Although both JavaScript and ReactJS play significant roles in modern web development, their functionalities are distinctly different. It is essential for developers to grasp these differences to create adaptable, dynamic, and effective web applications. This article delves into the fundamental characteristics, uses, and benefits of React.js in comparison to JavaScript.
What is JavaScript?
JavaScript is an adaptable, remarkable programming interface that is generally utilized in the development of websites. It is basic in creating drawing in and dynamic content for websites, further developing consumer loyalty by permitting software engineers to change the way of behaving and look of pages on the site regarding client cooperations. JavaScript is broadly utilized and generally viable with most significant website specialists since a scripting language for clients runs code inside the client's program. JavaScript is notable for being based on articles and supporting the turn of events and change of classifications, the idea of legacy, and things. Since it relies upon events, it reacts to client inputs like console strokes and snaps.
- The three fundamental components of contemporary web advancement - document structure, content, and styles - can be effectively controlled due to JavaScript's programmed joining with HTML and CSS.
- Besides, JavaScript's capacity to deal with asynchronous execution using callbacks and Commitments considers the viable administration of exercises like asset bringing without disrupting the running of different projects.
- JavaScript remains a basic language in the website architecture and improvement field, continuously growing and changing in accordance with fulfilling the requirements of the steadily progressing digital world.
Significant JavaScript Features
Versatility: Suitable for programming on both the server side and the client side.
User-Friendliness: Enhances the client experience by enabling interactive content on websites.
Extensive Reception: It boasts a vast ecosystem of libraries and frameworks and is supported by all modern web browsers.
Objects: Maintains both the principles of practical programming and the ideals of object-oriented programming through a model-based approach to object orientation.
What is React JS?
React is a JavaScript library planned and kept up with by Facebook that improves on the most common way of making graphical interfaces for web apps. React, which first turned out in 2013, has, in this way filled in ubiquity in light of its speed and adaptability. React stands apart on account of its announcements and part-based system, which empowers software engineers to plan measured, reusable UI components. These modules might be utilized to make complex client interfaces while exemplifying specific functionalities, which energizes code reuse and supportability.
- Moreover, React presents the possibility of a one-way move of data, which makes state organization simpler.
- Components keep an application's state, which is a portrayal of its continually evolving data. Adjustments to the state make the influenced highlights modify their portrayal.
- This keeps a predictable and controllable conveyance of information across the program, which makes it more straightforward for originators to perceive and investigate.
Significant React.js Features:
Component-Based Architecture: Divides the user interface into modular components that can be exchanged.
Virtual DOM: Reduces the amount of time required for direct manipulation of the DOM by utilizing a virtual representation of the DOM.
Unidirectional Data Stream: Enhancements in testing and exploration through the establishment of a projected data stream.
JSX: Facilitates the creation of HTML elements within JavaScript, enhancing clarity and simplifying the debugging process.
Abundant Ecosystem: facilitated routing through React Switch and state management by Revival.
Code Examples:
We have explored the key features and benefits of both JavaScript and React JS. Now, let's delve into the distinctions between React JS and JavaScript, accompanied by code examples. We will begin with a straightforward button implementation.
1. Simple Button
Buttons play a crucial role in web development. They enable extensive event handling and facilitate backend interactions. Therefore, let us explore how buttons are implemented using JavaScript and React JS.
JavaScript:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang = "en">
<head>
<meta charset = "UTF-8">
<meta name = "viewport" content = "width = device-width, initial-scale = 1.0">
<title> Vanilla JS Button </title>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Button element -->
<button id = "myButton"> Click me </button>
<!-- Paragraph element to display message -->
<p id = "message" ></p>
<script>
// Add click event listener to the button
document.getElementById('myButton').addEventListener('click', function() {
// Display message when button is clicked
document.getElementById('message').innerText = 'Button clicked!';
});
</script>
</body>
</html>
React JS:
import React, { useState } from 'react';
function App() {
// State to hold message
const [message, setMessage] = useState('');
return (
<div>
{/* Button element with onClick handler */}
<button onClick={() => setMessage(' Button clicked ! ')}> Click me </button>
{/* Paragraph element to display message */}
<p> {message} </p>
</div>
);
}
export default App;
Output:
Before clicking the button:
After clicking the button:
2. Form Handling
Managing forms is a crucial aspect of web development, akin to the implementation of buttons, as many routine activities in our daily lives involve participating in surveys, signing into different websites, and completing forms. The information collected through these forms must be processed accurately and stored appropriately within a database. Therefore, to execute form handling efficiently, we can utilize JavaScript and React JS.
