React is an open source front-end JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It provides us with sets of tools and structures for building faster and more interactive UIs. Examples of websites built using React are; Air BnB, Netflix, Uber Eats, Instagram, etc. To learn more about React, visit the new official documentation. Different types of applications that can be built using the React framework are;
Key Features of React
These features allow us to build functional and efficient websites:
Reusable components: React allows us to separate our UI into independent components that are then combined into a parent component to create a whole page or the UI of a specific page. These components can also be reused across different applications.
Virtual DOM: The virtual DOM updates and renders changes to the UI. React creates a virtual DOM, which is a representation of the real DOM. When updates are made to our components, they reflect on the virtual DOM first, then compare the virtual DOM to the real DOM before updating the DOM. The updates are selected to reduce DOM manipulation and unnecessary updates and improve the performance of the app.
JSX: React is a JavaScript class or function that returns HTML or JavaScript; this is known as JSX (JavaScript XML), a JavaScript extension that resembles HTML or allows you to write HTML-like code and JavaScript logic.
React Router: React Router allows us to have multiple pages in a single-page application and switch between pages seamlessly.
Props: Props are similar to parameters passed into a function. Passing data from one component to another is possible using props. It keeps our code DRY and allows us to create reusable components.
useState: React state is a JavaScript object that is used to represent data in a component. The “useState” hook creates component data that changes over time or in reaction to an action. To use the “useState” hook, we have to import the useState function from the React library.
Conditional rendering: Conditional rendering allows us to render some parts of our page. In other words, if certain contents on our web page are unavailable, we can render other values in our application. Conditional rendering is possible using logical operators like &&, or conditional statements, i.e., if, else, else if, for additional logic.
Angular Vs. React
For front-end web development, Angular and React are both well-liked frameworks, but their architectures, learning curves, and ecosystems differ significantly from one another. Here's a comparison between Angular and React:
Learning Curve
React | Angular |
|---|
React is easier to learn, it’s beginner-friendly, which is why it’s the go-to for newbie developers. If you’re at the beginner/intermediate level of JavaScript learning, you’ll be able to settle in just fine. | Angular's learning curve is steeper compared to React; it requires a good understanding of JavaScript and Typescript. |
Architecture
React | Angular |
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React doesn't follow an architectural pattern like Angular; it allows developers to decide what structure they want their app to follow and supports component-based architecture to create scalable applications. | Angular follows MVC (Model View Controller) architecture which gives guidelines on how an application should be structured. |
Performance
React | Angular |
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React used virtual DOM which reduces the amount of DOM manipulation, and updates necessary components when changes are made, increasing its performance. | Angular uses traditional DOM, it runs a change detection mechanism that updates the DOM when a change occurs in the state of an application. |
Community
React | Angular |
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React is open source and powered by Meta. A sizable developer community uses the framework to create applications. | Angular is powered by Google; it is open source and has a large developer community that shares Angular content. |
Test
React | Angular |
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A recommended tool for testing in React is called Jest which is a JavaScript test runner that is used for testing React components. Another recommended tool is the React testing Library for testing React components. | Jasmine testing framework is used for unit testing and integration testing. You can also use other testing libraries and test runners to test angular applications. In the latest release, Angular now offers better unit testing with Jest and Web Test Runner. |
Applications
React | Angular |
|---|
React is a versatile framework that can be used to build mobile, web, and desktop applications. | Angular can be used to develop cross-platform web applications that can run on iOS, Android, and Windows. |
