Member-only story

React Components: Functional vs. Class Components

Ruchir Gupta
2 min readDec 31, 2024

React allows developers to build user interfaces using two types of components: Functional Components and Class Components. Both can achieve similar outcomes, but they differ in syntax, structure, and capabilities.

1. Functional Components

Functional components are simpler and consist of a plain JavaScript function that returns JSX. They rely on React Hooks for state management and lifecycle functionalities.

Example:

import React, { useState } from 'react';
function Counter() {
const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
return (
<div>
<h1>Count: {count}</h1>
<button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>Increment</button>
</div>
);
}

Key Features:

  • Simpler Syntax: No need to use classes or this keyword.
  • State Management with Hooks: Use hooks like useState and useEffect.
  • Lightweight: Ideal for small and reusable components.
  • Performance: Functional components are easier to optimize with React.memo.

2. Class Components

Class components use ES6 classes and are more verbose. They manage state using…

--

--

Ruchir Gupta
Ruchir Gupta

Written by Ruchir Gupta

Software Developer at Accenture India, Ex-Software Engineer at Roblox Corporation.

No responses yet