Since its inception, React has been a top library of JavaScript that develops highly interactive and responsive web applications parallel to none. With its component-based architecture, Virtual DOM, and one-way data binding, it has become an integral part of front-end development.
A major breakthrough was witnessed with the introduction of React Hooks, which replaced class-based components. Hooks help in managing the state and lifecycle methods effectively and efficiently.
With Hooks, developers enjoyed the state management effortlessly including other React features in functional components. So, hire React developers who are well-versed in React Hooks. The reason is, that such developers have the ability of state management and experience with lifecycle methods.
This blog comes with brief information about the most important React Hooks that play a significant role in React development. So, let’s get to the real business.
Key React Hooks in React
React comes with multiple built-in hooks that address unique needs within the functional comoponets. Here are some Hooks in React that are frequently used:
- useState Hook
Using the useState Hook, you get to enable the functional components to store and manage the state. Without it, functional components are stateless and unable to proceed with handling dynamic data or any changes to the application.
Moreover, it also allows the components to track the local state, furnishing a method to update and retrieve state values. Managing the state is simple while making the functional components more dynamic.
- useEffect Hook
To manage the side effects in React functional componets useEffect Hook is used. Side effects are the tasks that arise outside the component’s rendering process.
Before Hooks, these side effects were handled by class components using lifecycle methods. However, the useEffect Hook provides a cleaner and more intuitive way to manage the side effects.
- useContext Hook
To simply state management in applications that depend on the shared data among components, useContext Hook is used. It works along with React’s Context API which allows the components to access the global state without the need to pass props via multiple layers of components.
Further, this Hook is used to manage themes, authentication status, and other global states that need access by various components of the application.
- useReducer Hook
When developers encounter a state with multiple transitions or actions that demand complex user interactions or state management across large components, useReducer Hook is used.
It gives a path to manage complex state logic by utilizing a reducer function that takes the current state and action, returning a new state.
Usually, this Hook is used in larger applications where state management is complex and libraries like Redux are in use.
- useRef Hook
To create mutable values across renders without making the component re-render, developers use useRef Hook. Most often it is used to access the DOM elements directly or to store values that are no longer required to trigger re-renders.
Additionally, useRef can be used to maintain values between renders while preventing the performance cost of updating state unnecessarily.
- useMemo Look
To enhance the performance of the application, useMemo Hook is used enabiling the React developers to avoid unnecessary re-calculations of values. It memoizes the computation result and ensures that the expensive functions are only recalculated when the dependencies change.
Using this Hook plays an important role when rendering a component demands heavy computation or the same logic needs to be used in multiple parts of the application.
Best Practices for Using Hooks
Using Hooks effectively is extremely important to perform the tasks accurately. Here are some simple tips to follow for using Hooks.
- Use hooks only at the top level. Avoid calling Hooks inside loops, conditions, or nested functions.
- Follow the React rules for calling the Hooks. Hooks must be called at the top level, and they must be called with the React’s function components.
- Utilize the useMemo Hooks for performance optimization of the application.
Conclusion
Using React’s Hooks has tremendously eased the processes of developing build components, and functional components. Mastering the above-mentioned Hooks can drastically improve the efficiency and readability of React applications and help in building interactive user interfaces.
