Let’s read the React source code
If you’re a front-end developer, chances are you’ve heard of React. It’s a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces, and it’s maintained by Facebook. React has gained a lot of popularity in recent years due to its performance, simplicity, and flexibility.
One of the best ways to truly understand how React works is to read its source code. By reading the source code, you can gain insight into the inner workings of React and learn from the experts who built it.
How to read the React source code
Reading the React source code can be a daunting task, especially for beginners. However, there are a few steps you can take to make the process easier:
- Start by familiarizing yourself with the basics of the React library. Understand its core concepts and features, such as components, props, state, and lifecycle methods.
- Visit the React GitHub repository and browse through the source code. You can start by looking at the main files, such as
React.jsandReactDOM.js. - Take your time to read and understand the code. Pay attention to the comments, variable names, and function signatures. Try to understand how different parts of the code work together to create a functioning library.
- Experiment with the code by making small changes and observing the effects. This can help you gain a deeper understanding of how the library works.
What you can learn from reading React source code
Reading the React source code can provide you with a wealth of knowledge and insights. Here are some of the things you can learn:
- Best practices for organizing and structuring large JavaScript projects.
- Optimization techniques for improving performance and rendering speed.
- How to build your own custom libraries and frameworks using similar principles.
- How to write clean, maintainable, and scalable JavaScript code.
Conclusion
Reading the React source code can be a valuable learning experience for any front-end developer. It can help you gain a deeper understanding of how React works and improve your skills as a developer. So, if you’re up for a challenge, grab a cup of coffee, sit down, and start reading the React source code!
1:03:44:
– the dispatch function takes an action (just a regular, plain javascript object) as an argument and calls the reducer function.
– The reducer function takes state and action as arguments and returns updated state (it doesn't mutate state, just creates a copy).
– The dispatch function then takes that updated state value (that the reducer returned) and calls setState
– When setState is called, it triggers re-render (UI updates).
useReducer is basically a wrapper around useState that allows you do use different approach to changing state.
Instead of doing something like:
setMovieList((currentState) => {. ..provide logic to add new movie to the list })
It lets you do something like:
dispatch({type: "movie added", id: 1, title: "Some title"})
Great videos BTW, I've just found your channel!
Can you also make a video on let’s read VSCode source code?
great👍
how about diving into angular's code base and
compare approaches, or svelte if you prefer? great content btw 👍
Great video as usual!