How React Render in HTML? How to work this?

#reactjs

ReactJS is a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces, especially single-page applications where data dynamically changes without requiring a page reload. It enables developers to create reusable UI components, manage state efficiently, and render HTML dynamically. Here's a breakdown of how ReactJS works and how it renders HTML, accompanied by examples:

How ReactJS Works

  1. Components: The core of React is the component. A component is a reusable piece of UI, like a button, form, or page. Components can be class-based or function-based (with hooks).
  2. JSX: React uses JSX (JavaScript XML), a syntax extension that allows writing HTML elements within JavaScript code.
  3. Virtual DOM: React maintains a virtual DOM, which is a lightweight copy of the actual DOM. When state or props change, React updates the virtual DOM and then efficiently updates the actual DOM to match the virtual DOM.
  4. State and Props: Components can have state (internal data managed within the component) and props (external data passed to the component). Changes in state or props trigger re-rendering.
  5. Lifecycle Methods: React components have lifecycle methods that allow developers to hook into different stages of a component’s life, such as mounting, updating, and unmounting.

Rendering HTML in React

React components render HTML using the `render` method for class components or return statements for function components. Here’s how you can create and render components in React.


Example: Simple React Component

Setting Up a React App

First, set up a React app using Create React App (CRA):

npx create-react-app my-app
cd my-app
npm start

Creating a Functional Component

Create a file called `HelloWorld.js` in the `src` folder:

// src/HelloWorld.js
import React from 'react';

const HelloWorld = () => {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Hello, World!</h1>
    </div>
  );
};

export default HelloWorld;

Using the Component in `App.js`

Edit the `App.js` file to include your new component:

// src/App.js
import React from 'react';
import './App.css';
import HelloWorld from './HelloWorld';

function App() {
  return (
    <div className="App">
      <HelloWorld />
    </div>
  );
}

export default App;

This setup will display "Hello, World!" on the page.


Example: Component with State

Create a file called `Counter.js` in the `src` folder:

// src/Counter.js
import React, { useState } from 'react';

const Counter = () => {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

  return (
    <div>
      <p>You clicked {count} times</p>
      <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>
        Click me
      </button>
    </div>
  );
};

export default Counter;

Use this component in `App.js`:

// src/App.js
import React from 'react';
import './App.css';
import HelloWorld from './HelloWorld';
import Counter from './Counter';

function App() {
  return (
    <div className="App">
      <HelloWorld />
      <Counter />
    </div>
  );
}

export default App;

Now, your app will display "Hello, World!" and a button that increments the count each time it's clicked.

Explanation

  • Functional Component: HelloWorld and Counter are functional components. They return JSX that React renders as HTML.
  • State: Counter uses the useState hook to manage the count state. The state updates and triggers a re-render when the button is clicked.
  • JSX: JSX allows embedding HTML-like syntax in JavaScript, which React transforms into React.createElement calls.

React’s declarative nature makes it straightforward to manage complex UIs by breaking them into small, manageable components. React's efficient diffing algorithm ensures that only the necessary parts of the DOM are updated, resulting in improved performance. Further, if you have any questions please visit our website, Guru Labs.