React Like a Pro: React Best Practices

Summary

This video offers an in-depth exploration of best practices for React architecture, essential for both large-scale applications and frontend enthusiasts. It emphasizes the importance of single responsibility in components, discusses state management with Redux, Context API, and modern alternatives like Zustand or React Query. The video also covers side effect management with useEffect, highlighting the need for cleanup to prevent memory leaks. Lastly, it touches on project structuring, suggesting that while there are best practices, the key is a clear and workable structure for the team.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video is a deep dive into best practices for React architectures, aimed at both beginners and experienced developers looking to build sustainable, efficient, and scalable applications.
• 🔒 The presenter emphasizes the importance of subscribing and liking the content for support and mentions that it helps more than viewers might know.
• 🌟 The video features a sponsorship by Brilliant, a platform that offers interactive lessons on various topics including math, data analysis, and programming, promoting a hands-on learning approach.
• 📚 The presenter shares a personal experience with Brilliant, highlighting the value of engaging with content through puzzles and problems to better understand the material.
• 🧠 The video discusses the concept of learning AI, including large language models, and how the presenter used Brilliant to sharpen their skills in this area.
• 🎁 Viewers are offered a 30-day free trial and a 20% discount on the annual premium subscription to Brilliant through a link provided in the video description.
• 🏗️ The foundation of React is built on components, which should follow the single responsibility principle to ensure maintainable and clean code.
• 🔍 Components are categorized into 'dumb' (presentational) and 'smart' (container) components, with the former focusing on appearance and the latter on functionality.
• 🧩 The video touches on state management in complex React applications, suggesting the use of Redux, the Context API, or modern solutions like Zustand or React Query for better structure and predictability.
• 🚫 Side effect management is crucial in React; the presenter advises on proper use of the useEffect hook to avoid memory leaks and performance issues.
• 🛠️ The video concludes with a discussion on project structure, suggesting that while there are best practices, the most important aspect is that the structure is understandable to the development team.
• 📁 Three different folder structures are presented as examples for structuring a React project, catering to different levels of complexity and use cases.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on best practices for building scalable and efficient React applications, discussing topics like component architecture, state management, side effect handling, and project structure.

Why is the single responsibility principle important in React component design?

The single responsibility principle is crucial because it helps in writing maintainable and clean code. Components with one responsibility are easier to test and manage, improving the overall architecture of the React application.

What are the two major types of React components mentioned in the video?

The two major types of React components mentioned are 'dumb' (presentational) components and 'smart' (container) components. Dumb components focus on the presentation and rely on props, while smart components handle data fetching, state management, and complex operations.

How does the video suggest learning and mastering new skills like AI?

The video suggests using interactive platforms like Brilliant, which offer hands-on learning through puzzles and problems, to understand and apply new knowledge effectively.

What is the context of the sponsorship mentioned in the video?

The sponsorship is for the educational platform Brilliant, which the video creator has used and recommends for learning various skills, including AI, through interactive lessons.

What are some challenges in state management for complex React applications?

Challenges in state management include potential chaos and disorganization if states are not structured properly, which can lead to difficulties in maintaining and scaling the application.

Why is it recommended to use a state management library or the context API in React applications?

Using state management libraries like Redux or the context API helps enforce a pattern for state management, preventing chaos and making the application more maintainable and scalable.

What is the role of React Query in the context of state management mentioned in the video?

React Query is a data fetching library that can be used alongside the context API for managing state. It allows for efficient data handling and can reduce the need for additional state management libraries in some cases.

What are some common issues with side effect management in React?

Common issues include memory leaks and performance problems due to improper cleanup of side effects, such as not clearing timeouts when a component unmounts.

How can you avoid memory leaks when using the useEffect hook in React?

To avoid memory leaks, ensure that you return a cleanup function from the useEffect hook to clear any asynchronous operations or event listeners when the component unmounts.

What are some factors to consider when structuring a React project?

Factors to consider include maintainability, scalability, team understanding, and the specific needs of the application. While there are best practices, the most important aspect is that the structure works well for the development team.

What are the three different folder structures presented in the video for a React application?

The video presents three folder structures: one using Redux, one for a simple application, and an advanced structure with multiple components. These structures are meant to serve as examples and can be adapted based on the project's requirements.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Introduction to React Architecture Best Practices

The video script begins with a warm welcome to a deep dive on React architecture best practices, aimed at both large-scale application developers and frontend enthusiasts. The speaker encourages viewers to subscribe and like the video for support. The main focus is on creating sustainable, efficient, and scalable React applications. The video is sponsored by Brilliant, an interactive learning platform that emphasizes hands-on engagement with content through puzzles and problems. The speaker shares personal experience with Brilliant, highlighting its effectiveness in learning AI and large language models. Viewers are offered a 30-day free trial and a 20% discount on the annual premium subscription through a provided link. The video then transitions to discussing the foundational aspects of React, emphasizing the importance of single responsibility in components and the distinction between 'dumb' and 'smart' components for maintainable and clean code.

