Start by clarifying requirements (page size, API contract, error handling) and then outline a component architecture that separates data fetching, state management, and rendering. Discuss trade-offs between client-side and server-side pagination, and how you would handle loading, error, and empty states.
Pro tip: Mention that you would debounce rapid page changes and cancel in-flight requests to avoid race conditions, showing awareness of real-world API pitfalls.
Ask about expected data volume, API pagination style (offset, cursor, page number), and whether sorting/filtering is needed. Confirm non-functional requirements like performance, accessibility, and error handling.
Propose a component structure: a container component for data fetching and state, and a presentational component for rendering the list and pagination controls. Consider using a custom hook for reusable data fetching logic.
Use fetch or axios with async/await, manage loading, error, and success states. Implement caching (e.g., React Query or SWR) to avoid redundant requests and improve UX.
Implement page navigation with next/previous buttons and possibly page numbers. Handle edge cases: empty results, last page, API errors, and race conditions by canceling stale requests.
Discuss performance optimizations like memoization, virtualization for large lists, and debouncing. Outline testing strategy: unit tests for hooks, integration tests for component behavior, and mocking API calls.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.