Can I Learn React For Free?

Yes, you can learn React for free online. Especially in today’s online world, there are endless resources available right at your fingertips. With the right resources and mindset, you can master the basics of React on your own, but it’s recommended that you use free resources as a way of exploring the fundamentals of React or as a supplemental resource for more in-depth learning. This article will explore what free resources are available to you and how best to use them to your advantage. 

What Free Resources are Available for Learning React?

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. 

How to Make Use of Free React Resources

With the above in mind, it’s best to use these resources as a brief introduction to make sure you’re interested in the subject, as opposed to the sole source of your education. You can also use them as supplemental training materials while you attend a more structured course either in-person, live online, or on-demand. You can consult your free resources when you find yourself stuck on a specific concept and can’t wait for a time to discuss it with your course instructor. Or, if you find you learn at a faster pace than the course allows, you can use free resources to skip ahead to the lessons and subjects that will challenge and engage you more. 

You can also use free resources to test out skills and techniques, practicing your hand at React while simultaneously learning through a structured course. If you feel anxious about making mistakes in your course or are worried about embarrassing yourself in front of others, you can work through your projects with the help of free resources, testing out various options so that your final submitted course project meets your personal standards. 

Limitations of Free Resources

While great as bonus learning materials, free resources aren’t recommended as your primary source of education, as they’ll lack the immersive experience that a structured course offers. Plus, using this method as your sole source of education can take the most time. You’ll be responsible for sourcing all your learning materials and ensuring that you’ve covered all the important subjects of React, and this process can take a substantial amount of time.You also won’t be able to ask questions and receive feedback in real time, like you would in a live class. Additionally, like on-demand courses, it’s easy to lose motivation and fall behind with free resources, so they’re best for independent, self-motivated learners. 

There is another disadvantage to consider: It’s possible that your free resources could be outdated. React is a constantly evolving tool, so topics and training materials will need constant refreshing to stay relevant. It can be time consuming to check that your resources are the most up-to-date and accurate. Plus, if you’re not familiar with React, you may not be able to tell when a resource is no longer relevant. 

What to Do After Utilizing Free React Resources

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.

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.