Katarina HarbuzavaIf you’re into web development, there are small chances you haven’t come across ReactJS. Although it is not a typical framework, it offers various coding possibilities, which gained its popularity in recent times.
Many well-known and respected websites have decided to implement it. Among others Netflix, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Skype. See what ReactJS has to offer and find out why it has so many devotees.
React impact on web development
React is a library for creating a user interface, offering more flexibility than ‘opinionated’ JS frameworks like Angular and Vue.js. React is a library for creating a user interface. Part of the front-end community noticed that component-based design is the future of modern UI ports. It is a solution characterized by simplicity and elegance, which are the definite determinants of potential.
React is unique in complementing the JavaScript programming language. You can supplement the code with HTML elements directly. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the code and shorten it significantly.
That is why most creators of advanced solutions appreciate ReactJS since they need constantly to update and change volumes of data.
Let’s overview other reasons why you should consider using ReactJS for web development.
Ease of use
You only need JavaScript knowledge to start your adventure with ReactJS. However, as in every study, you should constantly expand your knowledge and practice. One can notice that independent work with the use of guides will be sufficient to master it in a short time.
Another thing that you will love working with this framework is the ability to prepare and immediately configure a new project with one command. Just open the console, write:
1.npx create-react-app my-app
2.cd my-app
3.npm start
Done! The application has launched, and you can code. People who do not like rummaging in configuration files and juniors who simply cannot do it at the moment will be especially happy.
The Facebook team has already taken care of such issues as the configuration of the packaging module (Webpack), support for modern JavaScript syntax (Babel), code quality control (ESLint), the test environment, and much more. Check the full list on GitHub.
It also took care of the possibility of using the current versions of the above-mentioned modules.
What’s more, if I want to make changes to its configuration so that it better meets my requirements, no one will forbid it. Again, a single command is enough for me to gain access to all configuration files:
},
“scripts”: {
“start”: “react-scripts start”,
“build”: “react-scripts build”,
“test”: “react-scripts test --env=jsdom”,
“eject”: “react-scripts eject”
}
Here you are.
Popularity and community
React is incredibly popular not only among U.S. developers but all over the world. It was the second most popular framework in 2020, according to Stackoverflow analysis. The collateral advantage of this process is an amazing community and the ecosystem it creates.
Here’s the number of websites built on ReactJS effectively:
New tools appear every day. Most of them propose elegant solutions to the most popular problems and can be found in the articles on top tech blogs, among popular online courses platforms, and many more.
A huge amount of libraries
React combines the power of JavaScript with HTML to make it robust. In other words, we can also call it JSX. And because it uses JavaScript, there are millions of third-party JavaScript libraries that make web development a breeze.
If I were to mention a few, here they are:
- React-router for navigation,
- Bootstrap for great CSS style and UI design,
- React-Motion to practice different animation styles.
The huge number of such libraries allows users to have many options on the table when designing websites.
Besides, installing dependencies in React makes lives much easier. Just type npm install and it will be set. No ZIP file download is required!
Virtual DOM
When the page is loaded, the DOM – the object model – is created. Any changes to the properties of individual elements make it necessary to load the entire HTML structure. However, not with React.js.
Virtual DOM is a representation that remains loaded all the time. This means that when a web app is updating, you have the ability to interact with it. And none of the components would suffer.
Also, vDOM speeds the loading of web pages substantially, which provides a greater experience to the users.
Reusable components
Components are React’s most standout feature, which makes it so prominent.
The even better part is that they are totally reusable. This means that you only need to define a component once and use it multiple times.
It speeds up the development process and also increases productivity tremendously. When you are responsible for producing a website on a large scale, you will feel relieved to use the same components in a different way.
