Testing React Components with Jest and React Testing Library

Choosing between TypeScript and JavaScript is not just a syntax decision. It shapes how your team builds, debugs, and maintains your product over time. TypeScript gives you static typing, stronger tooling, and fewer surprises in large codebases. JavaScript gives you speed, flexibility, and a lower barrier when you need to move fast. In our latest guide at AppMakers USA, we walk through where they differ, where they overlap, and how those differences show up in real projects. We also cover when it makes sense to start with JavaScript, when to invest in TypeScript, and what to think about if you are planning a migration. If you are scoping a new web app or refactoring an existing one, this will help you pick the right fit instead of defaulting out of habit. 👉 Read the full article before you lock in your stack. https://lnkd.in/gEfv-5pC #TypeScript #JavaScript #WebDevelopment #AppDevelopment #AppMakersUSA

What is useReducer Hook in React.js? useReducer is a React Hook used to manage complex state logic in a more predictable and structured way. Instead of directly updating state, you dispatch actions that describe what happened. A reducer function then decides how the state should change based on those actions. How it works (in simple terms) 1️⃣ Action – Describes an event (e.g., "ADD_ITEM") 2️⃣ Dispatch – Sends the action 3️⃣ Reducer – Determines the next state 4️⃣ State – Updated state re-renders the UI ➡️ Action → Dispatch → Reducer → New State Basic Syntax const [state, dispatch] = useReducer(reducer, initialState); Why use useReducer? ✅ Better for complex or related state ✅ Makes state updates predictable ✅ Centralizes logic in one place ✅ Easier to debug and maintain #ReactJS #useReducer #FrontendDevelopment #WebDevelopment #JavaScript #ReactHooks

Why most React developers misunderstand useEffect It's not a lifecycle method. It's not componentDidMount in disguise. And it's definitely not the place for derived state. useEffect is synchronization with an external system. 🔍 The mental model: useEffect = "After React commits to the screen, do this side effect" The dependency array = "Only re-run when THESE values differ" Cleanup function = "Before re-running OR unmounting, clean up" Common pitfall I see: JavaScript // ❌ Wrong: Using useEffect for computed values useEffect(() => { setFullName(`${firstName} ${lastName}`); }, [firstName, lastName]); // ✅ Right: Derived state should be... just stateless computation const fullName = `${firstName} ${lastName}`; useEffect is for: API calls Subscriptions Manual DOM manipulation Analytics/logging Not for: Things you can calculate during render. What's your useEffect horror story? Drop it below 👇 #ReactJS #JavaScript #FrontendEngineering #WebDev #CleanCode

Stop writing e.preventDefault() in React ⚛️ 👇 . For a decade, "The React Way" to build a form was verbose. You needed useState for every input. You needed onChange handlers for every keystroke. You needed to manually prevent the browser refresh. It turned simple HTML forms into complex state management problems. React 19 brings back the power of HTML with Actions. ❌ The Old Way (Controlled): Micro-managing the value of every input. If you had 10 inputs, you had 10 state variables (or one giant object) and a massive onSubmit handler. ✅ The Modern Way (Actions): Pass a function to the action prop of your <form>. React automatically captures the submission. • No State: Read values directly from FormData in your action. • No Handlers: Delete your onChange props. • Progressive: Works even before JavaScript loads (if using Server Actions). The Shift: We are moving from "managing inputs" to "handling submissions." Note: You can still use controlled inputs if you need instant validation (like password strength), but for submission, they are no longer required. #ReactJS #React19 #WebDevelopment

Stop writing e.preventDefault() in React ⚛️ 👇 . For a decade, "The React Way" to build a form was verbose. You needed useState for every input. You needed onChange handlers for every keystroke. You needed to manually prevent the browser refresh. It turned simple HTML forms into complex state management problems. React 19 brings back the power of HTML with Actions. ❌ The Old Way (Controlled): Micro-managing the value of every input. If you had 10 inputs, you had 10 state variables (or one giant object) and a massive onSubmit handler. ✅ The Modern Way (Actions): Pass a function to the action prop of your <form>. React automatically captures the submission. • No State: Read values directly from FormData in your action. • No Handlers: Delete your onChange props. • Progressive: Works even before JavaScript loads (if using Server Actions). The Shift: We are moving from "managing inputs" to "handling submissions." Note: You can still use controlled inputs if you need instant validation (like password strength), but for submission, they are no longer required. #ReactJS #React19 #WebDevelopment #Frontend #JavaScript #CleanCode #SoftwareEngineering #TechTips #ReactHooks #Hooks #ReactTips #FrontrendDeveloper #DevloperTips

