React components are the foundation of every React application. They enable developers to break the UI into reusable, manageable pieces. Two types of components dominate React development: Functional Components and Class Components. Let’s dive in to understand their differences and why functional components have become the preferred choice in modern React development.
What Are Functional Components?
Functional components are simple JavaScript functions that return JSX (JavaScript XML) to define the UI. They’re stateless by design but can manage state and side effects with React Hooks introduced in React 16.8.
Example:
Here’s a simple example for beginners:
import React, { useState } from ‘react’;
function Counter() {
const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
return (
<div>
<h1>Functional Component Counter</h1>
<p>Count: {count}</p>
<button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>Increment</button>
</div>
);
}
export default Counter;
What Are Class Components?
Class components are ES6 classes that extend React.Component and include lifecycle methods. While powerful, they are more verbose compared to functional components.
Example:
Here’s a simple example for beginners:
import React, { Component } from ‘react’;
class Counter extends Component {
state = { count: 0 };
increment = () => {
this.setState({ count: this.state.count + 1 });
};
render() {
return (
<div>
<h1>Class Component Counter</h1>
<p>Count: {this.state.count}</p>
<button onClick={this.increment}>Increment</button>
</div>
);
}
}
export default Counter;
Key Differences
- Syntax: Functional components are concise, while class components are verbose.
- State Management: Functional components use Hooks; class components use this.state and setState.
- Performance: Functional components are faster and easier to test.
