🔑 Tips for Beginners Learning React.js:

Nimra KosarNimra Kosar
2 min read

1. Don’t Skip JavaScript Fundamentals

React is just JavaScript with superpowers. If you don’t understand:

  • ES6 features (arrow functions, spread/rest, destructuring)

  • Array methods (map, filter, reduce)

  • this, scope, promises, async/await

…then React will feel like black magic. Master JS first—it pays off.


2. Understand Components Properly

Everything in React is a component.

  • Start with functional components (forget class components for now).

  • Practice breaking UI into small reusable pieces.

Example: A button, a card, a navbar — all should be separate components.


3. Learn State & Props Before Anything Else

  • Props = inputs (data you pass into components).

  • State = internal memory (data the component remembers).

If you don’t get props/state, nothing else (hooks, Redux, context) will make sense.


4. Hooks Are Your Best Friends

  • useState → for managing values that change

  • useEffect → for side effects (fetch data, timers, subscriptions)

  • useContext → for avoiding prop drilling

👉 Learn these 3 hooks solidly before moving on to fancy stuff.


5. Hands-On Projects > Reading Docs All Day

Instead of just watching tutorials:

  • Build a Todo App (classic for state/props practice).

  • Build a Weather App (practice API calls with fetch).

  • Build a Theme Switcher (practice useContext).

Projects force you to connect dots faster.


6. Learn JSX Syntax Well

Remember, JSX is not HTML. Some quick gotchas:

  • className instead of class

  • onClick={handleClick} instead of onclick="..."

  • {} for embedding JavaScript

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7. Styling Matters

Don’t overcomplicate it at first:

  • Use plain CSS or inline styles.

  • Later explore Tailwind CSS or Styled Components.


8. Think in Terms of Data Flow

React is one-way data flow (parent → child).
If you want to send data back, you pass a function as a prop.


9. Use DevTools

Install React Developer Tools in Chrome/Firefox → inspect components, see props/state live. This speeds up debugging a lot.


10. Be Patient with Advanced Stuff

Don’t rush into:
❌ Redux, Recoil, Zustand
❌ Server-Side Rendering (Next.js)
❌ TypeScript with React

👉 Learn those after you’re comfortable with React basics.


⚡ My suggestion for you:

  • Spend 1 week revising JavaScript.

  • Spend 2–3 weeks building small React apps with useState & useEffect.

  • Then slowly explore context, routing, and state management.

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Nimra Kosar
Nimra Kosar