Virtual DOM
Virtual DOM is one of the major key innovations present in React, literally making performance much better by keeping a light representation of the actual DOM in memory. When the state of a component is changed, React begins an update of the Virtual DOM alongside the previous one and then locates the differences. This process is known as "diffing.". It only updates portions of the DOM that have changed, not the whole page, and it reduces access to the DOM as much as possible, which, on the whole, is slow and inefficient, while ensuring that web applications perform with high performance and a smooth user experience.
Component-Based Architecture
React’s component-based architecture is founded on the principles of reusability and modularity. The user interface in React is divided into independent components, each responsible for rendering a specific, reusable part of the UI. These components can be nested to build complex interfaces, allowing for efficient development and maintenance of large applications. By breaking down the UI into smaller, manageable pieces, developers can reuse components across various sections or projects, significantly saving time and effort.
JSX (JavaScript XML)
JSX, or JavaScript XML, is a syntax extension for JavaScript that enables developers to write HTML-like code directly within JavaScript files. This feature improves code readability and debugging by providing a clear and concise way to define the UI's structure. Instead of separating logic and layout into different files, JSX combines them, making the code more intuitive and easier to maintain. After compilation, JSX is converted into standard JavaScript function calls, ensuring compatibility with all major browsers.
Unidirectional Data Flow
React enforces a unidirectional data flow, which ensures that data moves through the application in a single direction. This approach simplifies data management and debugging by making it easier to trace state changes and understand how data is propagated and modified within the application. In React, parent components pass data to child components via props, and child components can communicate changes back to parent components through callbacks. This clear data flow structure makes the application’s state predictable and manageable, reducing the risk of errors and streamlining code maintenance.
React Native
React Native extends React’s capabilities to mobile app development, allowing developers to create cross-platform mobile applications using a unified codebase. React Native supports the development of native components in JavaScript, which are then rendered using native views. This approach provides a high-performance, native-like experience on both iOS and Android platforms. By sharing a significant portion of the codebase between web and mobile applications, React Native reduces development time and costs, enabling businesses to broaden their reach with minimal effort.
