This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by A0mineTV
Introduction
Tier lists have become a popular way to categorize and rank items across various domains – from video games and movies to food and technology. In this article, we’ll explore the architecture and logic behind building a modern, responsive tier list application similar to tiermaker.com using React, Tailwind CSS v4, and drag-and-drop functionality.
Instead of focusing on code implementation, we’ll dive deep into the design decisions, state management patterns, and user experience considerations that make this application work seamlessly.
[!NOTE]
You can find the complete source code for this project on GitHub: tierlist_app
Understanding the Core Concept
What is a Tier List?
A tier list is essentially a categorization system where items are ranked into different levels or “tiers” (typically S, A, B, C, D, F). The key challenge is creating an intuitive interface that allows users to:
- Drag items between different tiers
- Visualize rankings clearly
- Customize the experience (colors, labels, etc.)
- Maintain state across interactions
User Experience Goals
Our application needs to feel responsive, intuitive, and satisfying to use. This means:
- Immediate feedback when dragging items
- Visual cues for valid drop zones
- Smooth animations that enhance the experience
- Accessibility for all users
Architecture Overview
Technology Stack Rationale
React + TypeScript: Provides type safety and component reusability
Zustand: Lightweight state management perfect for this use case
@dnd-kit: Modern, accessible drag-and-drop library
Tailwind CSS v4: Rapid styling with design system consistency
Component Architecture
The application follows a hierarchical component structure:
App
├── Layout
│ └── Header (Navigation, branding)
└── TierList (Main container)
├── TierRow (Individual tier rows)
│ ├── TierLabel (S, A, B, etc.)
│ ├── ColorPicker (Palette icon)
│ └── DropZone (Where items land)
└── UnrankedItems (Items not yet ranked)
State Management Logic
Data Structure Design
The core data model revolves around two main entities:
Tier: Represents a ranking level with properties like:
- Unique identifier
- Display name (S, A, B, etc.)
- Color for visual distinction
- Array of ranked items
TierItem: Represents items that can be ranked:
- Unique identifier
- Display name
- Optional image URL
- Current tier assignment
State Management Patterns
We use Zustand for its simplicity and performance. The store manages:
- Tiers Array: All available ranking levels
- Unranked Items: Items waiting to be categorized
- Action Methods: Functions for manipulating the state
Key State Operations
Moving Items: The most complex operation involves:
- Finding the source (current tier or unranked)
- Removing the item from its current location
- Adding the item to the new destination
- Updating the UI to reflect changes
Color Cycling: A simple but effective way to customize tiers by cycling through predefined colors.
Drag-and-Drop Logic
Understanding @dnd-kit
@dnd-kit provides a sensor-based approach to drag-and-drop, meaning it can respond to different input methods (mouse, touch, keyboard). This makes our application accessible and responsive.
Drop Zone Strategy
Each tier row and the unranked area act as drop zones. The logic determines:
- Is this a valid drop target? (preventing invalid operations)
- What happens when an item is dropped? (state updates)
- How do we provide visual feedback? (hover states, animations)
Drag Feedback
During dragging, we show:
- Drag overlay: A visual representation of the item being moved
- Drop zone highlighting: Clear indication of where the item will land
- Opacity changes: Visual feedback that the item is being moved
User Interface Logic
Responsive Design Philosophy
The interface adapts to different screen sizes using mobile-first design:
- Desktop: Full navigation, side-by-side layout
- Tablet: Condensed navigation, optimized spacing
- Mobile: Collapsible menu, stacked layout
Visual Hierarchy
The design uses color psychology and spatial relationships:
- Tier colors: Each tier has a distinct color for quick recognition
- Spacing: Consistent gaps create visual breathing room
- Typography: Clear hierarchy with different font weights and sizes
Interaction Patterns
Hover States: Subtle feedback when users interact with elements
Click Feedback: Immediate response to button presses
Loading States: Smooth transitions between states
Performance Considerations
State Updates Optimization
Zustand’s immutable updates ensure React only re-renders components that actually changed. This is crucial when dealing with potentially large lists of items.
Drag Performance
@dnd-kit’s transform-based animations use CSS transforms instead of layout changes, providing smooth 60fps animations even with complex drag operations.
Memory Management
Lazy loading of images and virtual scrolling (if needed for large lists) prevent memory issues with many items.
Accessibility Logic
Keyboard Navigation
Users can navigate and interact with the tier list using only a keyboard:
- Tab navigation between interactive elements
- Arrow keys for moving items between tiers
- Enter/Space for activating buttons
Screen Reader Support
ARIA labels and semantic HTML ensure screen readers can understand:
- What each tier represents
- How many items are in each tier
- What actions are available
Color Contrast
All tier colors meet WCAG accessibility standards for color contrast, ensuring text remains readable for users with visual impairments.
Error Handling Logic
Validation Patterns
Input Validation: Ensuring items have required properties before adding to state
State Consistency: Preventing invalid state combinations (e.g., items in non-existent tiers)
User Feedback: Clear error messages when operations fail
Graceful Degradation
If drag-and-drop fails (e.g., on older browsers), the application falls back to click-based interactions for moving items.
Future-Proofing Considerations
Scalability Patterns
Modular Components: Easy to add new features without breaking existing functionality
Extensible State: Store structure can accommodate new data types
Plugin Architecture: Easy to add new interaction patterns
Internationalization Ready
Text Externalization: All user-facing text can be easily translated
RTL Support: Layout adapts to right-to-left languages
Cultural Considerations: Color schemes and layouts work across cultures
Testing Strategy
Unit Testing Logic
Component Testing: Each component can be tested in isolation
State Testing: Store actions and reducers can be tested independently
Integration Testing: Drag-and-drop flows can be tested end-to-end
User Testing Considerations
Usability Testing: Real users interacting with the interface
Performance Testing: Ensuring smooth operation with many items
Accessibility Testing: Automated and manual accessibility checks
Deployment and Distribution
Build Optimization
Code Splitting: Only load what’s needed for each page
Asset Optimization: Compressed images and minified code
CDN Integration: Fast loading from edge locations
Analytics and Monitoring
User Interaction Tracking: Understanding how users interact with the tier list
Performance Monitoring: Tracking load times and interaction responsiveness
Error Tracking: Catching and fixing issues quickly
Conclusion
Building a tier list application involves much more than just writing code. It requires careful consideration of:
- User experience design and interaction patterns
- State management architecture for complex data flows
- Performance optimization for smooth interactions
- Accessibility compliance for inclusive design
- Scalability planning for future growth
The combination of React’s component model, Zustand’s simple state management, @dnd-kit’s accessible drag-and-drop, and Tailwind’s utility-first styling creates a powerful foundation for building interactive applications that users love to use.
The key to success lies in understanding the user’s mental model and creating an interface that feels natural and responsive. By focusing on the logic and architecture rather than just the implementation details, we can build applications that are both functional and delightful to use.
Feel free to explore the complete source code to see these concepts in action and contribute to the project!
Happy building! 
Resources
- React Documentation
- Tailwind CSS v4
- Zustand Documentation
- @dnd-kit Documentation
- Vite Documentation
- Project Repository – Complete source code and examples
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by A0mineTV