05:01

📚 Advanced React Concepts: State Management and Side Effects

The second paragraph delves into advanced React concepts, starting with state management in complex applications. The speaker discusses the importance of using libraries like Redux and the Context API to avoid chaotic state management. Modern solutions such as the built-in Context API, Zustand, or React Query are suggested for efficient state handling. Two examples are presented: one using the Context API for passing data through components and another utilizing React Query for direct data fetching. The paragraph then addresses side effect management in React, cautioning against improper use of useEffect, which can lead to memory leaks and performance issues. A common mistake of not clearing timeouts set within useEffect when a component unmounts is highlighted. The speaker advises on proper cleanup to prevent such issues. Lastly, the video touches on project structure, suggesting that while there are best practices, the most important aspect is a clear and understandable structure for the development team. Three different folder structures are briefly mentioned as examples of good React application organization.

Keywords

💡React Architecture

React Architecture refers to the design and structure of a React application. It encompasses the organization of components, state management, and side effect handling to ensure the application is maintainable, scalable, and efficient. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of mastering React architecture principles for creating sustainable and efficient applications, suggesting that a well-architected React app can significantly enhance both development and testing processes.

💡Single Responsibility Principle

The Single Responsibility Principle is a core concept in software development that suggests a module or component should have only one reason to change, meaning it should only have one responsibility. In the context of React, this principle is applied to components, which should have one function and act independently. The video mentions that adhering to this principle is key to writing clean and maintainable code, as it simplifies testing and debugging.

💡Dumb Components

Dumb components, also known as presentational components, are React components that are concerned only with the presentation layer and do not handle any data fetching or state management. They receive data through props and are responsible for how things look. The video script uses this term to contrast with 'smart components', emphasizing the separation of concerns which is crucial for a clean React architecture.

💡Smart Components

Smart components, also referred to as container components, are responsible for the logic and data management in a React application. They handle data fetching, state management, and complex operations. The video discusses the importance of distinguishing between smart and dumb components to maintain a clear separation of concerns, which is essential for creating testable and maintainable code.

💡State Management

State Management in React refers to the strategies and tools used to handle the state of an application, particularly in complex applications where state can become difficult to manage. The video mentions libraries like Redux and the Context API as solutions for structured state management, which is crucial for avoiding chaos and ensuring the application behaves predictably.

💡Context API

The Context API in React is a feature that allows you to share values like state and functions between components without having to explicitly pass them through props at every level of the component tree. The video script discusses using the Context API for state management, especially for passing down data to many components deep in the component hierarchy.

💡React Query

React Query is a library for fetching, caching, and updating server state in React applications. It is highlighted in the video as a modern solution for data fetching and state management, which can reduce the need for complex state management libraries in certain scenarios. The speaker suggests using React Query in combination with the Context API for efficient state handling.

💡Side Effect Management

Side Effect Management in React pertains to the handling of operations that have effects outside the component itself, such as data fetching, subscriptions, or API calls. The video emphasizes the importance of managing side effects correctly to prevent issues like memory leaks. It mentions the use of cleanup functions in the useEffect hook as a best practice for managing side effects.

💡Unit Testing

Unit Testing in the context of React refers to the practice of testing individual components in isolation to ensure they function correctly. The video script underscores the importance of unit testing for guaranteeing that components behave as expected, which is facilitated by adhering to the single responsibility principle and having clearly defined components.

💡Project Structure

Project Structure in React refers to how the files and folders of a React project are organized. The video briefly touches on this topic, suggesting that while there's no one-size-fits-all approach, a clear and understandable structure is beneficial for maintainability and collaboration. The speaker provides examples of different folder structures that can be used for structuring a React project.

Highlights

Introduction to a deep dive on React architectures and best practices for scalable applications.

Importance of subscribing and liking for content support and encouragement to continue posting.

Sponsorship mention of Brilliant for interactive learning in various fields including math and programming.

Personal experience with Brilliant's hands-on learning approach and its effectiveness in knowledge application.

Learning AI through Brilliant's LLM course and its impact on sharpening existing skills in machine learning and data science.

Offer details for Brilliant's 30-day free trial and a 20% discount on the annual premium subscription for viewers.

Foundation of React based on components as the building blocks of UI with a focus on single responsibility.

Differentiation between 'dumb' and 'smart' components, now often referred to as presentational and container components.

Advantages of single responsibility principle for maintainable, clean code, and improved testability.

Discussion on state management in complex React applications and the role of libraries like Redux and Context API.

Recommendation of modern state management solutions such as Context API or Zustand, and React Query for data fetching.

Explanation of side effect management in React, emphasizing the importance of cleanup to prevent memory leaks.

Common mistake of not clearing timeouts in useEffect leading to memory leaks after component unmounting.

Project structure in React applications and the flexibility based on team understanding rather than strict rules.

Presentation of three different folder structures for React applications, catering to different levels of complexity.

Closing remarks with an invitation for likes, comments, subscriptions, and acknowledgment of the sponsor Brilliant.