JavaScript:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang = "en" >
<head>
<meta charset = "UTF-8">
<meta name = "viewport" content = " width = device-width, initial-scale = 1.0">
<title> Vanilla JS Form </title>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Form element with input and submit button -->
<form id = "myForm">
<input type = "text" id = "name" placeholder = "Enter your name">
<button type = "submit"> Submit </button>
</form>
<!-- Paragraph element to display greeting -->
<p id = "greeting"></p>
<script>
// Add submit event listener to the form
document.getElementById('myForm').addEventListener('submit', function(event) {
event.preventDefault(); // Prevent form submission
const name = document.getElementById('name').value; // Get input value
// Display greeting message
document.getElementById('greeting').innerText = 'Hello, ' + name + '!';
});
</script>
</body>
</html>
React JS:
import React, { useState } from 'react';
function App() {
// State to hold input value and greeting message
const [name, setName] = useState('');
const [greeting, setGreeting] = useState('');
// Handle form submission
const handleSubmit = (event) => {
event.preventDefault(); // Prevent form submission
setGreeting(` Hello, ${name} ! `); // Set greeting message
};
return (
<div>
{/* Form element with input and submit button */}
<form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
<input type = " text " value = {name} onChange = {(e) => setName(e.target.value)} placeholder = " Enter your name " />
<button type = " submit " > Submit </button>
</form>
{/* Paragraph element to display greeting */}
<p> {greeting} </p>
</div>
);
}
export default App;
Output:
Before entering name:
After entering name:
3. Fetching Data from API
Data can not only be embedded directly into the code, but can also be obtained or requested from external sources. To accomplish this, we implement the concept of APIs in both frontend and backend development. These APIs contain specific information that is accessed via URLs. When we aim to retrieve data, we can invoke them using asynchronous programming. Here are two examples that demonstrate how to fetch data from APIs.
JavaScript:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang = "en">
<head>
<meta charset = "UTF-8">
<meta name = "viewport" content = "width = device-width, initial-scale = 1.0">
<title> Vanilla JS API Fetch </title>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Button element to fetch data -->
<button id = "fetchButton" > Fetch Data </button>
<!-- Div element to display fetched data -->
<div id = "data"></div>
<script>
// Add click event listener to the button
document.getElementById('fetchButton').addEventListener('click', function() {
// Fetch data from API
fetch('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts')
.then(response => response.json()) // Parse JSON response
.then(data => {
// Display fetched data
document.getElementById('data').innerText = JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
});
});
</script>
</body>
</html>
React JS:
import React, { useState } from 'react';
function App() {
// State to hold fetched data
const [data, setData] = useState(null);
// Fetch data from API
const fetchData = () => {
fetch( 'https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts' )
.then(response => response.json()) // Parse JSON response
.then(data => setData(data)); // Set data in state
};
return (
<div>
{/* Button element to fetch data */}
<button onClick={fetchData}>Fetch Data</button>
{/* Display fetched data */}
{data && <pre>{JSON.stringify(data, null, 2)}</pre>}
</div>
);
}
export default App;
Output:
Before Fetching Data:
After Fetching Data:
4. Conditional Rendering
Conditions are utilized when there is a need to execute operations across multiple scenarios or when there are several options to consider. An example of this is conditional rendering, which can be easily implemented in React JS using the && operator. In contrast, traditional JavaScript employs if-else statements for similar purposes.
