React useEffect vs useLayoutEffect: Avoid Visual Flicker

If you're using React.js and still confusing useEffect with useLayoutEffect, here’s the simplest way to understand it: 🔹 useEffect() Runs after the browser paints the screen. ✅ Best for: API calls Event listeners Timers Logging Fetching data useEffect(() => { console.log("Runs after paint"); }, []); 🔹 useLayoutEffect() Runs before the browser paints the screen. ✅ Best for: Measuring DOM size/position Preventing UI flicker Synchronous DOM updates Animations/layout fixes useLayoutEffect(() => { console.log("Runs before paint"); }, []); 💡 Simple Rule: Use useEffect for most side effects Use useLayoutEffect only when layout or visual rendering matters ⚡ Quick Difference: useEffect → async after render useLayoutEffect → sync before paint Using the wrong one can lead to: unnecessary blocking layout shift flickering UI performance issues 🚀 React developers: If your UI jumps, flickers, or measures incorrectly… You probably need useLayoutEffect, not useEffect. #ReactJS #JavaScript #FrontendDevelopment #WebDevelopment #ReactHooks #useEffect #laravel #laravedeveloper #useLayoutEffect #Programming #SoftwareDevelopment #UIDevelopment

A visual guide on React component useEffect lifecycle. How components mount and re-render in React and their relation with the useEffect hook is one of the most important concepts in React. To summarize, 1. When first-time components are inserted in the DOM, they're referred to as "mounted," then updated via rendering, and later "unmounted." 2. While mounting, a component initializes. 3. In the render stage, a virtual DOM gets created and compared, and in the commit stage, it gets painted to the browser. 4. Any effect gets executed during the commit. If the state changes, the component re-renders with vDOM creation during rendering, painting, and attaching to real DOM during the commit phase. Would you be interested in learning React/JavaScript with visuals and to-the-point explanations of how things work under the hood? I do a deep dive into foundational concepts & how things work under the hood. You can consider connecting with or following me, Ali Raza, to get along with the journey. Thanks. #react #javascript #frontend

I used useEffect… everywhere 😅 Until it caused a weird UI flicker I couldn’t explain. That’s when I learned the real difference 👇 👉 useEffect Runs AFTER the browser paints the screen Best for: API calls, logging, side effects 👉 useLayoutEffect Runs BEFORE the screen updates Best for: measuring DOM, fixing layout issues 💡 Real example: I was calculating an element’s width on load With useEffect → UI rendered first, then adjusted (flicker ⚡) With useLayoutEffect → no flicker, smooth UI ✅ ⚠️ But don’t overuse it — it can block rendering and slow your app That one small change improved my UI a lot. Have you faced this issue before? 👇 #reactjs #frontend #webdevelopment #javascript

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 React devs reach for 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 by default. But there’s a small difference between 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 and 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 that can completely eliminate annoying UI flickers. 👇 🧠 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 🔴 useEffect (runs after browser paint) React renders DOM Browser paints screen Effect runs You update position → causes visible jump 👉 Result: Tooltip appears at (0,0) User briefly sees a “jump” Then it snaps to the correct position 🟢 useLayoutEffect (sync — runs before paint) React renders DOM Effect runs immediately (before paint) You measure + adjust position Browser paints final UI once 👉 Result: Tooltip is correctly positioned instantly No flicker Smooth UI from the first frame ⚖️ When to use each ✅ 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 Measure DOM elements Position tooltips, popovers, modals Prevent visual flicker or layout shift ✅ 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁  API calls Subscriptions Logging / analytics Anything that doesn’t affect layout 💡 Rule of thumb 👉 Default to useEffect 👉 Only use useLayoutEffect when you see a visual issue Small difference in timing. Huge difference in user experience. 🎯 #React #JavaScript #Frontend #WebDevelopment #ReactJS #UIUX

