How to handle tantrums of kids?

With my toddler of 17 months she is teaching me more than I teach her .Tantrums are frequent but I have learned key is Diversion .To keep her calm I stay calm until she forgets the cause .I hold her cuddle her .Never ever spank or shout on ur kid in front of others .Very humiliating for them .I learned that the more I m patient the more she gets calm easily .At last I remind myself that's it's a phase .It will pass .