Transcripts

hey guys how's it going I'm back here

with another video and welcome to my

deep dive on react architectures best

practices whether you're building large

scale react applications or you're just

passionate about frontend development

mastering these principles can help you

create more sustainable efficient and

scalable react applications before we

get into the video don't forget to hit

the Subscribe button if you're new here

and the like button if you just enjoy my

content and just want to support me

continue posting more videos cuz that

would help me more than you know so with

that in mind let's get into the

video okay before we get into the video

I want to talk a little bit about

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again to brilliant.org padot now let's

get into the video okay so first of all

let's let start with the foundation of

react and obviously we couldn't start

with anything other than talking about

react components in react the components

are the building blocks of your UI so

each of them should have one

responsibility and act independent from

each other this is known as a single

responsibility principle and it is a key

aspect of writing maintainable and clean

code components can be classified into

two major types dumb and smart

components nowadays you might see some

people calling them container and

presentational components but the idea

behind it is the same containers or

smart components are concerned on how

things works so that would include data

fetching managing States doing complex

operations whilst on the other hand

presentational components or dumb

components focus on how things look

relying purely on the data they receive

from props trust me when I say this

understanding and practicing this single

principle will exponentially improve the

code you're right in react and make your

react architecture better and the reason

for that is because of one thing only

testability and by that I mean how

easily you can test your components the

whole purpose of writing unit tests as

you might know is that we guarantee to

ourselves that our components are doing

what they're supposed to you can spend

ears writing react code and end up

writing something that you're sure that

works the way you intend to but because

of minute differences you can be put in

a state where it doesn't actually work

so unit testing is one of one of the

main foundations to writing good react

code and when you mix components like

you you make a component be both

presentational and a container component

it is way harder to test them because

they have different purposes within

themselves whilst on the other hand if

you follow the single responsibility

principle and you can write really good

and easy tests for your more complex

smart components now let's move on and

talk a little bit about State Management

in complex react applications managing

states without any structure can lead to

Major chaos this is where State

Management libraries like Redux and the

context API come into play a lot of

people might wonder why they have very

strict policies on how you should

structure your code and the reason for

that is because it's trying to enforce

you to follow a pattern because if you

don't have a predetermined pattern for

how you're managing your States like I

said it will get into chaos mode I would

say probably using a more modern

solution for managing your States like

either the built-in context API die or

something like zustand is a really good

option but alternatively what I've been

doing for the past 2 years is just using

a very good data fetching solution like

react query and using the context API

for smaller groups of components I've

put in the screen over here two

different examples one using the context

API and one using just react query the

difference is that with the context API

one you're putting the data you're

fetching inside of the context and

passing that data down through your

components with requery you can do all

of that directly with the library and

you would only use the context API for

smaller things like I said uh maybe

controlling the theme of your

application or some other examples that

you might encounter while working now

this is a good segue for the next thing

I wanted to talk about which is side

effect management trust me handling side

effects in react can be very tricky this

effects might include data fetching

subscriptions or just you manipulating

the da now everyone knows that the use

effect allows you to perform side

effects in your react components but it

is crucial to manage your side effects

correctly so that you avoid memory leaks

in your app but it's important that you

manage your side effects correctly with

the use effect so that you avoid memory

leaks and affect your apps performance

well a simple thing you can do is just

uh make sure to clean up your use

Effects by just returning a cleanup

function which is something that uh

you're taught immediately when you learn

the use effect a really common example

of or side effect management causing

memory leaks is whenever you have a set

timeout inside of your use effect as you

can see in the screen the example I'm

showing to you attempts to create a set

timeout of 5,000 milliseconds where it

Alters the value of a state called Data

now that's totally fine until that

component disappears from your component

tree the reason for that is because

we're not

telling to clear the timeout uh when the

component disappears so that time will

continue running and that function will

continue being executed the reason for

that is because after the component is

unmounted the timeout delay will execute

and it will try to set a state value for

a component that has been unmounted thus

causing memory leaks this is bad for

application it causes problems with your

performance and it can be easily avoided

if you manage your side effects

correctly now the last thing I want to

talk about is something that I know a

lot of you guys might have thought this

video was more specifically about which

is how to actually physically structure

your project right uh now the reason why

I didn't spend most of the video talking

about this is because first I already

have a video on this and second because

I don't think it's it's that plain and

simple like it's not a a right or wrong

situation a lot of people get confused

with how they structure their project

and as long as you and the people who

are working with you can understand the

structure of your project I think that's

good enough now obviously there are some

good practices and that's specifically

kind of what I'm trying to talk here but

um at the end of the day uh whatever

works for you works for you and not only

for you but also for the people who work

with you now just because I know people

will want this I'll show in the screen

right now three different folder

structures that I think are great

examples of what I personally would use

in a react application nowadays I try to

separate them to have one with uh using

Redux one with um just a normal simple

application and one that is a little bit

more advanced and has multiple

components so um I hope you guys enjoyed

that one so if you are interested in

using one of those you can go ahead and

just structure your project that way now

that's basically it for the video If you

enjoyed it please leave a like down

below and comment what you want to see

next subscribe cuz I'm posting every

week and I would massively appreciate it

again thank you so much brilliant for

sponsoring this video uh if you guys

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in the description checking out the

channels spons SP is like one of the

best ways you can support the channel so

I would really appreciate if you could

do so so that's that's basically it

really hope you guys enjoyed it and I

see you guys next time