Mastering React

1. Introduction to React Fundamentals

Gain an understanding of the core principles of React. You'll learn about JSX (JavaScript XML), building reusable UI components, and rendering elements. Additionally, you'll explore the importance of data collection and conditional rendering in React applications. By the end of this section, you'll have a solid foundation of React's essential concepts, setting you up for success in the more advanced topics covered in the following sections.

What is React?

SPAs vs. MPAs in Web Development

How React Works with the Virtual DOM

Introducing JSX in React

Creating Complex JSX Elements

Rendering Elements in React

Challenge: Rendering Element

React Component

Props in React

Challenge: Functional Components

Conditional Rendering

Challenge: Conditional Rendering - Chat Notification

Challenge: Conditional Rendering - Bank Alert

Rendering a Data Collection

Challenge: Rendering a Data Collection

Introduction to React Section Sum-Up

2. Styling in React Apps

Explore the various methods of adding styles to the React applications. You will learn how to apply styles to individual components, use dynamic styles, and maintain a scalable and maintainable styling approach in your projects.

Introduction to Styling in React

Inline Styles

Inline Styles in Practice

Challenge: Inline Styles

Styling with the CSS File

Styling with the CSS File in Practice

Challenge: Styling with the CSS File

Styling with the CSS Modules

File Folder Structure Organization

Challenge: CSS Modules

Styling in React Section Sum-Up

3. React Hooks and Context

Powerful features in modern React development. Hooks revolutionize how we write functional components, providing a concise and intuitive way to manage state and perform side effects. Conversely, Context allows us to share data through the component tree without prop drilling. Combining hooks and Context enables efficient state management and simplified data sharing in React applications.

Introduction: React Hooks and Context

useState Hook

Challenge: Toggling Visibility

useRef Hook

Challenge: Creating a Form Component

useEffect Hook

Challenge: Fetching and Displaying Data

useMemo Hook

Challenge: Car List Filtering

Context

Context in Practice

Challenge: World of Astronomy App

React Hooks and Context Section Sum Up

4. React in the Real World

Step-by-step guide on how to start a real-world React project. From setting up your development environment to understanding project organization and critical tools, you'll gain the knowledge and confidence to embark on your React journey.

Setting Up Environment

Code Editor

Setting Up the Project Folder

Terminal

Starting the Project

React in the Real World Section Sum Up

Setting Up Environment

In the previous sections, we have learned the basics of React. We now know how to create components, manage them, render information, and implement logic. However, all these tasks were done in CodeSandbox, which is excellent for studying.

But what about real-world projects? Do all developers create projects in CodeSandbox? Of course not. This section is dedicated to helping you start your project on your local machine, guide through the process step by step.

Step 1: Install Node.js and npm

We need to install Node.js and npm on the local machine.

Node.js is an open-source runtime environment that allows us to run JavaScript code on the server side.

npm stands for "Node Package Manager". It is a package manager for Node.js that allows developers to easily install, manage, and share reusable JavaScript code packages or modules.

Go to the official Node.js website: https://nodejs.org;
Download the installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). We are interested in the LTS version as it is stable and working;

Run the installer and follow the installation instructions;
After the installation, we should have Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager) installed on the machine.

How can we check do we have Node.js and npm installed?

To check if Node.js and npm are installed on the machine, we can open the computer's terminal (command prompt, PowerShell, or terminal emulator) and run the commands. Steps:

1. Open the terminal;

Windows: Press Win + X and select "Windows PowerShell" from the menu. Alternatively, search for "PowerShell" in the Start menu;
macOS: Go to "Applications" > "Utilities" > "Terminal". Another option is to use the "Spotlight" search by pressing Cmd + Space and typing "Terminal";
Linux: The shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T is commonly used to open the terminal on many Linux distributions. However, depending on the specific distribution, there might be other methods such as searching for "Terminal" in the applications menu or using a different keyboard shortcut.

