Building a website with React.js: Everything you should know

Since 2013, React.js has become a major opportunity for web development worldwide. React.js has gained broad recognition, but how exactly can React.js revolutionize your business, and what unlocks this power? 

• Modern development approaches quicken cycles, giving a competitive edge.
• Component-based architecture disassembles complex interfaces into reusable parts that bring more users and traffic.
• Virtual DOMs allow for increased rendering speed and more fluid interactions.
• 2.5x faster rendering than others and 35-50% less memory consumed ensures your solutions always remain responsive.
• Rich ecosystem and active community support cause adoption by major companies.
• Reorganization of code into modular components creates better error tracing, and future changes become easier to accomplish with lower technical debt.

Why are the biggest websites, such as Apple.com, Linkedin.com, WordPress.org, Aliexpress.com, Amazon.com, and more, building a website with React? And most importantly, what should you know to start getting the most out of it?

Keep going to explore!

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What is React.js?

React is an open-source JavaScript library that was developed by Facebook's engineering team, and it was released to the public in May 2013. According to Thakkar, one of the great advantages of using React is the use of declarative programming as opposed to imperative programming. This results in cleaner and more manageable codebases with significantly less boilerplate.

React.js has a declarative nature. It means developers write code that describes what they want the end state of the user interface to be, and the framework deals with the mechanics of changing the virtual DOM in React. Thus, developers can focus on writing application logic instead of low-level implementations. Although React is, in fact, a library for rendering user interfaces, its ecosystem is full of packages and libraries for routing, state management, and rendering the user interface on the server.

Have you ever played with LEGO as a kid? The beauty of LEGO is that you can create anything by piecing together little colored bricks in different ways. React.js follows a similar philosophy — it lets you create user interfaces from tiny, reusable building blocks called "components."

You can build a basic UI component for a button or a dropdown menu and then reuse the same component wherever you need it across your application. Cost-efficient, isn’t it? You can keep adding more components, creating a diverse library of reusable UI elements. So, whether you build a complex website or a React single-page app, React.js lets you create UI parts separately. 

But how exactly does React.js enable efficiency with reusable components? Let’s switch to more tech details now.

How does React work?

Understanding React.js helps prioritize your company's web development and growth. React.js creates a strong, flexible framework for websites. It is known for its ease, speed, and user-focused design. CTOs consider it because of its vast functionality for speeding up development.

According to O'Reilly, there are misconceptions about React.js. React is a JavaScript library for building web app interfaces, not a framework. It focuses primarily on UI rendering, leaving various components of a project to be assembled independently.

React is a library that facilitates the development of flexible user interfaces. It promotes reusable UI components that can adapt to changing data.

React.js is scalable in web applications. This means it can handle more user, data, and traffic work. It achieves this through a component-based architecture that promotes reusability and maintainability.

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React JS can help you achieve the most challenging tech aims with the right custom web development services. Whether you are developing a web application or building a website with React, its versatility, and efficiency make it a valuable tool for modern and responsive online experiences.

React vs other JavaScript frameworks

To understand completely why use React, let’s break down the differences of this technology as opposed to other JavaScript frameworks. They differ from other development technologies in several aspects.

• Architecture and structure. React is a library for the view layer, providing developers with the flexibility to use other tools for the other app aspects. Meanwhile, Angular is a full-fledged MVC framework that implies a fully structured way to build applications. Finally, Vue.js is a progressively adoptable framework and can be a library or a full framework depending on the requirements, as stated by Emmanni.
• Data binding method. For React, Redux and other mechanisms are needed to handle updates from views back to the model. At the same time, two-way data binding is used by Angular to synchronize changes between the model and view.  According to Batoon et al., Vue.js supports both approaches.
• Handling the DOM. React employs a virtual, abstract version of the real DOM. This enables dynamic user interfaces and helps with working in real-time with UI objects. Conversely, Angular uses the real DOM type, so any change requires updating the entire tree data structure. Vue.js also executes with a virtual DOM, which optimizes rendering processes by minimizing DOM alterations.
• Single Page Applications (SPAs).  React single-page apps are easy to build and provide fast and seamless user interactions and responsiveness, as Emmanni notes. Angular is most practical for complex, enterprise-level SPAs that need the latest features and functionalities. Finally, Vue.js is in demand for SPAs that require fast-paced development and can be incrementally adopted.
• Performance and speed of rendering. As described by Batoon et al., React rendered dynamic rows roughly 2.5 times faster than Angular. It also uses approximately 35%-50% less memory consumption during dynamic updates. Vue.js generally provides comparable performance to React, with better initial load times and rendering speeds.
• Learning сurve. React’s learning curve is moderate, as it comprises simpler concepts and a more relaxed architecture of integration. However, component lifecycle and state management require a deeper understanding. Full-stack developers experience a steep learning curve with Angular due to the complicated concepts of decorators, modules, and the use of TypeScript. Vue.js is easier to learn, as it has the simplest learning concepts and ease of integration, as per Batoon et al.

