React Prerequisites

React has uses in many different projects, and you might worry that it will be hard to learn. This guide will help you understand the best methods for learning React and what you should study first to make the learning process easier. Once you’ve taken the time to research and learn these subjects, you’ll be successful no matter how you choose to apply these skills.

What is React?

React is a JavaScript library that allows new user interface (UI) components to appear on websites and apps without needing to reload the page. Jordan Walke, a Software Engineer at Meta, created it to make Facebook’s News Feed load faster. It was later added to Instagram and became open-source for the benefit of the public. Now it’s one of the go-to Javascript libraries for most websites and apps.

Most people use React in web and mobile development because of its flexibility and versatility. A website or app would typically need to pull information from its server to generate new information or images. React enables websites and apps to skip that step by creating reusable components that can be added to the page as the user scrolls. That saves time and computer power for the website—and the user.

Read more about what React is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with React?

React is known for its uses with social media news feeds, such as Facebook and Instagram. That’s not the only use for it, though—you can use it for any online page constantly loading new components on-screen. React libraries are meant to save time by creating reusable interactive elements. They act as templates where the website or app can pull information instead of needing to access the server constantly. 

This skill is helpful for websites and apps such as Netflix, Amazon, and Uber Eats that generate new information without reloading the page. If you have aspirations to build websites or apps or work for a company that relies on them, React is an essential skill. With React in your professional toolkit, you’ll be an asset to any web or mobile development team you join. 

Is React Easy to Learn?

You might think React seems complicated, which may be the case if you’re new to programming. JavaScript is the basis of React, and you can find all the skills you need to use React effectively in front end web development. 

The concepts behind these fields are relatively simple, but they’re easier to understand if you learn from an expert. Those interested in learning about HTML, CSS, and JavaScript can start with a front end development bootcamp, which covers the concepts you need to learn about the parts of websites that users see. You can also try out a full stack web development bootcamp that covers all website aspects, including front end and back end web development. 

If you’re committed to learning React right away, it’s best to start with a JavaScript bootcamp to learn the foundational knowledge before trying out a React bootcamp. Most React courses require you to have some JavaScript skills to register, and the more you know about JavaScript, the better off you’ll be. Those who desire to become a well-rounded programmer can look into Software Engineering after learning React’s basics. 

What to Know Before Learning React

You might be eager to start implementing React to your projects, but you’ll want to learn a few additional skills before you take the plunge. Mastering these topics isn’t required to start learning React, but knowing the basics will go a long way. Here are a handful of subjects you should learn before focusing on React. 

JavaScript

Before you start exploring React, you’ll want to learn JavaScript. This programming language is used to build React libraries and is the basis of many React-related tools, such as Node.js. Trying to learn React before you know JavaScript is similar to running before you can walk. You can certainly try, but you’ll have a better time if you first have a foundation in JavaScript. 

JavaScript is known for creating interactive elements that make the website or app easier to use. React takes those interactive elements and uses them to create templates that it can generate repeatedly. That way, when the client scrolls through the page, the page will pull from information made in the template instead of trying to make brand new elements using the server. 

Most JavaScript training sessions also cover the fundamentals of React once you’ve learned the basics. Once you’ve grown comfortable with JavaScript, you can specialize in React and continue your training with a React Bootcamp.

User Interface (UI) Design

Your website or app makes its first impression the moment the user logs in for the first time. Those first few seconds will significantly impact how frequently they will return—or if they will return at all. The most important parts of that impression are affected by how well the website or app functions and how easy it is to navigate. User interface (UI) design handles the latter—it’s an artistic field that focuses on designing the layout of websites and apps to make them easier to navigate. You can enter this field as either a graphic designer or programmer, but you’ll reap the full benefits if you have skills in both. 

Even if you only use the programming side of UI design, that’s more than enough to improve the website or app. UI design helps the users by guiding their eyes and using visual elements to point them in the right direction. When you know the principles behind designing a user interface component properly, you increase the potential that your React templates will satisfy your website or app’s visitors. In other words, the more you know how to use UI design effectively, your work with React will be productive. 

Web Development & Mobile Development

The previous sections alluded to these subjects because they’re omnipresent in the programming world: web development and mobile development are crucial skills for anyone working on a website or mobile device. These skills have overlapping concepts that you can easily apply to the other. If you already know web development, you have the advantage when learning mobile development (and vice versa). 

Depending on your goals, you can specialize in either or both of them. If you plan to stick to websites, it’s worth looking into full stack web development. This field takes concepts from front end and back end web development, known as the “client-side” and “server-side” of websites, respectively, and teaches you how to use them together. It essentially covers everything you need to know about web development, although you can choose to specialize in front end or back end web development if you prefer to focus on those aspects. 

Meanwhile, mobile development is perfect for those that want to use React for mobile apps. Since over 50% of web traffic is through mobile devices, it’s essential to know how to integrate changes explicitly suited to them, such as touch screen and drag-and-drop features. Many mobile apps are only one page or have long, continuous pages. Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok are common social media platforms that use React, which constantly generates new information with predetermined templates. The mobile apps for Uber Eats, Walmart, Amazon, and Words with Friends also rely on React. 

Once you have an understanding of mobile development, you can look into iOS development as well. Knowing iOS development is helpful when working with mobile devices, especially if you want to create your own iOS app.

Learn React with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop has plenty of resources to help you through your React learning journey, including courses and bootcamps that will help you land that job you’ve been eager to apply for. Most of these programs feature many benefits, including expert instructors leading each course, small class sizes for individualized instruction, and free retake options if you want to review some of the topics discussed. 

One of the first options worth checking out is the React Development Bootcamp, which will teach you everything you need to know about React for your career. JavaScript is the foundation of React, so it’s worth looking into the JavaScript Development Certificate to give you an overview of the programming language. If you plan to use React for websites, try the Full Stack Web Development Certificate instead. 

These programs will give you a certificate upon completion, which you can display on your LinkedIn for everyone, including future employers. Noble’s certificate programs also come with the opportunity to retake the course for free, an ideal scenario for those wanting extra practice and support. If you’re not ready to commit to a bootcamp or certificate program, you can look through all of the React courses and choose the one that works best for you. 

You can also learn more about React through Noble Desktop’s React Learn Hub guides. 

Key Insights

• React is easy to learn once you have a foundation in JavaScript.
• JavaScript is crucial to understanding React. 
• Most JavaScript bootcamps cover the fundamentals of React.
• User Interface (UI) design teaches you concepts that make React easier to master.
• Web and mobile development are valuable skills with universal applications in other programming subjects, including React.