10 Tips For Better React js Coding

Improving your React.js coding skills can lead to more efficient, maintainable, and scalable code. Here are ten tips to help you write better React.js code:

1. Understand React Concepts: Before diving into coding, ensure you have a solid understanding of core React concepts like components, states, props, lifecycle methods, and hooks. This foundational knowledge is crucial for writing effective React code.

2. Follow a Consistent Folder Structure: Organise your React project with a clear and consistent folder structure. This can make navigating the codebase and finding specific files easier for you and your team.

3. Use Functional Components: Whenever possible, prefer functional components over class components. Active members are easier to read, test, and optimize. With the introduction of hooks, they can manage state and lifecycle events like class components.

4. Use React Hooks: Embrace React hooks like useState, useEffect, useContext, etc., as they simplify state management and allow you to handle side effects in functional components.

5. Keep Components Small and Focused: Aim for small, focused components that do one thing well. This makes your code more modular, easier to maintain and promotes reusability.

6. Avoid Unnecessary State: Don't overuse state in your components. Lift state to higher-level features when it's needed by multiple child components, and use props to pass down data instead.

7. Use PropTypes or TypeScript: To catch bugs early and ensure type safety, use PropTypes (built-in with React) or TypeScript. This helps you document and validate the expected props passed to your components.

8. Avoid Direct DOM Manipulation: Manipulating the DOM directly can lead to bugs and performance issues. Instead, use React's virtual DOM and let React handle the rendering for you.

9. Optimize Rendering: Use React—memo or useMemo to memoize components and prevent unnecessary re-renders. Also, consider using PureComponent or shouldComponentUpdate to optimize class components.

10. Use Developer Tools: Use browser developer and React-specific tools like React DevTools to inspect and debug your React components and state. They can be invaluable for understanding what's happening in your application.

Bonus Tip:

• Write Tests: Write unit tests for your components and application logic using libraries like Jest and Enzyme or React Testing Library. Testing ensures that your code behaves as expected and helps prevent regressions.