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React: what it is and how we use it

React is a library for building user interfaces from reusable parts. It suits web applications where content changes without the page reloading.

1. How it works

React builds an interface from small independent parts called components: a button, a table, a form. Each looks after its own appearance and behaviour and can be reused. It came out of Facebook and is now among the most widely used tools for web applications.

2. Why it matters to a business

The point for a business is that the interface of a complex application can be developed in parts and changed easily. For a simple presentation site, though, it adds more complexity than benefit.

3. How we use it

We reach for it for applications and internal tools, not for a simple company website where it would be overkill.

4. When it fits

It suits applications and internal tools with a complex interface.

5. What to watch for

On a simple website it needlessly adds code and slows loading.

6. In practice

We choose React for applications where the screen changes often with the data: dashboards, customer areas or internal tools. The interface is built from components, so individual parts are developed and tested separately and then reused in several places.

7. Alternatives

Vue, Svelte or Angular aim at similar goals, and each has its fans. For a content website with a few pages a simple setup without a framework is often better, because it is faster and cheaper to maintain.

8. Common questions

Is React right for an ordinary company website?

Usually not. For a few pages of text and photos it is needlessly heavy. It fits where the site is more of an application.

Can search engines see React content?

Yes, if the pages are prepared on the server, for example with Next.js. Purely client-side React is worse for search engines.

Who develops React?

It came out of Facebook and is now developed by the community together with Meta. It is one of the most widely used tools of its kind.

If you need help with this, take a look at our Software development.

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