Web development is a fantastic skill to learn and can get you very far in your career if you work in the digital world. However, there are a lot of things that you have to learn and you will soon find that this cannot be done overnight. React is one of those terms that you will often hear about in web development. The reason why this is often mentioned is because it seems to be the framework for user interfaces.
If you are unsure what React is and/ or how to use it and why you should use it then you have come to the right place.
Why Is React So Popular?
For those web developers who have struggled to understand Vanilla JavaScript, React is there to help you. The reason why React is so good is that it helps you with more complex tasks of JavaScript and simplifies them. Let's take a look at how it does that.
Simplified DOM Manipulation
One of the issues with DOM is that you have to manually update it which can be difficult and easy to make mistakes. However, with React, this is done automatically.
Component-Based Architecture
React makes everything easy by breaking things down and separating them. This can then be reusable and essentially be used for other areas of a website.
Declarative Approach
Another benefit of using React is that it allows you to tell it what you want and then React ensures that is completed and usable.
Why Is React Popular In The Job Market?
There are a few reasons why React is so popular in the job market. Firstly, many major companies require React for their operations such as Meta, Instagram, Netflix, and AirBnB which are in need of React Developers.
Fantastic Community Support
Using this code puts you part of a massive community so if you ever encounter issues, you can speak to multiple people who are experienced with using this software. There are hundreds, if not thousands of tutorials and solutions to React issues.
Endless Career Opportunities
There is no doubt that there is a very high demand for web developers who are experts and experienced with React however, even from a junior level, there are many corporations who are looking to specialise in this line of work. The more in demand it is, the more competitive the wage salaries are.
Cross Platform
Another unique part about React is that it is cross-platform. This means that it is not only used on a website but also on mobile applications as well.
How To Get Started With React
React can be very overwhelming however, once you learn this specific Framework, it can really elevate your operations for coding. But if you follow this step-by-step guide, you will understand it very quickly.
Step One: Create The Development Environment
Before you begin, you need to create your development environment by entering the following.
# Create a new React project using Vite
npm create vite@latest my-first-react-app -- --template react
cd my-first-react-app
npm install
npm run dev
Understand the Fundamentals of React
Understanding the fundamentals of React is essential but mastering them will set you above the rest. So, you need to understand the following; JSX Syntact, Components, Props, State, and Event Handling.
Start Building Projects
The only way you learn is by building your experience. A good way to do that would be to start your own little projects. Consider a very basic project such as creating a Todo List App, then a weather App, then an E-Commerce Product page and then a social media dashboard. Once you have gained enough confidence, look to make your own ChatGPT API App.
Learn From The Experienced Community
Another great way to ensure you are getting to grips with React is by learning from the community. There are plenty of tutorials out there that you can use and help to elevate those development skills of yours. Additionally, there will be community forums where the best web development agencies in Manchester, London, Los Angeles, Tokyo and many more all share their ideas and how they use React.
However, remember to not rely too much on these tutorials because the best way to learn is to try things yourself. As mentioned before, start building your own projects and learning how you can use this code to benefit.
What About Careers? What Do Employers Want To See
Now, if you are a self-taught web developer, you need to come with something to the table to ensure you have something that employers want to see. Here is how you should create your portfolio.
Quality Rather Than Quantity
One of the best things that you can show employers when you are self-taught is the quality of your work. Don’t show 10/20 different projects of variety. Show them the more complex projects that aren’t easy to do and learn. Show that you can use complicated state management, are capable of API integration, understand user authentication, are capable of creating a responsive design and, the code isn’t messy but rather clean.
Show Them Real World Solutions
It is pointless to show them projects that are not necessarily useful in their industry or company. Focus on projects that many businesses can use to help their company, whether it is a social media dashboard that updates or creating a project management tool.
Document All of Your Work
Make sure that you keep all of your work documents that explain your technical work. Also include demos on how it can be used. Create documents of features and functionality and, show the issues you came across in those projects and how you overcame them.
Create a Technical Blog
If you start your own React blog, this can also appeal to many employers. The reason for this is that you are showcasing your skills and expertise while exploring the different projects you have created.
Summary
Once you have learned the basics of coding such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript, you then need to learn the more complex coding languages. Python is one that is often mentioned but learning how to code with React will also take you very far and to an employer, can be proved to be very valuable.