compose-state-deferred-reads

name	compose-state-deferred-reads
description	Use when Jetpack Compose code reads scroll, animation, gesture, or other frame-rate State in composition, passes changing values across composable boundaries, or uses value-form layout/draw modifiers. Technique-layer skill — complements the codebase-specific compose-expert.

Compose state deferred reads

Core principle

State reads invalidate the phase that reads them. If a State<T> is read in a composable body, changes invalidate composition. If it is read in layout or draw, changes can invalidate only layout or draw. Frame-rate state such as scroll offsets, animations, and drag positions usually belongs in layout/draw, not composition.

The fix is structural: keep the State<T> or a provider lambda, and read the value inside a layout/draw callback.

When to use this skill

• val x by animate*AsState(...) is passed to Modifier.offset(x = ...), Modifier.size(...), Modifier.graphicsLayer(...), or another value-form modifier.
• LazyListState.firstVisibleItemScrollOffset, ScrollState.value, Animatable.value, or gesture state is read in a composable body.
• A composable takes scrollOffset: Int, progress: Float, dragOffset: Offset, or similar frame-rate values.
• Recomposition counters climb during scroll, animation, or gestures even when data is stable.

1. Prefer block-form modifiers

Several modifiers have value forms and block forms. The value form receives values already read in composition; the block form can read during layout or draw.

// Before: animated value read in composition by the `by` delegate
@Composable
fun SelectionPill(selectedIndex: Int) {
    val offsetX by animateDpAsState(120.dp * selectedIndex)
    Box(Modifier.offset(x = offsetX))
}

// After: State is kept, value is read in the layout-phase offset block
@Composable
fun SelectionPill(selectedIndex: Int) {
    val offsetX = animateDpAsState(120.dp * selectedIndex)
    Box(
        Modifier.offset {
            IntOffset(offsetX.value.roundToPx(), 0)
        },
    )
}

Common replacements:

Composition read	Deferred read
Modifier.offset(x = animatedX)	Modifier.offset { IntOffset(animatedX.value.roundToPx(), 0) }
Modifier.graphicsLayer(translationY = y)	Modifier.graphicsLayer { translationY = yProvider() }
val radius by animateFloatAsState(...); drawBehind { drawCircle(radius = radius) }	val radius = animateFloatAsState(...); drawBehind { drawCircle(radius = radius.value) }

The drawBehind block is already draw-phase; the important part is that the State.value read also happens inside that block.

2. Pass providers across composable boundaries

If the fast-changing value would cross a composable boundary, pass a provider lambda instead of a snapshot value:

// Before: HomeScreen reads scroll offset in composition and passes the value down
@Composable
fun HomeScreen() {
    val listState = rememberLazyListState()
    LazyColumn(state = listState) {
        item { HeroImage(scrollOffset = listState.firstVisibleItemScrollOffset) }
    }
}

@Composable
fun HeroImage(scrollOffset: Int, modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
    AsyncImage(
        model = "...",
        modifier = modifier.graphicsLayer(translationY = -scrollOffset / 2f),
    )
}

// After: the only read happens inside graphicsLayer
@Composable
fun HomeScreen() {
    val listState = rememberLazyListState()
    LazyColumn(state = listState) {
        item {
            HeroImage(
                scrollOffsetProvider = {
                    if (listState.firstVisibleItemIndex == 0) {
                        listState.firstVisibleItemScrollOffset
                    } else {
                        0
                    }
                },
            )
        }
    }
}

@Composable
fun HeroImage(scrollOffsetProvider: () -> Int, modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
    AsyncImage(
        model = "...",
        modifier = modifier.graphicsLayer {
            translationY = -scrollOffsetProvider() / 2f
        },
    )
}

Suffix provider parameters with Provider when that clarifies the deferred-read contract.

3. Other layout/draw read sites

State reads can also be deferred inside:

• Modifier.layout { measurable, constraints -> ... }
• Custom Alignment.align(...)
• drawWithContent, drawBehind, and other draw modifiers
• Block-form layer/layout modifiers such as graphicsLayer { ... } and offset { ... }

Use these when the state changes where something is placed or painted. If the state decides which composables exist, it belongs in composition.

Quick reference

Symptom	Diagnosis	Fix
val x by animateFloatAsState(...) then Modifier.offset(...)	by reads in composition	Keep State<Float> and read .value in offset {}
Modifier.graphicsLayer(translationY = animatedY)	Property-argument form uses composition values	Use graphicsLayer { translationY = ... }
Child(scrollOffset = listState.firstVisibleItemScrollOffset)	Fast-changing value crosses boundary	Child(scrollOffsetProvider = { ... })
Draw block still recomposes every frame	Value was read before draw block	Move the State.value read inside the draw block
State chooses between different UI branches	Composition decision	Keep the read in composition

When NOT to apply

• The state controls which composables are emitted.
• The animation is one-shot, cheap, and clarity wins.
• You are writing tests where direct value assertions are simpler.
• Runtime evidence shows recomposition is not the bottleneck.

Related

• compose-state-holder-ui-split - where state-holder vs plain UI split applies when passing providers/lambdas across boundaries.
• compose-stability-diagnostics - parameter stability and compiler reports.
• compose-modifier-and-layout-style - child composables need a normal modifier parameter before callers can move visual reads into modifiers.