How do Beginners Learn React?

As a beginner, studying React may seem overwhelming. Instead of trying to learn everything all at once, it’s best to start with the essential fundamental skills and terminology. React is an ever-evolving open-source library used in tandem with JavaScript, so it’s best to focus on mastering the basics as opposed to tackling the entire tool all at once. 

There are multiple ways to learn React as a novice. The foundational principles can be explored through free resources like YouTube videos or free tutorials. Basic skills can be gained through on-demand, live online, or in-person classes, and a deeper level of knowledge can be reached through a certification or degree program. Each of these methods will have pros and cons for beginners, so keep reading to learn more about making the best choice for you.

Getting Started with React

The good news about React is that you don’t need much to get started. It is recommended to have familiarity with the core HTML, CSS, and JavaScript languages, and knowledge of the terminal/command line, as these are used hand-in-hand with React. 

Nearly every front end developer starts their journey with HTML and CSS. It’s recommended that, prior to learning React, you should know how to write semantic HTML tags, write CSS selectors, use classes, implement a CSS reset, box model, reset to border-box, flexbox, write responsive web applications including media queries, and build a frontend application using HTML and CSS.

Additionally, React uses an HTML-in-JavaScript syntax called JSX (JavaScript and XML). Both HTML and JavaScript will help you learn JSX, and help you better identify whether bugs in your application are related to JavaScript or to the more specific domain of React. 

Luckily, these things are free open-source tools, so there are no subscription fees or upfront costs to get started. All that’s really needed is experience with the complementary programs so you'll understand how to efficiently develop various web applications.

The First Steps when Learning React

The first steps for those that don’t have experience with programming are to learn the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These are the basic foundation of front end web development and they all work together to create a fully functional web app/website. From there, or if you are an accomplished programmer, you’ll move on to the fundamental React topics below:

• Component Architecture.
• State: Holds synchronous variables. If you change the value of a state variable, the change is reflected immediately in all the places that variable is used.
• Props: Arguments passed in a function or method. In React, props (arguments) are passed into an HTML tag as input arguments.
• Functional Components and Class Components.
• Styling(CSS) in React.
• Connect to APIs with React apps.

Once you’ve mastered the above, you’ll move onto other concepts, like React Router, Webpack, server rendering, and Redux. Essentially, React follows the Component-based architecture, which means you will divide your whole UI part into reusable components, so all are made separately and finally fitted into a parent component which is then rendered. The above concepts and skills will help you be able to do just that. 

Free React Tools for Beginners

Free resources are available for learning React. YouTube boasts a wide range of tutorials and informative videos on all kinds of React subjects: from short five-minute episodes on the fundamentals to more in-depth breakdowns of advanced topics. YouTube is a great way to explore your initial interest or get answers to specific questions on React. Other websites like Google and LinkedIn offer short free tutorials and trainings designed to help you grasp the history and basic principles of React. Free resources are often your fastest option and can last anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours. Their brevity is one reason they are so popular for beginners, but the drawback of these courses is that they will lack the in-depth knowledge and real-time interaction with an expert instructor that more immersive programs offer. With that in mind, it’s best to use these resources as a brief introduction to make sure you’re interested in the subject (or as supplemental learning materials) as opposed to the sole source of your education. 

Live React Training for Beginners

If you’re looking for something slightly more in-depth than YouTube tutorials and blog posts, an introductory course is a great place to start. Live React courses are an ideal learning method for those entirely new to the field. Live online classes are great for those who prefer a solitary learning environment with minimal distractions. They allow you to learn from the comfort of your own home (or wherever you choose), providing more flexibility. Additionally, if you live in an area with limited (or no) in-person options, online classes open up more opportunities for you. 

If you thrive in a collaborative classroom environment, look into in-person classes. You’ll be able to work with other students, make new friends, and receive feedback and input from your instructor in the moment. These classes also provide a higher level of accountability and are a superb choice for those who struggle to keep themselves motivated or on task. They are, of course, less flexible than an online class, but often their advantages outweigh this one disadvantage. 

Live classes, whether attended virtually or on location, offer the structure, accountability, and discourse that can help you master React (from basics to advanced skills) as efficiently as possible. 

Noble Desktop offers in-depth courses both live online and in-person at their New York office. Their React Development Bootcamp covers everything from the basics of React and Node.js to advanced components and server deployment. You'll start with learning how to compose components, the foundations of React, and then move on to building dynamic fully functioning web applications and deploying them using AWS (Amazon Web Services). This Noble Desktop course (and many others) boasts small class sizes, one free retake, and setup assistance. If you’re interested in pursuing further education, this course counts towards three of Noble’s certificate programs: Full-Stack Web Development, Software Engineering, and JavaScript Development. 

Want to take your skills to the next level? Noble Desktop’s JavaScript Development Certificate is a longer professional training program that will teach you how to build web apps with JavaScript, one of the most popular programming languages in the world. You’ll learn to master React and Node.js, create APIs with Express.js, and work with databases with MongoDB. This course also covers additional topics like Browser Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) built into web browsers, third-party APIs, and third-party frameworks and libraries. If you’re a new developer or an existing one coming from a different background, learning JavaScript will up your game to web application development.

The Next Step

If you’ve already mastered the basics and are interested in trying your hand at more challenging techniques, check out an intermediate or advanced course. Held live online, on-demand, or in-person, these courses offer all the same benefits you’ll find in entry-level courses but will focus on difficult, more advanced topics. 

Similarly, the Full-Stack Web Development Certificate helps you develop the skills and knowledge to meet the growing demand for developing and maintaining web applications. This course will teach you to use programming languages like HTML/CSS and JavaScript to program memorable, interactive web pages. You’ll also use the MERN tech stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js) to add databases, APIs, AWS and other server environments, and interactivity for those web applications. Focused on a series of projects, you’ll leave this course with a portfolio of working web applications to show to potential employers.

Finally, Noble’s Software Engineering Certificate covers HTML & CSS, JavaScript, and React, and back end development with Python, Django, and Node.js. You’ll learn HTML to mark up web pages and CSS for styling; the fundamentals of JavaScript; Git for version control; and how to use Flexbox and Grid to layout, align, and reorder web page content, as well as make it adapt to different size screens. The second part of the course will cover JavaScript programming concepts, including variables, data types, loops, and DOM. You’ll also build your very own desktop application using React and deploy it using the AWS (Amazon Web Services) cloud environment. Finally, you'll master the lexical syntax of Python and quickly move to more advanced topics like dictionaries, custom functions, and sorting algorithms. You'll then progress to object-oriented programming, working with APIs, and querying databases with SQL. By the end of this course, you’ll have a portfolio of projects, a polished resume, and a professional LinkedIn profile; be prepared for common interview questions; and be armed with tips for applying to jobs.