These differences make React projects appealing to many companies. Now, let’s define clearly why choose React for your solution.

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Why React?

Thanks to React.js, teams can work effectively on big projects due to its component-based architecture, which divides complicated interfaces into manageable, reusable React components. Also, According to Lakshmi et al., virtual DOM rendering and effective reconciliation algorithms ensure quick and responsive user experiences for applications that manage large datasets or complex interactions. In short, React offers the performance and flexibility that contemporary businesses require.

The benefits of React.js

There is an abundance of React.js developers, and for a good reason. This library offers a lot of benefits that speed up and optimize development processes.

• The scalability benefits.

React.js developers can manage complex apps more simply. They do this by breaking the user interface into small, separate, and reusable parts. Each of these parts can be reused in the app once defined. They ensure consistency and cut errors a lot. With component patterns, you can change an app's structure by splitting or combining components.

Scalability is critical for businesses. It determines the following:

• Whether the onboarding is seamless for teams, even if they're unfamiliar with technology.
• How easy it is to add new code, change the existing code, and fix bugs.
• If the solution is suitable enough for large and intricate applications.

Another one of the advantages of React is how efficient the React reusable components are.

• Efficiency through reusability.

Another reason to build a website with React is its efficiency. Components are the building blocks, and tasks are broken down into manageable pieces. This method allows multiple developers to work simultaneously on different application parts without conflict.

React has completely changed the game for web developers regarding UI design and development. Development teams use React to build reusable components. It also enhances the UI/UX design, boosts performance, and troubleshoots components.

For example, a web development team wants a specific button design that will remain consistent across many pages. With React, you can create this button as a reusable component, keeping the design consistent and reducing inconsistencies.

• Improved user experience and performance

Lakshmi et al. report that users building commercial applications using React services had consistently better user experiences. The use of the virtual DOM enables quicker rendering and smoother interactions in applications with large datasets. Faster rendering and smoother interactions are a result of reduced re-rendering of component data, and this allows the experience to be more responsive for the user.

• Faster development cycles.

According to evidence also provided by Lakshmi, a React.js application results in faster development cycles, gaining a competitive advantage, and fostering innovation. The modernized development cycles occur through common development paradigms within the structure that the React framework offers.

Additionally, advanced website builders like Webflow, Wix's Velo platform, and Squarespace's developer mode create dynamic, component-based user experiences thanks to React.js powering their front-end interfaces.

• Rich ecosystem and community support.

React boasts an extensive ecosystem of tools, libraries, and frameworks that solve common challenges. This explains the great number of websites that use React. The active community continuously produces innovative solutions, documentation, and resources. This support network ensures developers can find answers quickly and implement best practices.

These advantages make it very clear that React.js is a great option for many teams and use cases. Now it’s time to see the most fitting situations that call for using it.

When to use React?

There are specific cases when using React to build a website is the best choice you can make. Consider the following.

• For interactive interfaces. React's updating processes are especially helpful for applications that have many things happening in real time. The virtual DOM technology makes the rendering cycle faster when displaying large datasets or complex user inputs, according to Lakshmi.
• For projects that need to grow over a long time. A modular design is great for allowing codebases to grow. These modules are isolated, designed to be maintained independently. This makes debugging and future changes easier to accomplish, as stated by Komperla et al..
• For ready-to-produce solutions. A great number of websites built with React show scalability and dependability.  For instance, Komperla et al. claim that React is used by Facebook, Instagram, and Netflix for their main products.
• For organizing messy code. Once a JavaScript codebase becomes cluttered, it is really hard to disentangle it. React applications make cleaning it up easier by using decoupled components that are still reusable. Komperla explains that this is because each component takes inputs and returns visual output all on its own.
• For when it helps to use extensive tooling. The impressive amount of tooling available with React development will supply options for solving familiar challenges, which will lessen development time and skillfully take advantage of what is already available.
•  When there is no time to waste on duplication. Centralized definitions facilitate shared functionality across views. Reddy explains that reusable components packaging simplifies consistency.

