Summary

In this chapter, you have learned about key elements of component-centric UI frameworks. We saw some of the limitations of this approach and how the declarative paradigm can overcome them. For example, specialization takes place on a component level. If the framework is based on inheritance, the distribution of features to children may be too broad. Jetpack Compose tackles this with the modifier mechanism, which allows us to amend functionality at a very fine-grained level; this means that composables only get the functionality they need (for example, a background color).

The remaining chapters of this book are solely based on the declarative approach. In Chapter 3, Exploring the Key Principles of Compose, we will take an even closer look at composable functions and examine the concepts of composition and recomposition. And, as promised, we will also dive deep into modifiers.