In 2013, React.js emerged, introducing a new era in web development. Fast-forward to today, the library has reached a certain stage of maturity. It has become the go-to choice for front-end development, commanding over 40% of the market share and boasting a massive user base.
This article, brought to you by Jalasoft, a trusted provider of staff augmentation services with expertise in React and a vast tech stack, is your roadmap to building an app with React.
We'll walk you through the fundamental concepts of this library, unpack its advantages for building dynamic user interfaces, and guide you through the app creation process. Join us as we share the secrets to ensure your React web application is robust and future-proof.
What is React?
React.js, often simply referred to as React, was launched in 2013 by Facebook and quickly gained popularity, making it a highly sought-after skill for web developers and a valuable tool for creating engaging user experiences.
The reasons? It is an open-source JavaScript library explicitly designed for building user interfaces (UI) for web applications that break down complex UIs into smaller, reusable building blocks called components.
Instead of writing complex code from scratch, developers can build React apps by piecing together these reusable components, as its virtual DOM efficiently updates only the necessary parts of a web page.
This results in improved performance and a smoother user experience, making it ideal for building complex web apps that can change and grow over time. The library components can be easily reused, simplifying the development process and saving time.
Benefits of React
You’re probably wondering why you should use React.js for web application development with so many JavaScript libraries. Well, React.js has become a top choice in web development for good reasons. Here's a breakdown of the key advantages:
Faster development: React's component-based architecture enables code reusability. These pre-built components save development time and ensure consistency across your application.
High-performance apps: React utilizes a virtual DOM, minimizing unnecessary updates to the real DOM. This translates to faster loading times and considerably improves the user experience.
Enhanced maintainability: The modular approach of React apps makes them easier to maintain and update. Changes in one component have minimal impact on others, reducing debugging headaches.
Improved code reusability: React stands out for its code reusability. Components can be easily integrated across different projects, saving time and effort.
Scalability for growth: React apps can handle many building blocks (components), making them perfect for complex websites that constantly add features.
Community support: React boasts a large and active community that provides extensive documentation, tutorials, and support. This collaborative environment empowers developers to find solutions and continuously improve their skills.
Industry-wide adoption: Trusted by tech industry leaders like Facebook, Netflix, and Dropbox, React offers a reliable and well-supported foundation for web development.
While React.js offers numerous advantages for web development, weighing the pros and cons of Java is also valuable. Java provides a robust server-side solution that complements client-side technologies but may involve more complexity in deployment and maintenance.
How to Build an App with React
To use React.js for web application development, teams must follow well-defined steps, from project initialization to deployment and testing.
What you'll need to build an app with React:
Writing program: This is where you'll type your instructions for the computer. Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or Atom are widely used. However, Visual Studio Code is also famous for those developing with C#, a robust programming language used extensively in backend and desktop software development. If you are curious about what you can build with this advanced program, read this article about what C# Programming is.
Tools for web development: These tools help manage parts you use in your project and run your code without a web browser. Download them together from the official Node js website: https://nodejs.org/en
Step 1: Setting up your project
Open the terminal.
We'll use a “Create React App” tool to get started quickly. Type this command in your terminal, replacing “my-react-app” with the name you want for your project:
npx create-react-app my-react-app
Note: npx is a helper tool with the other tools we downloaded and lets us run commands without installing them everywhere.
3. This command will create a new folder named “my-react-app” that contains all the necessary files and folders to build an app with React.
Step 2: Exploring your project files
Navigate to your project folder using this command in your terminal:
cd my-react-app
2. Take a look inside the folders in your project:
node_modules:This folder stores unique code made by others that helps your project work.public: This folder holds the building blocks users see in your web app, like images and your main HTML file (index.html).src: This is the most essential part. It contains the main code for your app, including a file named App.js that acts as the foundation.
Step 3: Building your first building block
Open the file named
src/App.jsusing your writing program. This is where you'll define the reusable parts of your app, like buttons or text displays.Let's create a simple building block to show a message:
// This line tells the code to use React from the React library
import React from 'react';
// This defines a function named App that returns some "code."
// This line exports the App function so we can use it elsewhere
export default App;
Note: This code uses JSX, which lets you write HTML-like structures within your JavaScript code.
3. This code defines a building block named “App” that displays the message “Hello, World!” and “Welcome to React Development” inside a box on the screen.
Step 4: Putting the building block in place
Now, we need to tell React where to show this building block. Open the file named
src/index.js.In this file, we'll use a particular function named
ReactDOM.renderto display the App building block inside a part of theindex.htmlfile called the “root” element:
// This line tells the code to use React and ReactDOM from their libraries
import React from 'react';
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
// This line imports the App building block from the other file
import App from './App';
// This line tells ReactDOM to render (display) the App building block
// inside the "root" element from the index.html file
Note: This code imports the App building block and uses ReactDOM.render to tell React to show it where the “root” element is in the index.html file.
Step 5: Running your app!
With everything set up, let's see our app come alive! In your terminal, type this command:
npm start
This starts a special program that runs your web app. You can usually see it by going to this address in your web browser: http://localhost:3000.
2. Open http://localhost:3000 in your web browser. You should see “Hello, World!” and “Welcome to React Development” displayed on the page. Running a React application locally allows you to develop and test your app in a controlled environment.
You have already learned about the library's fundamental concepts and advantages, how to build dynamic user interfaces quickly, and why React.js has become a top choice for developers, among other insights.
Now, it's time to discover whether Java is still used and how Java services can bring unparalleled scalability, security, and performance to your project here!
Supercharge Your React Project: Hire Jalasoft Developers
React.js has become a game-changer in web application development. Its power to build robust, adaptable, and feature-packed web apps allows businesses to create exceptional user experiences. Therefore, whether you're considering building an app with React from scratch or seeking to enhance an existing one, Jalasoft can help.
At Jalasoft, our nearshore staff augmentation services help businesses take advantage of React's potential. We provide highly skilled developers with expertise in React and a broad tech stack, ensuring the allocation of the right resources for project success.
Ready to harness the power of React.js web application development for your next project?
If you're curious about the broader landscape of programming languages, particularly in data science and automation, check out why Python is the most used language.