All these cases cause making a website with React a viable solution for developers to make the cycles faster and more resultful. Now, even more interesting, this library allows for advanced techniques like DOM usage and code splitting React techniques.

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Optimizing performance with React.js

Building a website with React is more than just a perk. It keeps users engaged and boosts SEO. The React Virtual DOM stands at the core of its architecture by optimizing performance.

Understanding the Virtual DOM

The VDOM is a programming concept. It means storing a perfect copy of a user interface in memory. You then update it to match the "actual" DOM with a library like ReactDOM.

React.js makes a small copy of the real DOM in memory for each component. When the app state changes, React.js compares these virtual DOMs. It calculates the best way to update the actual DOM. 

Virtual DOM allows for seamless UI updates without the need for full-page rendering.

Traditional DOM consumes a lot of resources. In contrast, React identifies the necessary minimal changes and updates the DOM in a single batch, minimizing expensive operations.

React updates only the changed parts by comparing the component or page's current and new state. This leads to a quicker and more effective rendering process, which is essential for modern web application design.

As a result, utilizing the VDOM has three main advantages, including:

1. Improved performance. React improves performance by reducing the burden on the browser with batching updates and minimizing direct DOM manipulation.
2. Efficient updates. Using the diffing algorithm streamlines updating the DOM by identifying only the altered elements.
3. Simplified programming model. React's optimization of updates allows developers to code as if the entire page is rendered every time a change is made.

Apart from the React virtual DOM, some other methods improve the performance of your solutions.

Techniques for superior performance

Performance optimization doesn’t stop at the virtual DOM. Other strategies, such as React code splitting and lazy loading, are indispensable tools in the React.js developer’s kit.

Efficient management of the virtual DOM is crucial, but strategies like code splitting and lazy loading enhance user experience.

Code splitting involves breaking the application code into smaller, more manageable chunks and loading them asynchronously when needed. This allows for faster initial page loads and reduces the overall load time of the application. Lazy loading defers non-essential component loading until required, reducing initial payload size for better performance.

In fact, React.js provides hooks like useMemo and useCallback to optimize component rendering. React.memo captures the result of a function, caching it so that it is only recalculated when its dependencies change. 

When to use React.memo? This option works best for expensive calculations or data fetching operations, preventing unnecessary recalculations and improving performance.

Similarly, useCallback memorizes the callback function, preventing unnecessary re-renders of components that depend on it. React ensures that the same callback instance is used across renders unless its dependencies change. This results in more efficient rendering and a faster user interface due to memorizing callbacks.

Combining these strategies alongside virtual DOM optimization can lead to a performant React.js application with faster load times, improved responsiveness, and enhanced user experience.

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State management strategies‍

Proper state management is a key element in building a website with React, as it encompasses manipulating and maintaining the data that reflects the application's present state. Effectively managing this state is essential for ensuring that the application behaves as expected and provides a seamless user experience. React.js offers various strategies and tools for managing the state.

One common approach to state management in React.js is through component state. Each component in a React.js application can have its local state, which allows it to manage and update data independently. This local state handles UI-specific data or user interactions within the component.

Another method used for state management in React.js is the Context API. Context allows sharing data between components without manually passing props through every component tree level. It allows for creating a global state that can be accessed by any component within the context's provider. This is particularly useful for managing application-wide state, such as user authentication status or theme preferences.

Redux is another popular library for state management in React.js applications. Redux follows a centralized approach to state management, where the entire application state is stored in a single immutable object called the Redux store. Components can dispatch actions to update the state, and reducers are used to specify how the state should change in response to these actions. While Redux introduces additional complexity compared to the local component state or the Context API, it can benefit larger applications with complex data flow and state management requirements.

Other state management libraries and patterns, such as MobX, Recoil, or the useReducer hook, offer alternative software modernization solution for managing state in React.js applications. These libraries provide different simplicity, performance, and scalability trade-offs, allowing developers to choose the best approach based on their applications' specific needs and complexity.

Therefore, effective state management is crucial for building a website with React.js. By leveraging the various state management strategies and tools available, developers can ensure that their applications are well-organized and performant and provide a seamless user experience.

