Published on: September 28, 2025 Author: Cyril Dave Legaspi React is one of the most popular JavaScript libraries for building user interfaces. Created by Facebook, it allows developers to build reusable UI components that make web applications more efficient and interactive. In this blog, we’ll cover the basics of React and how to get started with your first React app. What is React? React is a component-based library that helps in building dynamic and high-performing web applications. Instead of working with the DOM directly, React uses a virtual DOM to efficiently update only the parts of the UI that change. Why Use React? Reusable Components: Build UI elements once and reuse them across your app. Fast Rendering: Thanks to the virtual DOM, React updates only what’s necessary. Strong Community: React has a huge ecosystem of tools, libraries, and tutorials. SEO Friendly: With server-side rendering, React apps can be SEO optimized. Getting Started with React Here’s a simple step to create your first React application: Install Node.js: React requires Node.js. Download it from Node.js official site . Create a New React App: npx create-react-app my-first-app cd my-first-app npm start This will start a local development server and open your React app in the browser. Edit the App Component: Open src/App.js and modify it: import React from 'react'; function App() { return ( <div style={{ textAlign: 'center', marginTop: '50px' }}> <h1>Welcome to React!</h1> <p>This is your first React application.</p> </div> ); } export default App; React Components Components are the building blocks of React. There are two types: Functional Components: Simple functions that return JSX. Class Components: ES6 classes with a render method (less common now due to hooks). Example of a functional component: function Greeting({ name }) { return <h2>Hello, {name}!</h2>; } Conclusion React is an essential tool for modern web development. Its component-based architecture, fast rendering, and strong ecosystem make it ideal for both small and large projects. By learning React, you can build dynamic, efficient, and maintainable web applications.