What is the difference between the "public" folder and "src/assets" in a Vite project?

Files in the public folder are served exactly as they are without any processing from the build tool. In contrast, files placed in `src/assets` are processed by Vite, which allows for optimizations like bundling and hashing. Hashing is particularly useful because it attaches a unique string to filenames, ensuring that users always see the latest version of an image or file instead of a stale, cached version.

Why should I use a "pages" folder if I already have a "components" folder?

The distinction helps create a clear hierarchy in your application. The components folder should be reserved for small, reusable UI building blocks like buttons, inputs, and cards. The pages folder is meant for top-level components that correspond to specific routes, such as a Home or Login screen. This organizational split prevents you from having to hunt through a massive list of generic components to find the logic for a specific screen.

When is it appropriate to move logic into the "hooks" folder?

You should move logic into the hooks folder when you want to separate "how things look" from "how things work." Following the "Don't Repeat Yourself" (DRY) principle, if you find yourself writing the same logic—such as API fetching, form handling, or authentication checks—in multiple places, you should extract it into a custom hook. This keeps your UI components clean and focused solely on rendering.

What are "barrel files" and how do they improve a project?

Barrel files are `index.js` or `index.ts` files located inside a component folder that export the main component. They act as a "public lobby" or gatekeeper for that folder, allowing you to use cleaner import statements and hiding internal implementation details. By using an index file, you can change internal helper files or styles without breaking other parts of the app, as the rest of the project only interacts with what the index file explicitly exports.

How do I know when to switch from a basic structure to a feature-based organization?

You should consider switching when your top-level folders, like the components folder, begin to feel like a "junk drawer" again. If you notice that large groups of components and hooks are only ever used for a specific function—such as "User Profile" or "Shopping Cart"—it is more efficient to group them by feature. This "colocation" ensures that the code that changes together lives together, making the project easier to navigate as it scales.

From Clutter to Clean: Structuring Your Vite React App

23 min

Mar 5, 2026

Technology Education Productivity

Stop drowning in a 'component graveyard' and learn to organize your React project using the Big Four folders for a scalable, professional workflow.

Best quote from From Clutter to Clean: Structuring Your Vite React App

A good folder structure is like a well-labeled filing cabinet. It doesn't matter if the labels are in cursive or print, as long as they’re all in the same place and you can read them.

This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member

Input question

Explain how to structure a small Vite + React app: components folder, pages folder, hooks folder, assets folder. Keep it practical and beginner friendly.

Host voices

Lena

Jackson

Learning style

Fun

Knowledge sources

Lean architecture for agile software development

Frequently Asked Questions

Discover more

deep react knowledge

LEARNING PLAN

deep react knowledge

React continues to dominate the frontend development landscape, but mastering its core concepts and advanced patterns is essential for building professional-grade applications. This learning plan is ideal for developers who have basic JavaScript knowledge and want to become proficient React engineers capable of building complex, performant applications.

2 h 22 m•3 Sections

How to organise my life and clear my head.

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How to organise my life and clear my head.

This plan is essential for professionals and individuals feeling overwhelmed by modern demands and mental clutter. It provides a roadmap for anyone seeking to transition from a state of constant chaos to a life of structured clarity and sustainable balance.

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I want to learn how to write react front end

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I want to learn how to write react front end

React continues to be the most popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces, powering millions of web applications. This learning plan takes you from React fundamentals to advanced architecture patterns, ideal for developers looking to build modern, performant front-end applications.

3 h 42 m•4 Sections

Master Go, React, and JavaScript Development

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Master Go, React, and JavaScript Development

This plan is essential for developers aiming to bridge the gap between frontend and backend mastery using modern frameworks. It is ideal for aspiring full-stack engineers who want to build scalable, high-performance applications with Go and React.

4 h 5 m•4 Sections

Declutter thr house

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Declutter thr house

This plan is essential for homeowners feeling overwhelmed by physical disorganization and seeking a permanent shift in their living environment. It is designed for anyone ready to transition from temporary tidying to a sustainable minimalist lifestyle through psychological insights and practical systems.

1 h 53 m•4 Sections

Boost My Productivity

LEARNING PLAN

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Modern professionals often struggle with digital overwhelm and fragmented attention. This plan is designed for anyone looking to transition from reactive chaos to proactive mastery by combining structural systems with biological energy optimization.

2 h 25 m•4 Sections

Reclaim space: Gentle cleaning for momentum

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Reclaim space: Gentle cleaning for momentum

This plan is essential for anyone feeling overwhelmed by their environment and seeking a compassionate, psychological approach to tidying. It benefits individuals who struggle with traditional decluttering by focusing on emotional awareness and sustainable habit-building.

2 h 22 m•4 Sections

Atomic Habits + Death Clean

LEARNING PLAN

Atomic Habits + Death Clean

This learning plan combines behavior change science with intentional simplification, perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed by clutter or struggling to maintain positive habits. It's particularly valuable for those seeking to build a more purposeful life, whether preparing for major life transitions, downsizing, or simply wanting to align daily actions with core values through sustainable systems.

1 h 58 m•4 Sections

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 1,000,000 Curious Minds

See more on how BeFreed is discussed across the web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

Start your learning journey, now

From Clutter to Clean: Structuring Your Vite React App

23 min

Mar 5, 2026

Technology Education Productivity

Stop drowning in a 'component graveyard' and learn to organize your React project using the Big Four folders for a scalable, professional workflow.

Best quote from From Clutter to Clean: Structuring Your Vite React App

A good folder structure is like a well-labeled filing cabinet. It doesn't matter if the labels are in cursive or print, as long as they’re all in the same place and you can read them.

Key Takeaways

Conquering the Component Graveyard

0:00

0:22

0:41

0:52

Setting the Foundation with the Big Four

1:06

1:20

1:43

1:54

2:13

2:20

2:46

2:57

3:16

3:30

3:56

4:08

4:24

0:41

Decoding the Logic with Custom Hooks

4:56

5:12

5:30

5:38

5:55

5:59

6:24

6:35

6:57

7:05

7:22

7:37

8:00

8:07

The Secret Weapon of the Index File

8:24

8:41

8:52

8:55

9:09

9:14

9:31

9:38

10:00

5:59

10:28

10:33

10:54

9:14

11:13

11:24

11:45

11:52

Feature-Based Organization for Growing Apps

12:02

12:19

12:39

9:14

13:02

13:07

13:28

13:42

13:56

14:05

14:22

14:35

14:52

0:41

The Practical Playbook for Beginners

15:11

15:25

15:34

15:53

16:03

16:21

16:29

16:48

16:50

17:04

8:07

17:30

9:14

17:51

18:01

Avoiding the "Over-Nesting" and "Mixing" Traps

18:14

18:25

18:40

9:14

19:01

5:59

19:24

19:29

19:45

19:56

20:11

9:14

20:31

20:39

16:27

20:59

Closing Reflections on Scalable Thinking

21:05

21:22

21:40

2:57

22:11

9:14

22:35

22:43

22:52

23:08

23:13

23:20

23:22

23:36

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Explain how to structure a small Vite + React app: components folder, pages folder, hooks folder, assets folder. Keep it practical and beginner friendly.

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Jackson

Learning style

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Knowledge sources

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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 1,000,000 Curious Minds

See more on how BeFreed is discussed across the web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

BeFreed Brings Together A Global Community Of 1,000,000 Curious Minds

See more on how BeFreed is discussed across the web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

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@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

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@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

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@SofiaP

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@Jaded_Falcon

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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

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@Cashflowbubu

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@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

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@Pitiful

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

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@Jaded_Falcon

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Start your learning journey, now