React Apprentice (First Edition): Build, Understand & Debug Modern React Apps

Millions of websites use React for their front-end frameworks. You've heard about the many benefits of developing with React, including improved user experience, accelerated development and responsive performance. You want to join the vibrant community of React developers, but you're not sure where to begin.

React Apprentice to the rescue! This book will guide you through the first steps of your journey as you learn to build a small but real React app. Hands-on exercises reinforce your mental model of how React works, and you'll be guided through common mistakes and how to fix or avoid them.

This book is for web developers with some HTML, CSS and JavaScript knowledge, who are new to React.

• Components: Learn how to create components, the fundamental building block of React user interfaces. Components help you create consistent layouts and easily maintain code across your app.
• State: Learn how to work with state — when the user interacts with your components, your app's state changes, so React re-renders and the screen updates.
• Forms: Learn about React's approach to form elements — controlled input.
• Routing: Learn how to use client-side routing to keep the URL and the UI in sync — different addresses render different components, the back button works, and every screen becomes shareable.
• Data fetching: Learn how to handle loading, error, retry and empty states of network requests.
• Tests: Learn how to write automated tests that render the app, click and type like a real person, and assert on what users actually see, so you can quickly run them all as often as you like.
• Deployment: Learn how to create a production build, preview it locally, and deploy the whole thing to the web on Netlify, with working links and shared state intact.

One thing you can count on: After reading this book, you'll be experienced enough to turn your ideas into real apps you can deploy on the web.