What the heck is React?

Soooo what is React, you say?

React is a free and open-source front-end JavaScript library. It was created by the developers at Facebook for use in their own products, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. React is also used by Netflix, The New York Times, AirBnb, Discord, DropBox, and many other big companies. In short, it is one of the most popular JavaScript libraries in the world!

Basically, you should learn it.

React is a primarily used to build user interfaces. It is designed to be simple, declarative, and efficient. React components can be used to create complex user interfaces that can be used on both the web and mobile platforms 🤯

React provides developers with the tools to easily create and manage stateful components, as well as to compose components into complex user interfaces. React components are written using JavaScript and can be easily integrated into existing applications.

Why is React so powerful?

React is a popular choice for developers due to its flexibility and scalability. It can be used to build single-page applications and progressive web apps. Additionally, React is supported by a vibrant community of developers (there are more than 15k React Developers on Showwcase! That we know of 😉) and is rapidly evolving to provide the most up-to-date features and functionality.

If you are looking for a powerful and easy-to-use JavaScript library for building user interfaces, React is a great choice! With its flexible architecture and scalability, it is a great choice for developers of all skill levels.

What makes React so special?

There are several things that make React special:

1. Components: React's core concept is the "component," which is a reusable piece of code that defines a particular element of a user interface. This makes it easy to create complex user interfaces by building them up from small, modular pieces. Think of it like lego blocks you put together to create a larger cooler lego - like the Death Star!
2. Virtual DOM: React uses a virtual DOM (Document Object Model) to improve performance by minimizing the number of changes that need to be made to the actual DOM. This results in faster updates and better performance, especially for larger applications.
3. Unidirectional data flow: React enforces a strict unidirectional data flow, which makes it easier to reason about the state of an application and helps to prevent unexpected bugs.
4. JSX: React uses JSX, an extension of JavaScript that allows you to write HTML-like elements directly in your JavaScript code. This makes it easy to see the structure of a React component and can improve readability and maintainability.
5. Popularity and Community: React is one of the most popular frontend libraries out there. The community is large and active and is constantly developing new tools and libraries that integrate well with React. This popularity makes it easy to find help and tutorials online, and it's likely that many developers are already familiar with it or are actively learning it.
6. Server-side rendering: React can be rendered on the server side and on the browser side, which makes it easy to create fast and efficient web applications that can be indexed by search engines.
7. Reusable code: React's component-based architecture allows for code to be easily reused across a codebase, which can save development time and improve maintainability.

React in 2023

React is expected to remain in high demand in 2023. According to a survey by Stack Overflow, React has been the most popular front-end library since 2020, and it is expected to remain the most popular in the years to come. Additionally, many of the world's leading technology companies, such as Facebook, Netflix, The New York Times, and AirBnb, continue to rely on React to build their products.

Expected Salary of a React Developer

The average salary of a React Developer is estimated to be around $80,000 per year in the US. However, the actual salary can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as experience, location, and type of employer.

For example, a React Developer in the United States can expect to earn around $100,000 per year, while a React Developer in India can expect to earn around $50,000 per year. Once of the reasons for this discrepancy is purely cost of living: it is very likely that $100,000 per year salary in the US is about the same standard of living as $50,000 per year in India. Also, US taxes can be a lot higher! Especially in some states like California.

Additionally, the salary of a React Developer can also be affected by the type of employer, with larger companies typically paying higher salaries than smaller companies. Overall, React Developers can expect to earn competitive salaries, with salaries continuing to rise as the demand for React Developers increases.

React vs Other Front End Frameworks

React is one of the most popular front-end frameworks, but it is not the only one. Other popular frameworks include Angular, Vue, and Svelte. Each of these frameworks has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice for a project will, as usual, depend on the requirements of that project.

Angular is a popular framework due to its powerful features and scalability. It is well-suited for building large-scale applications, and it is compatible with popular JavaScript libraries such as React and Vue. Like React, Angular also has a large community of developers and a wide range of tools and services.

Vue is a popular choice for its simplicity and ease of use. It is often used for building single-page applications and progressive web apps. Additionally, Vue has a large community of developers and is rapidly evolving to provide the most up-to-date features and functionality.

Svelte is the NKOTB (new kid on the block) as some people would say. It's a relatively new framework that is gaining popularity due to its small size and fast performance. It is often used for building high-performance web apps, as it can reduce the amount of code needed and improve performance. Additionally, Svelte has a growing community of developers and is supported by a wide range of tools and services.

In summary, each of these front-end frameworks has its own strengths

Here are some Resources for further reading:

Now, onward!!