Most portfolios feel like static resumes with a bit of styling. I wanted mine to feel like an experience ,something you move through, not just scroll. This started almost a year ago. There were phases where I paused, reworked ideas, and questioned the direction. But I kept coming back to it refining it until it matched the vision. The entire project is built around one idea: “Where logic ends, creativity finds a way.” Built using React, GSAP, Three.js (R3F), Framer Motion, and Matter.js, focusing on interaction over presentation: • Physics-based interactions • 3D elements and immersive sections • Scroll-driven transitions and storytelling • Interactive carousels and dynamic layouts • Fully responsive across devices Here is the live link : 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dzQm-pTd Let me know your thoughts #React #ThreeJS #GSAP #FramerMotion #WebDevelopment #Frontend #CreativeDev #PortfolioWebsite #JavaScript

Exploring 3D on the web — implemented a scroll-based interaction where elements respond dynamically to user movement. Built using JavaScript, Three.js, and Sketchfab integration to create a smooth and interactive experience. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/geSieFS8 #WebDevelopment #ThreeJS #JavaScript #FrontendDevelopment #3DWeb #CreativeCoding #UIUX”

Understanding React at a deeper level isn’t about knowing more hooks — it’s about knowing when to use them correctly. useEffect and useLayoutEffect may look similar, but their timing can directly impact performance and user experience. 🔹 useEffect Runs after the component renders and the browser paints the UI. It’s non-blocking and ideal for side effects like API calls, subscriptions, event listeners, and async operations. 🔹 useLayoutEffect Runs synchronously after DOM updates but before the browser paints. It blocks rendering, making it useful for DOM measurements, layout adjustments, and preventing visual flickers. Mastering these small details is what separates clean code from truly optimized applications. #React #ReactNative #FrontendDevelopment #JavaScript #SoftwareEngineering #WebDevelopment

🚀 Built a Memory Card Game using React + Tailwind CSS! Excited to share my latest project where I implemented a fun and interactive memory card game. 🔹 Features: • Smooth UI with Tailwind CSS • State management using React Hooks • Game logic with card matching functionality • Responsive design 💡 This project helped me improve: • Component structuring • State handling • UI design skills 🔗 Live Demo: https://lnkd.in/gZ3Ajude 🔗 GitHub Repo: https://lnkd.in/gEgueXny I’m currently focusing on building real-world projects and improving my frontend skills. Would love your feedback! 🙌 #ReactJS #TailwindCSS #WebDevelopment #FrontendDeveloper #Projects #LearningInPublic

🚀 Day 11 of My Web Development Journey Today, I built an interactive “Avoid the Box” mouse game using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. 🎮 The concept is simple but fun: Avoid touching the moving box with your cursor while the timer counts down! Sounds easy… but it gets harder as the box keeps shrinking 😄 💡 What I implemented in this project: Dynamic DOM manipulation Event handling using mouseenter Random positioning logic for smooth gameplay Timer and score tracking system Sound effects for better user experience Game over logic with restart functionality 📚 Key Learnings: Understanding how user interactions (mouse events) can be used to create real-time engaging experiences. Also improved my logic-building skills by adding difficulty progression (shrinking box). 🔗 Live Demo: https://lnkd.in/gASyevmH 🔗 Source Code: https://lnkd.in/g2z6YyAS This project helped me realize how small ideas can turn into addictive mini-games with just core JavaScript. 👉 What should I build next? Suggestions are welcome! #Day11 #WebDevelopment #JavaScript #Frontend #30DaysOfCode #CodingJourney #MiniProject #GameDev

🎨 React Background Color Changer Project Built a simple yet interactive Background Color Changer using React.js, focusing on state management and dynamic UI updates. This project helped me understand how to: 🔹 Use useState hook for managing color state 🔹 Update UI dynamically on button click 🔹 Handle events and improve user interaction 🔹 Write clean and reusable React components A great hands-on practice to strengthen core React concepts while building something visual and interactive. Small projects like this build a strong foundation for creating real-world applications 🚀 #ReactJS #JavaScript #FrontendDevelopment #WebDevelopment #LearningJourney #100DaysOfCode