While both patterns involve wrapping a component to extend its functionality, they differ fundamentally in how they are implemented and when they are executed.
A wrapper is a regular component that uses the children prop to nest other components inside it. It is defined in your JSX at runtime.
You wrap the target component inside the wrapper’s tags.
Best for: UI layout, styling (like a Card or Layout wrapper), and providing Context (like a ThemeProvider).
An HOC is a function that receives a component and returns an enhanced version of it. It happens at definition time (usually outside of your render method).
You pass your component into a function.
Best for: Injecting specific props, hijacking renders, or sharing complex logic that doesn't necessarily need a UI wrapper.