Choosing the right approach

When managing state in React.js applications, web developers often choose between various approaches, each offering its strengths and use cases. Let’s compare three popular state management options including: 

• Context API. The Context API is a built-in feature of React.js that allows components to share data without passing props manually through the component tree. It is particularly handy for handling a global state that must be accessed by several components throughout different levels of the component hierarchy. While the Context API simplifies state sharing, it may not be the most efficient solution for complex state management scenarios.
• Redux. Redux is a predictable state container library that follows a centralized approach to state management. It maintains the entire application state in a single immutable object called the Redux store, and components dispatch actions to update this state. Redux is well-suited for large-scale applications with complex data flow and state management requirements. However, it introduces additional boilerplate code and complexity compared to other options.
• Recoil. Recoil is a newer state management library developed by Facebook, designed for managing states in React applications. It leverages React's built-in features like hooks and function components to provide a more intuitive and flexible API for managing state. Recoil excels in scenarios where you need fine-grained control over state updates and performance optimizations, making it a compelling choice for modern React applications.

The choice of state management approach in React.js depends on the following three factors:

1. The complexity of your application.
2. The size of your development team.
3. Your specific performance and scalability requirements.

This way, by evaluating the strengths and trade-offs of each option, you can make an informed decision and add React to existing project.‍

Otherwise, trust your choice to the developers and kickstart your business with custom web development services!

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Seamless integration with backend technologies

A web application is not just a client-facing site. It's connected to the backend, which deals with crucial data storage and retrieval functions. React.js prides itself on its agnosticism, integrating with various backend techniques.

RESTful APIs and GraphQL

RESTful APIs have long been the backbone of React.js development services, offering a standardized approach that simplifies communication between clients and servers. They adhere to predefined conventions for representing resources and performing actions, making them familiar and straightforward for developers.

Integrating RESTful APIs with React websites is generally a smooth process, since they follow standard protocols. However, as your React app gets bigger RESTful APIs might sometimes fetch too much or too little data than what's actually needed. This can lead to slower load times and performance issues, as unnecessary data is being transferred back and forth.

In contrast, GraphQL presents a new approach to API design, granting clients greater authority over the data they retrieve. To explain how GraphQL works, let’s say this: with one query, a client asks for the data they need, and the server provides that data in a JSON format.

The benefits of GraphQL are clear: it allows clients to specify the required fields with its flexible query language. It also eliminates the need to fetch unnecessary data. This feature enables clients to optimize their data retrieval process, which results in faster and more efficient server interactions.

While RESTful APIs excel in standardization and predictability, GraphQL shines when flexibility and precise data fetching are crucial. Developers must carefully consider the benefits and drawbacks of each approach when designing APIs for React applications. Whether opting for the simplicity of RESTful APIs or the precision of GraphQL, the goal remains the same: to deliver responsive and user-friendly experiences to end-users.

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React.js web development use cases

React.js has become a cornerstone in custom web development, offering a robust solution for creating interactive and dynamic user interfaces from small applications to large-scale enterprise systems.

Let’s look at several compelling use cases for building a website with React.

1. Single Page Applications (SPAs). React.js is well-suited for building SPAs, where all necessary code is loaded initially, and subsequent interactions are handled without page reloads. Its component-based architecture facilitates the creation of interactive and responsive user interfaces.
2. Enterprise applications. React.js is used to develop complex enterprise applications due to its scalability, maintainability, and performance optimization capabilities. Its modular approach allows easy integration with existing systems and collaboration among development teams.
3. E-commerce platforms. React.js provides the flexibility and responsiveness required for building modern e-commerce platforms. Its ability to handle large amounts of dynamic content, such as product listings and user interactions, makes it an ideal choice for creating engaging shopping experiences.
4. Social media platforms. React.js is used to develop social media platforms and networking applications. Its ability to update the user interface in real-time and manage user interactions makes it suitable for building features like news feeds, notifications, and messaging systems.
5. Content Management Systems (CMS). React.js can be used to create custom content management systems tailored to specific business needs. Its component-based architecture simplifies the development of reusable UI elements, making managing and organizing content easier.
6. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). React.js is often utilized in developing PWAs, which combine the features of web applications with the capabilities of native mobile apps. Its lightweight footprint, offline support, and fast performance create engaging and reliable PWAs.
7. Data visualization dashboards. When it comes to creating dynamic and user-friendly data visualization dashboards that can handle extensive data sets, React.js is the way to go. Its declarative approach to UI rendering and extensive ecosystem of libraries, such as D3.js and Victory, enable developers to create compelling data-driven applications.

