What is react and what are its advantages?

If you’re into app development, you’ve come across React JS. Although it is not a typical framework, it offers many possibilities, thanks to which it has gained in popularity in recent times. Many well-known and respected websites have decided to implement it. The audience includes, among others Netflix, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Skype. See what React JS has to offer and find out why it has so many followers!

What is React JS?

React is a so-called JavaScript programming language library. It is used when creating user interfaces for various types of applications. It is available to a wide audience on an open source basis. Thanks to it, you can create a very complex interface, consisting of small, separated elements. It is worth noting that React JS was created by Jordan Walke – a Facebook employee who was guided by the idea of ​​simplifying the process of building the entire interface and providing users with greater convenience when using the application.

The React library uses a modern way of rendering web pages. This makes them more dynamic. It makes this framework an extremely innovative approach in programming. It is convenient both for the creator – programmer, and for the end user, i.e. the recipient of the application.

How to properly name React JS?

There is still a discussion in developer circles as to whether React JS is a framework or a library? It turns out, however, that there is no such simple and unambiguous distinction. A framework can be used to define an approach to solve architectural and structural problems related to the application code. React JS, on the other hand, is more of a component-based approach. As a result, the developer takes control of the entire way of implementing the solution. However, React does not solve the architectural and structural problems mentioned above. Nevertheless, it is highly developed. So you can lean towards the approach that React is for the most part a library.

Advantages of React JS – why should you use it?

React JS has many advantages that are appreciated by both developers and users. One of the most important is the speed of its implementation, which is definitely greater than in the case of other solutions of this type. Moreover, React JS allows you to build an extremely dynamic interface. Thanks to this, website updates take place immediately (they happen in real time) and are constantly noticed by users. It also benefits the developer, who can conduct his activities faster – work more efficiently with interface objects, improving overall performance. This result was achieved by the creators of React JS thanks to the fact that the library uses its own abstract copy – Virtual DOM, which updates even the smallest changes, while not affecting the other parts of the entire interface.

Another strong advantage of React is that it can save you time in development work. Component construction allows the reuse of individual elements on a different level. This increases the productivity of the programmer’s work and enables efficient management of updates. Since all components are isolated, one change entails no more. The entire process of managing them becomes thus easier than when operating on other solutions.

Code stability is also important in creating any type of application. When working with JS, you get a guarantee of one-way data flow that makes the code stable. As above, the ability to work with individual components means that other components and entire structures do not change. This means that all system-wide children do not affect parent elements. This is what causes us to say that the code is stable. To change the selected object, the developer has to change its state and update it. Then only the selected component is transformed. It should be emphasized that the data flow in React JS runs in one direction only: up-down.

To sum up – what other advantages does React JS bring?

• JS components can be used multiple times.
• JS is versatile and can be used with any framework you choose.
• It offers high performance as it is based on a virtual domain.
• It uses one-way data flow.
• It enables the construction of a dynamic interface.
• It is easy to use, so novice programmers can use it.
• React JS-based sites have a positive impact on SEO as page speed is one of the factors taken into account in Google ranking.
• It is a stable solution because it has a large community that is constantly evolving.

Does React JS have weaknesses?

Like any other solution available on the market, React JS also has several weaknesses. However, their perception does not have to be clearly negative. One of these points of contention is the rapid pace of library development. This is because rapid development means developers have to constantly find themselves on updates and all the news. A constantly evolving work environment demands it. Not for everyone, so it will be convenient and pleasant. What’s more, the constantly appearing releases of new tools cause incomplete documentation. For this reason, developers have to create it on their own and separately for each project.

Another drawback of React JS is that it uses JSX, which is very complex and therefore difficult for developers to handle. It is also worth taking a closer look at the optimization of the website in terms of SEO, because although React JS has a positive effect on the speed of the website, Google’s algorithm may have problems with the correct reading of the page dynamics. So you need to carefully verify everything in this regard.

Despite the fact that there are several disadvantages, React JS has many more advantages. For a demanding user, the former will certainly not be an obstacle in using the tool. However, it all depends on the specificity of the work environment and the requirements of a specific programmer regarding the project.

The future of React – is it worth betting on?

When considering the further development and use of React JS, you should take into account that it is a project that is subject to further development. The community is constantly working on developing options and adapting features to meet emerging needs. It can therefore be safely assumed that this is a library that will not stand still and will be constantly updated thanks to all the efforts put in it. It is also a premise that the future of React JS should be stable.

It is also important that the React JS library is easy to use and does not require advanced programming knowledge. Thanks to this, it is an option available to everyone, and if you need help, you can count on a wide range of resources in the form of online forums and dedicated tutorials. If you work in JavaScript, you can master React JS without any problems. So let’s use this solution as there is a small percentage of chance of failure!