🚀 New Blog Published: Understanding Formik in React & React Native Forms look simple… until you build one 😅 Managing useState, validation, errors, touched fields, and submit logic can quickly get messy. In my latest blog, I break down: ✅ What Formik is ✅ Why forms become painful without it ✅ How Formik’s inbuilt props like handleChange, values, errors, and handleSubmit save a lot of manual work ✅ A clear mental model of how Formik works under the hood This blog is especially useful if you’re: a beginner in React / React Native confused about handleChange('email') struggling with form validation logic 📖 Read the full blog here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dte_sYGZ Would love to hear your thoughts or how you’re handling forms in your projects 👇 #React #ReactNative #Formik #WebDevelopment #Frontend #LearningInPublic #JavaScript

Ever wondered why people say “React is declarative”? 🤔 Here’s the simplest way I understand it 👇 In traditional JavaScript, we tell the browser HOW to do things step by step: 👉 find this element 👉 update its text 👉 change its color 👉 handle edge cases React flips this mindset. In React, we just say WHAT the UI should look like for a given state. 🧠 “If the state is this → UI should look like this.” And React handles the how internally. This declarative approach makes code: ✅ easier to read ✅ easier to debug ✅ easier to scale Instead of fighting the DOM, we focus on logic and state, and React takes care of updating the UI efficiently using the Virtual DOM. Once this clicked for me, React started making a lot more sense 💡 If you’re learning React — this mindset shift is a game changer. #ReactJS #WebDevelopment #Frontend #JavaScript #LearningInPublic #DeveloperJourney

🤯 Do you want a pro React tip? I started naming my useEffect functions, and its beautiful 👇 React code is full of hooks noise like useState, useEffect, useRef, and useMemo everywhere. It's hard to quickly scan a file and understand what's actually happening because the lifecycle stuff dominates everything. I started using named functions instead of arrow functions for my effects, and it made a massive difference. Here's why: 1️⃣ Cuts through the noise — When you have multiple useEffects in a component, descriptive names like synchronizeMapZoomLevel or fetchUserData let you scan the file and immediately understand the flow without reading implementation details. 2️⃣ Stack traces — If something breaks, the function name shows up in the error stack. Way easier to debug than an anonymous function at line 47. 3️⃣ Forces single responsibility — When you try to name an effect and struggle? That's usually because it's trying to do too many things. It naturally pushes you to split things up or remove them altogether (You might not need an effect) Some people prefer to extract everything into custom hooks immediately, which is great too. But this works really well for simpler cases where a full hook feels like overkill. Have you tried this? Or do you go straight to custom hooks for everything? #React #JavaScript #WebDev #CleanCode

Want to reuse your code instead of rewriting it? 👨💻⚡ Discover simple, practical ways to share React Web and React Native code efficiently save time, reduce bugs, and ship faster. Read the full blog here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dTbmWysx #ReactJS #ReactNative #WebDevelopment #AppDevelopment #CodeSharing #JavaScript #FrontendDevelopment #MobileDevelopment #TechBlog #DevelopersLife #CrossPlatform #SoftwareEngineering

🚨 Stop using useEffect for everything in React. If you're still using useEffect to: • Derive state from props • Transform data for rendering • Handle simple computations You're probably writing more bugs than you think. 💡 React tip: 1️⃣ Derived data belongs in useMemo, not useEffect 2️⃣ Event-driven logic belongs in handlers 3️⃣ Effects are for synchronization with external systems The less useEffect you write, the more predictable your component becomes. Clean React code is about eliminating unnecessary effects. What’s one place you removed useEffect and simplified your code? #ReactJS #FrontendDevelopment #JavaScript #SoftwareEngineering #CleanCode