Introduction to React.js

Introduction to React.js

React.js is an open-source JavaScript library developed by Facebook for building user interfaces, particularly for single-page applications where a fast and interactive experience is needed.

What is React.js?

React.js is a component-based front-end library that allows developers to build reusable UI components. It follows a declarative approach, making it easier to manage and update the UI efficiently.

Advantages of React over other frameworks

• Virtual DOM ensures efficient rendering
• Component-based architecture promotes reusability
• One-way data binding simplifies state management
• Large community support and ecosystem
• Flexibility to integrate with other libraries and frameworks

React vs Angular vs Vue

Feature	React	Angular	Vue
Architecture	Component-based	Full-fledged MVC framework	Progressive framework
Data Binding	One-way	Two-way	Two-way
Learning Curve	Moderate	Steep	Easy

Setting up a React project with Create React App

To set up a React project, use the following command:

npx create-react-app my-app

After setup, navigate to the project directory and start the development server:

cd my-app
npm start

Understanding React Development Environment

• Node.js: Required to run React applications
• npm/yarn: Package managers for installing dependencies
• React Developer Tools: Browser extension for debugging React applications
• ES6+: Modern JavaScript features extensively used in React

JSX - JavaScript XML

JSX allows writing HTML-like syntax within JavaScript, making React components more readable and maintainable.

const element = <h1>Hello, React!</h1>;

JSX gets compiled to JavaScript using Babel before being rendered in the browser.