React has taken over the industries like Tsunami. Did you know that React lies behind 13% of all JavaScript websites? Yes, that’s true! Now, you can estimate the popularity of ReactJS in the market. It’s the best JavaScript library that most companies and developers use in their day-to-day projects.
Undoubtedly, React is one of the most sought-after libraries out there. Owing to these reasons, every IT company releases job vacancies having React as a preferred skill. So, it has become essential to learn ReactJS if you wish to get into the application development industry, primarily as a front-end developer.
Luckily, you can gain access to numerous courses that educate you at various levels depending upon your React proficiency. Also, you can get industries-recognized certificates after finishing these sessions and showcase your skills in the resume. That’s all about some React experience. But, how to start your React journey from zero knowledge? We’ve got you covered if that’s the case!
Apart from taking a ReactJS basics course, you can follow the article to get started in the domain from now itself. Let’s dive in!
What is the React Library?
Let’s begin the tutorial with the meaning of ReactJS. So, what on earth is React? Well, it’s an open-source JavaScript library used at the view level in a Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture. Woah! That’s a lot of technical jargon. In simple words, developers use React to build the front-end, user interfaces, and web and mobile apps.
React is the most desired UI-building library among developers as it’s an easy-to-use and comprehensive tool. Besides, a plethora of benefits makes it the leading JavaScript library in the market. Here are the benefits that popularize ReactJS as a library. Take a look!
- ReactJS is easy to understand and straightforward. So, many developers learned React and leveraged the library to build new projects over the years. Consequently, the React development community is ever-growing.
- React code offers the developers a large extent of reusability.
- Do you know about the impact of code reusability? A developer can well-maintain the snippets when using ReactJS.
- You can achieve versatility when developing apps using React. The robust library builds web and mobile apps across different platforms like iOS, Android, and much more.
- Another fascinating ReactJS attribute is that the library is SEO-friendly. So, a developer need not align a myriad of parameters to achieve SEO-friendliness.
Besides, more points justify the popularity of React in the app development industry. As we have introduced you to ReactJS, it’s time to proceed!
Where Can You Use React?
While still a newbie in React development, it’s better to know the applications of the library before even understanding the basics. Honestly, you can develop high-end apps like Facebook, Netflix, WhatsApp, and whatnot? To be precise, these renowned applications have the React library at the base. Backed by Facebook, React is the ideal choice by companies willing to develop giant apps like the following:
- Skype
- Walmart
- Uber Eats
- Bloomberg
- Discord
- Wix
- Airbnb
Practically, you can build everything using React. The examples might have recharged you enough to understand the library closely. So, let’s go further!
Are There Any Prerequisites to Learning React?
You are all set to launch a new journey. So, it’s the best time to determine whether you are eligible to understand React concepts or not. Here are the prerequisites that you should consider before learning React.
- HTML and CSS are the entry points to web development. Hence, it would be better to have some idea about HTML and CSS before proceeding to React.
- Like other developmental libraries, an understanding of object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts is a must-have.
- React is a JavaScript library. So, it’s understandable to mention JavaScript in the prerequisites.
- Also, you can try understanding JSX and Babel to grab React concepts efficiently.
- Familiarity with package managers (Node and NPM) might help you install packages to complete your React projects.
- Git and Command Line Interface (CLI) are preferred requirements before understanding React.
What are the Basics of React?
After wandering around the appetizers, it’s the best time to discuss the foundational concepts of React. Here are some terminologies and ideas underlying the React library. Let’s begin!
- React Class-Based Components
React has class-based components at the core. The Components lie at the foundational level over which a developer lays the React app architecture. Before going deeper, you should understand what a class is.
The classes are similar to the ones in the object-oriented programming concepts. You can add several functions to the class to build fully functional and robust apps. All class-based components in React are subclasses of the Component class.
- React State
Yet another essential terminology that will appear before you is that of a State. So, what is a State in React? Well, as the name suggests, State has something to do with the present instance of a component. A state is an object that regulates a component’s behavior.
The object State stores some properties of a React component and might change over time. From a view-level perspective, React refers to the State to update the visual user interface.
- React Props
Props are the short-form of Properties and are widely used when building apps using the React library. React Components use Props to “talk” to each other. Like HTML attributes, Props is an object storing the value of tag attributes. Props allow passing data between Components, allowing them to communicate within an application architecture.
You might also consider Props as arguments we pass when calling a function in an OOP environment. A React developer can add the immutable Props into components and refer to them as read-only whenever required.
- React Component Lifecycle
Another important concept that you should remember is the React Component Lifecycle (RCLC). Like the software development lifecycle, RCLC allows you to make changes in the project at various checkpoints – initial, mounting, updating and unmounting phases.
Cheers! You’ve covered the basics of React. Now, get a React course and begin the formal journey at the earliest. Good luck!
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