For example, let’s assume that we want to create a basic menu containing two identical buttons. Let’s start by creating one of these buttons. In a simplified version, it could look like this:
const MyButton = () => {
return <div>
<button> Click me! 👇 </button>
</div>
}
Thanks to the aforementioned reusability of once created components, we do not have to write this code twice to create the second button – just paste MyButton in the component serving as the menu, as presented below.
const MyMenu = () => {
return <div>
<h1> Not that useful menu 🤔 </h1>
<MyButton />
<MyButton />
</div>
}
What makes reusability a great solution is that such ready-made, once-created components can be used whenever you want. So that the time saved on repetitive work is a resource for completing more challenging tasks.
On the other hand, thanks to the independence of the components, the Internet is bursting with individual components and entire frameworks ready to use.
Update friendly
Another facilitation is clear data flow practices. In React, data always flows from the parent component to the child files nested within it. This happens via the props object.
For example, let’s assume you want to upgrade a chat-bot on your site, in case you did not use any ready solution, and render it to contain a specific text in an input area. Then drop:
class App extends React.Component {
render () {
return (
<div className=”App”>
<h1>Conversational UI</h1>
<Chat placeholder={“Type here…”} width={400}></Chat>
</div>
);
}
}
Whether you use React-Native to develop mobile applications or just ReactJS for websites, you will appreciate the quick refresh feature. Quick Refresh runs as soon as you save your React file in the code editor, so you don’t have to click the refresh button every time you want to see changes to your site.
This is extremely helpful when you are working on the details of your website. Every time you make a small change to the code, you can immediately see the results in your browser.
Moreover, the bugs reported by the React compiler are descriptive and easy to understand, so you don’t need to scratch your head on a bug that barely makes sense to you.
React Native as a bonus
Once you’ve mastered ReactJS, it’s time to take the next step. Using React Native will allow you to create an iOS or Android app. Even though the code is written in JavaScript, your application uses the same native API as other mobile applications.
There are, of course, some minor differences between React and React Native, but the main principles of operation are preserved, which means that we have all the strengths of JavaScript and ReactJS on our side.
It seems that we are slowly approaching the point awaited by many programmers, where, thanks to learning one technology, it will be possible to create applications on all platforms.
Where to use ReactJS
Although ReactJS was initially intended to be used exclusively inside Facebook, it was quickly released from custody. In 2013, it was made available as open-source, and it was a breakthrough moment.
Which solutions are based on this technology? Some examples are listed below:
- social media (Facebook)
- video platforms (Netflix)
- e-learning platforms (Udemy)
- SaaS solutions (Asana)
- communicators (Skype)
In addition to being useful in development, React can also be in hand during minor routine operations.
For example, in this article, you will find out the opportunities to set it up for sending emails. And you can also try its effect on simplifying personal finance with the help of Bookkeeper Template.
ReactJS drawbacks
Both the upside and downside of the interface can be the rapid development of the ReactJS libraries. Rapid development means that programmers must constantly find themselves in novelties, as the environment and the way of working are constantly evolving. This may not be convenient for everyone. So, some front-end developers tend to choose Angular due to its maturity.
The constant release of new tools causes another problem – incomplete documentation. So devs create it themselves for the needs of specific projects.
Some people also find ReactJS weakness in its use of JSX – designers complain about the complexity of JSX. Google sometimes has problems with such high dynamics. Unfortunately, the algorithms are unable to read it correctly.
ReactJS downsides are quite specific and petty compared to what the library offers. It is worth considering whether these drawbacks are relevant for a given developer.
Conclusion
ReactJS is constantly evolving. There is a huge community behind it. The future of React JS seems rather stable. React JS is not difficult and does not require advanced knowledge.
React brings many benefits, such as component reusability, virtual DOM, one-way data flow, lightness and stability, and more perks! Due to the benefits and popularity of the library – it is worth trying to master it.
About Flatlogic
At Flatlogic, we help businesses to speed up web development with our beautifully designed web & mobile application templates built with React, Vue, Angular, React Native, and Bootstrap. During the last several years we have successfully delivered more than 100 custom dashboards and data management solutions to various clients starting from innovative startups to established and respected enterprises.
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