Note
If none of these methods work, it is recommended to refer to the documentation or support resources for the operating system to find the appropriate way to open the terminal. Or we can always google.

2. Check Node.js version;

In the terminal run the following command.

This command will display the version of Node.js installed on the machine. If Node.js is installed, we see the version number.

3. Check npm version.

In the terminal run the following command.

This command will display the version of npm installed on the machine. If npm is installed, we see the version number.

If both commands return the version numbers, Node.js and npm are successfully installed and available on the machine. If the commands are not recognized or return an error, it means that Node.js and/or npm are not installed, or their installation paths are not correctly configured. In that case, we may need to revisit the installation steps for Node.js and ensure the installation was completed successfully. Sometimes it is recommended to restart the machine.

Note
What version we get doesn't matter for now.

Everything was clear?

Section 4. Chapter 1

Course Content

Mastering React

1. Introduction to React Fundamentals

What is React?SPAs vs. MPAs in Web Development How React Works with the Virtual DOM Introducing JSX in React Creating Complex JSX Elements Rendering Elements in React Challenge: Rendering Element React Component Props in React Challenge: Functional Components Conditional Rendering Challenge: Conditional Rendering - Chat Notification Challenge: Conditional Rendering - Bank Alert Rendering a Data Collection Challenge: Rendering a Data Collection Introduction to React Section Sum-Up

2. Styling in React Apps

Introduction to Styling in React Inline Styles Inline Styles in Practice Challenge: Inline Styles Styling with the CSS File Styling with the CSS File in Practice Challenge: Styling with the CSS File Styling with the CSS Modules File Folder Structure Organization Challenge: CSS Modules Styling in React Section Sum-Up

3. React Hooks and Context

Introduction: React Hooks and Context useState Hook Challenge: Toggling Visibility useRef Hook Challenge: Creating a Form Component useEffect Hook Challenge: Fetching and Displaying Data useMemo Hook Challenge: Car List Filtering Context Context in Practice Challenge: World of Astronomy App React Hooks and Context Section Sum Up

4. React in the Real World

Setting Up Environment Code Editor Setting Up the Project Folder Terminal Starting the Project React in the Real World Section Sum Up

Mastering React

Setting Up Environment

Step 1: Install Node.js and npm

We need to install Node.js and npm on the local machine.

Node.js is an open-source runtime environment that allows us to run JavaScript code on the server side.

npm stands for "Node Package Manager". It is a package manager for Node.js that allows developers to easily install, manage, and share reusable JavaScript code packages or modules.

Go to the official Node.js website: https://nodejs.org;
Download the installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). We are interested in the LTS version as it is stable and working;

Run the installer and follow the installation instructions;
After the installation, we should have Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager) installed on the machine.

How can we check do we have Node.js and npm installed?

To check if Node.js and npm are installed on the machine, we can open the computer's terminal (command prompt, PowerShell, or terminal emulator) and run the commands. Steps:

1. Open the terminal;

Windows: Press Win + X and select "Windows PowerShell" from the menu. Alternatively, search for "PowerShell" in the Start menu;
macOS: Go to "Applications" > "Utilities" > "Terminal". Another option is to use the "Spotlight" search by pressing Cmd + Space and typing "Terminal";
Linux: The shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T is commonly used to open the terminal on many Linux distributions. However, depending on the specific distribution, there might be other methods such as searching for "Terminal" in the applications menu or using a different keyboard shortcut.

Note
If none of these methods work, it is recommended to refer to the documentation or support resources for the operating system to find the appropriate way to open the terminal. Or we can always google.

2. Check Node.js version;

In the terminal run the following command.

This command will display the version of Node.js installed on the machine. If Node.js is installed, we see the version number.

3. Check npm version.

In the terminal run the following command.

This command will display the version of npm installed on the machine. If npm is installed, we see the version number.

Note
What version we get doesn't matter for now.

Everything was clear?

Section 4. Chapter 1