JavaScript vs React JS

Okay! So let's talk Frontend.

The Frontend is what you see first when you visit a website. It's about the look and feel, and how you interact with it. The goal of the frontend is to create the user interface and experience of web applications. There are many tools available, including the trio of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. There are also frameworks like React, Angular, Vue.js, and more. These tools and frameworks help developers build responsive, interactive and attractive websites.

In this article, we are going to compare JavaScript and React.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction

  2. Definition

    • JavaScript

    • React JS

  3. Differences Between JavaScript and React

  4. Why Choose React JS Over JavaScript for Frontend?

  5. Conclusion

    • Summary of Key points
  • HNG Internship

  • HNG Premium Services

JavaScript

JavaScript is a programming language that enables interactivity on web pages. It allows developers to create features like form validation, animations, and asynchronous data loading.

React JS

React JS is a popular Frontend JavaScript library for building user interfaces, especially single-page applications. It was developed by a team at Facebook. React allows developers to create reusable components and manage the state of their applications efficiently.

Differences Between JavaScript and React

JavaScript and React serve different purposes in web development, and understanding their differences is crucial:

  1. JavaScript is used for tasks like manipulating the DOM, handling events, and making HTTP requests, while React is used to build UI components and manage the state of web applications.

  2. In JavaScript, developers need to structure their code manually, while React allows developers to create reusable components that manage their own state.

  3. JavaScript directly manipulates the DOM, which can lead to performance issues if not managed carefully, while React uses a virtual DOM where changes are first made to the virtual DOM before the real DOM.

  4. JavaScript is fundamental to web development, so learning JavaScript is essential before diving into frameworks and libraries. To use React, a good understanding of JavaScript is required.

Why Choose React JS Over JavaScript for Frontend?

React is a specialized library for building user interfaces, focusing on component-based architecture and efficient rendering. On the other hand, JavaScript is a programming language used for a wide range of web development tasks.

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between JavaScript and React is crucial for modern web development. JavaScript forms the foundation of web interactivity and dynamic content while React offers a specialized approach to building user interfaces with its component-based architecture.

I recently applied for the HNG internship, and as I begin this journey, I expect to learn more and work on projects with React JS and other frontend technologies. I am excited to start this journey. If you'd like to join me and get hands-on experience with projects, join the HNG Internship: https://hng.tech/internship.

You can also benefit from the internship with CV reviews, mock interviews, and much more. Visit https://hng.tech/premium.

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Written by

Paulina Ebunoluwa
Paulina Ebunoluwa