JavaScript:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang = "en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name = "viewport" content = "width = device-width, initial-scale = 1.0">
<title> Vanilla JS Conditional Rendering </title>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Button element to toggle message visibility -->
<button id="toggleButton">Toggle</button>
<!-- Div element to display message -->
<div id = "message" style = "display: none;"> Hello, World! </div>
<script>
// Add click event listener to the button
document.getElementById('toggleButton').addEventListener('click', function() {
const message = document.getElementById('message');
// Toggle message visibility
if (message.style.display === 'none') {
message.style.display = 'block';
} else {
message.style.display = 'none';
}
});
</script>
</body>
</html>
React JS:
import React, { useState } from 'react';
function App() {
// State to manage message visibility
const [showMessage, setShowMessage] = useState(false);
return (
<div>
{/* Button element to toggle message visibility */}
<button onClick={() => setShowMessage( !showMessage )}> Toggle </button>
{/* Conditionally render message */}
{ showMessage && <div>Hello, World!</div> }
</div>
);
}
export default App;
Output:
Before clicking Toggle:
After clicking Toggle:
5. Creating To Do List
The To Do List is a widely recognized programming exercise that many individuals engage with to grasp coding concepts and their underlying mechanisms. Creating a To Do application using JavaScript and React serves as an educational tool and an excellent case study for comprehending the significant programming distinctions between these two languages. In JavaScript, the implementation of the To Do functionality can be accomplished through the use of list elements and buttons. In contrast, when developing with React JS, the focus is primarily on state management and fundamental React principles to build the application.
JavaScript:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang = "en">
<head>
<meta charset = "UTF-8">
<meta name = "viewport" content = "width = device-width, initial-scale = 1.0" >
<title> Vanilla JS To-Do List </title>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Input element to enter new task -->
<input type = "text" id = "newTask" placeholder = "New task">
<!-- Button element to add new task -->
<button id = "addTaskButton" > Add Task </button>
<!-- Unordered list to display tasks -->
<ul id = "taskList"></ul>
<script>
// Add click event listener to the button
document.getElementById('addTaskButton').addEventListener('click', function() {
const taskText = document.getElementById('newTask').value; // Get input value
if (taskText) {
const li = document.createElement('li'); // Create new list item
li.innerText = taskText; // Set list item text
document.getElementById('taskList').appendChild(li); // Add list item to task list
document.getElementById('newTask').value = ''; // Clear input
}
});
</script>
</body>
</html>
React JS:
import React, { useState } from 'react';
function App() {
// State to hold tasks and new task input
const [tasks, setTasks] = useState([]);
const [newTask, setNewTask] = useState('');
// Add new task to the list
const addTask = () => {
if (newTask) {
setTasks([...tasks, newTask]); // Update tasks state
setNewTask(''); // Clear input
}
};
return (
<div>
{/* Input element to enter new task */}
<input
type="text"
value={newTask}
onChange={(e) => setNewTask(e.target.value)}
placeholder="New task"
/>
{/* Button element to add new task */}
<button onClick={addTask}> Add Task </button>
{/* Unordered list to display tasks */}
<ul>
{tasks.map((task, index) => (
<li key = {index}> {task} </li>
))}
</ul>
</div>
);
}
export default App;
Output:
Before adding Tasks:
After adding Tasks:
The preceding illustrations delineate and clarify the key distinctions between React JS and JavaScript within the realm of web development, supplemented with coding examples that are frequently utilized in daily web development activities.
Core Differences
1. Objective and Application:
JavaScript: A versatile programming language employed for various purposes, including server-side development, game design, and the creation of adaptable applications, among many other uses. Additionally, it can be utilized to enhance interactivity on web pages.
React.js is a specialized library employed for the development of user interfaces, especially tailored for single-page applications (SPAs).
2. The Expectation to learn and adapt and Syntax:
JavaScript: While newcomers may find the basic syntax of the language to be straightforward, comprehending more complex concepts such as prototypes, asynchronous programming, and closures can prove to be challenging.
React.js: A solid understanding of JavaScript is essential, along with familiarity with concepts such as properties, state, JSX, and components. The learning curve is steeper because one must grasp the ecosystem surrounding it.
3. Accomplishment:
JavaScript: When aiming for thoughtful and responsive User Interfaces, direct manipulation of the DOM could prove to be ineffective.
React.js enhances efficiency in dynamic applications by optimizing updates through the utilization of a virtual DOM.
4. Capacity to Scale:
JavaScript: Leveraging pure code to manage a substantial codebase JavaScript can easily become disorganized and susceptible to errors.
React.js: The management of large-scale applications is facilitated by its component-driven architecture, which promotes both reusability and efficiency.