Why use React and is React hard to learn?
React is a flexible JavaScript library for user interface (UI) development. React developers use the library to build web components that users interact with, e.g. example buttons, menus, and search bars.
Why use React for front end development? React is an open-source library created to improve UI development. Not only is it one of the most popular JavaScript libraries, but it’s also widely used by companies like Facebook, Netflix, and Slack. It has a very active community, so you can often find existing components for specific UI functions created by other React developers. Lastly, React is a declarative library, meaning that it will automatically update and render the right components when your data changes. This makes your code more predictable and easier to debug.
Is React hard to learn? If you are already familiar with the basics of web development and JavaScript, learning React is relatively straightforward. The introduction to React is to first learn the different components, which are small and isolated bits of code that are the building blocks for complex UI. Due to the large and active React community, it can sometimes be daunting to navigate the extensive React library. With that said, it’s a fast-growing library so as React developers, your learning journey will always be interesting and eventful.
Why should I practice React by building projects?
Project-based learning is a method of learning where you learn a skill through working on a project. This type of learning allows you to learn not only the theory, but also how to apply those skills.
By building a React project, you'll practice the high-level logic of your code and project, and see how each individual line can impact your application. You will also gain problem-solving skills and how to fix it. With so many React projects available, finding an idea that interests you will make the learning process more fun and sustainable.
When you finish building a project, you will have learned and practiced React techniques, gained problem solving skills, learned how to ask questions, and have a finished project to show off.
How do I know which React projects are best for learning React?
The best way to learn React is to practice React by building as many projects as possible. There are three factors you should consider when picking the right React project: your skill level, goals, and interest.
You want to have a good idea of your skill level and choose React practice projects that are not too easy or too hard for you. If you work on React projects that are too easy, you won’t progress in your coding abilities. However, if you choose projects that are too difficult, you may get stuck, never finish the project, and feel discouraged. Therefore, you want to choose React projects that are just a little bit above your current skill level.
Now, you also want to build React projects that not only allows you to practice React, but also lets you show off your skills on your portfolio. So think about the types of React projects you want to put on your portfolio and jobs you’re interested in as a developer. Think about what your long-term goals are and pick React projects that align with them.
Lastly, you definitely want to choose React projects that you’re actually interested in and feel connected to. Learning by building React projects you’re interested in will help you stay motivated. You’ll also be more likely to want to go above and beyond to make your React project stand out in the crowd.
Can React beginners learn by building React projects?
React projects are a great way for beginners to learn. Two major obstacles beginners face when learning React are not knowing why you’re learning React and losing motivation. By learning React through building projects, you will be able to overcome both hurdles.
When you’re learning React, you may not know how to apply React theories in the real world. But when working on beginner React projects, you immediately learn how each line of code impacts your project. By giving theory context, you’ll understand how to apply theories and find more resources to complete your React project. These React projects for beginners can also help you build up your portfolio early on. Each React project you finish can be incorporated into your portfolio to demonstrate your new skills.
Another issue that often comes up for beginners is losing motivation. However, when it comes to projects, you can pick a beginner React project that you’re interested in. Not only will you be more motivated when you work on something interesting, you’ll also want to continue to improve the project. As your React project comes together, the sense of accomplishment will give you the momentum to keep going, even when things get hard. Additionally, you’ll learn how to approach problems from multiple angles and teach yourself how to search for answers. The ability to problem-solve is arguably one of the most important skills a developer should have.
