Custom layout

Custom Article Layouts: A Visual Essay

1 min read
custom componentsreactmdxdesign

This article is rendered by a custom React component instead of the default MDX template. It demonstrates how you can build unique layouts with your own React elements.

Why Custom Layouts?

Sometimes a standard blog post layout isn't enough. You might want:

  • A hero section with a distinct visual style
  • Callout boxes or key takeaways
  • Custom typography and spacing for a specific piece
  • Interactive elements or embedded media

How It Works

The custom component lives in articles/[slug]/index.tsx and is registered in lib/article-components.ts. When the article page loads, it checks for a custom component for that slug and uses it instead of the default MDX renderer.

You still write content in MDX; the custom component fetches the article via getArticleBySlug(slug) and can render the body with <MDXContent source={article.content} /> or compose it with custom sections.

Wrapping Up

Custom layouts give you full control over structure and design while keeping your content in Markdown. This page is one example—you can build anything that fits your article.

Summary

This page is rendered entirely by a custom React component. The content above comes from the MDX file; the hero, callout, and this summary are custom React elements. You can build any layout that fits your article.