Overall, React.js is used across various industries and application domains, making it a popular choice among developers for building modern and feature-rich web applications.

Top 5 React websites examples

Many renowned companies and platforms have leveraged React.js to enhance user experience, scalability, and performance. Now let’s see what websites use React (and you will be surprised by how well-known they are!).

Here's a closer look at the top five famous applications that utilize React.js and the components they employ:

1. Netflix. Netflix is one of the best React websites, benefiting from its frontend to deliver a high-performance user interface that handles millions of users daily. Components like the movie carousel, search bar, and recommendation engine are likely built with React, allowing for quick updates and an interactive experience.
2. The New York Times. The New York Times website relies on React.js to manage its vast content and provide readers with a seamless navigation experience. Components such as article lists, comment sections, and interactive multimedia content are examples where React might be used.
3. Airbnb. Airbnb's website uses React.js to build various components of its booking and listing platform, including the search results grid, booking calendars, and review sections. React helps create an intuitive and efficient interface for guests and hosts.
4. Uber. Uber's web interface uses React.js to manage live location data, ride options, and booking details, providing users with real-time updates and a smooth booking experience.
5. Dropbox. Dropbox is another one of the React.js website examples, as it uses it for its web application to handle file previews, navigation, and synchronization status, offering users a responsive and cohesive cloud storage solution.

These React websites examples prove the versatility and efficiency of developing dynamic applications across various domains. The ability to create reusable, interactive components makes building a website with React.js a go-to choice for many top companies looking to provide exceptional user experiences.

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The bottom line

React.js has emerged as a critical player in revolutionizing web development, transitioning from a fresh concept to an essential tool for modern digital enterprises. Its ability to meet the demands of today's online environments makes it beneficial and necessary for businesses aiming to lead and redefine industry standards.

React.js empowers visionaries with its intuitive design and developer-friendly syntax, facilitating quick prototyping and deployment of applications. This enables businesses to respond to emerging trends and secure their place within their sectors. Moreover, the flexibility of React.js allows companies to adapt to the digital world's constant shifts, ensuring they remain relevant and responsive to their audience's needs.

React.js has fostered a supportive and innovative community that thrives on knowledge sharing and continuous learning, enhancing problem-solving and fostering a culture of innovation and inclusivity.

By adopting React.js, organizations boost their operational efficiency and enhance their brand experience, deepening user connections. React.js is a strategic investment in the future. It gives businesses the tools to confidently navigate the complexities of the digital age. It sets a new standard where technology and vision merge to make unmatched value.

Our expertise in React.js web development

At COAX Software, we transform visions into digital realities with React.js. Our expertise allows us to create React.js applications of any complexity that meet and surpass client expectations. Join us to create a powerful and scalable solution. It embodies the future of web development!

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FAQs

How to build your own reusable component in React.js?

The construction of reusable components will depend on the Single Responsibility Principle, which states that components should do one job well, as noted by Patil. Design your components to accept data through props. Validate props with PropTypes or TypeScript to ensure types are compatible, create default props for fallback values, and document your components thoroughly to share information about their usage with other engineers.

What are props in React?

Conceptually, props (short for "properties") are arbitrary inputs that components can take in and work similarly to JavaScript function parameters. Props allow behavior and data to move from parent to child components in a unidirectional fashion. According to Komperla et al., props support any data type, including strings, numbers, functions, and objects, enabling components to dynamically render content based on external parameters.

What challenges can you face while building React websites?

Several challenges may occur:

• State management complexity in large applications
• Performance optimization with frequent re-renders
• Learning curve for Hooks and their dependency rules
• Complex routing with nested and protected routes
• Comprehensive testing strategies and implementation
• An overwhelming ecosystem with numerous library choices
• Understanding the rendering lifecycle and optimization
• Server-side rendering and modern feature integration.

How does COAX ensure security and efficiency to build websites with React?

We use React-specific security and optimization measures, like automatically escaping XSS attacks, maximizing rendering performance with virtual DOM implementation. Also, we use component isolation encapsulation to lessen security flaws and simplify debugging by unidirectional data flow for predictable state management. Our practices are confirmed by an ISO 9001 certification for quality processes and an ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for comprehensive security management.