Beginners introduction to React
Tags: javascript, beginners, webdev, react
Published: 2023-10-09 03:11:51

**React**
is a popular [JavaScript](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/What_is_JavaScript) library used for building [UI](https://www.coursera.org/articles/ui-design)(user interfaces). It provides an easier and efficient way to create interactive and dynamic web applications.

**This blog purpose is to introduce React in a non-technical manner, explaining its key concepts and benefits.**

**What is React?**
React is a library that helps developers build user interfaces by breaking them down into components that can be reused. The components can be combined to create complex UIs. Each component represents a specific part of the user interface and can have its own logic and state. 

**Why is React Popular?**
React has gained popularity for several reasons:

1. **Component-Based Structure:** Reacts component-based structure allows developers to build UIs by creating reusable components. This makes code more maintainable, and easier to understand. 

2. **_Virtual [DOM](https://www.w3schools.com/js/js_htmldom.asp):_** React uses a virtual representation of the actual DOM, which allows it to update and render only the necessary parts of the UI. This results in better performance and a smoother user experience. 

4. **_Reusable Components_**: As stated before, In React you can create smaller, self-contained components. These components can be reused across different parts of the application, reducing development time and effort.  
 
**Key Concepts:** To understand React, it's important to understand a few key concepts: 

- **Components:** As mentioned earlier, components are the building blocks of React applications. They encapsulate a part of the user interface and can be reused throughout the application.

- **[JSX](https://legacy.reactjs.org/docs/introducing-jsx.html):** JSX is a syntax extension for JavaScript that allows you to write HTML-like code within your JavaScript files. It makes it easier to define the structure and appearance of components. 

- **State:** State represents the data that can change within a component. It allows components to manage and update their own data, leading to dynamic and interactive UIs. 

- **Props:** Props (short for properties) are used to pass data from a parent component to its child components. They allow components to be customizable and flexible. 

**Benefits of React:** React offers several benefits that make it a popular choice for building web applications: 

1. _**Improved Performance**_
React's virtual DOM and efficient rendering process result in faster and smoother user interfaces.

2. _**Reusable Code:**_
 React's component-based structure provides code reusability, reducing development time and effort. 

3. _**Easy Maintenance:**_
React's  structure and clear separation of concerns make it easier to maintain and update codebases. 

4. _**Large Community and Ecosystem:**_
React has a large community and ecosystem, providing access to numerous libraries, tools, and resources. Conclusion: React is a powerful and widely-used library for building user interfaces. Its component-based architecture, virtual DOM, and focus on reusability make it a popular choice among developers

**By understanding the basic concepts of React, non-technical and beginner individuals can gain a better understating about its benefits and how it enables the creation of dynamic and interactive web applications**.


Source:
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/First_steps/What_is_JavaScript

https://www.coursera.org/articles/ui-design

https://www.w3schools.com/js/js_htmldom.asp

https://legacy.reactjs.org/docs/introducing-jsx.html