        <PostCard key={post.id} post={post} />
      ))}
    </div>
  );
}

// Wrap with Suspense
<Suspense fallback={<PostsSkeleton />}>
  <PostList />
</Suspense>

Benefits:

• No isLoading checks needed
• Integrates with Suspense boundaries
• Cleaner component code
• Consistent loading UX

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useSuspenseQuery Patterns

Basic Usage

const { data } = useSuspenseQuery({
  queryKey: ['user', userId],
  queryFn: () => userApi.get(userId),
});

// data is never undefined - guaranteed by Suspense
return <div>{data.name}</div>;

With Parameters

function UserPosts({ userId }: { userId: string }) {
  const { data: posts } = useSuspenseQuery({
    queryKey: ['users', userId, 'posts'],
    queryFn: () => postsApi.getByUser(userId),
  });

  return <div>{posts.length} posts</div>;
}

Dependent Queries