React Beginner Question Thread ⚛

Hey folks! My name is Dan, and I work on the React team.

I really like the idea of semi-regular “beginner threads” where people can ask simple questions without getting judged. This seems like a great community so I thought: can we try this here? 🙂

We run a thread like this on Reddit but to be honest I'm finding Reddit hard to use and very impersonal so I don't hang out there much.

The rules are simple:

1. One question per comment.
2. The questions have to be about React.
3. No question is too simple! Seriously, ask away, I don’t bite.
4. Try to keep questions to a few paragraphs at most. If you need a code sample, put it in a gist or, better, a sandbox.
5. Please reply to the questions too if you know the answer! I might not be able to reply to all of them although I’ll do my best for this thread.

Note this is an experiment. 😉 I don’t know if enough people here are React users, and if the format is a good fit for this website. If that’s not interesting to you folks that is fine too. Cheers!

Comments

[Irena Irena]

Hello! Why does VSCode add a semicolon at the beginning of line 8? And what does the pair of parentheses at the end of line 10 mean?
Thank you!
codesandbox.io/s/gifted-frost-93xl...

i.imgur.com/JC6mbJ1.png

[Victor Olaoye]

Is it is safe to declare a function component like below? Explain if there is a better approach.

function Example({ someProp }) {
function doSomething() {
console.log(someProp);
}

useEffect(() => {
doSomething();
}, []);
}

[Quentin]

Is it possible to modify a web application in react and node.js once react compiled and without the base files?

[Krishna Haranath]

Lovely Thread, thanks Dan & Dev Community

[irissiri7]

Hi! Im new to React and have a very basic question:
How do I expand the React Component Tree in Dev tools. I thought there would be a little "arrow" on the left side of the components but there isn't. Thanks in advance and sorry if this question is just too stupid😅

[irissiri7]

Hi!
I'm new to React and I have a very basic question:
How do I expand the React Component Tree in Dev tools??
I thought there would be a little "arrow" for this on the left side of the components but there isn't. Help? Anyone? Thanks in advance and sorry if the question is just too stupid😅

[rohit raut]

Hi Dan, First of all i hope that u r safe and doing good. My question is how to decide or breakdown the mockup into different component. To keep it simple how to think in terms of react?.

[shail]

Hey dan how to write props in practical application

[codeuken-io]

Im a new web dev and still trying grasp concepts. My HTML and CSS is very good but I only know a bit of Js.

Right now I am using Statamic Cms. I here a lot of people using js frameworks with Statamic, and I am curious how I can learn to integrate React into my Statamic CMS? Just not sure where to begin.

[Leonardo Damasceno]

How to style React Components the right way

I'm getting overwhelmed on the many alternatives to style my react components. It's difficult to decide which technology should I use on my new projects.

I know that we can't rely on a single solution and apply it on every project we got. Each one has it pros and cons. So I would like to hear from you how is the process for deciding which one to grab for a new project.