100 React

Interview Q&A
Made by Want More

1. What is React?

React is a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It allows

developers to create reusable UI components and efficiently update and
render them based on changes in data.

2. What are the key features of React?

Some key features of React include:

Virtual DOM: React uses a virtual representation of the actual DOM,

which improves performance by minimizing direct manipulations to
the real DOM.
Component-based architecture: React promotes the creation of
reusable UI components.
One-way data flow: React follows a unidirectional data flow, making it
easier to track and manage changes in the application state.
JSX: React uses JSX, a syntax extension that allows you to write HTML-
like code within JavaScript.

3. What is JSX in React?

JSX is a syntax extension used in React that allows you to write HTML-like
code within JavaScript. It provides a convenient way to define the
structure and appearance of React components.

4. What is the difference between React and React Native?

React is a library for building web applications, while React Native is a

framework for building native mobile applications. React Native allows
you to write components using React syntax, but it compiles them to
native code rather than rendering them as HTML elements.

5. What is a functional component in React?

A functional component, also known as a stateless component, is a
JavaScript function that returns JSX to define the structure and
appearance of a React component. Functional components are primarily
used for presenting UI and don't have their own internal state.

6. What is a class component in React?

A class component is a JavaScript class that extends the React.Component

class. It uses the render() method to define the structure and appearance
of a React component. Class components can have their own state and
lifecycle methods.

7. What is the difference between functional and class components?

Functional components are simpler and easier to read and test compared
to class components. They don't have their own state or lifecycle methods.
Class components, on the other hand, can manage their own state and
have access to lifecycle methods such as componentDidMount() and
componentDidUpdate().

8. What is state in React?

State is a built-in object in React that holds component-specific data. It

represents the mutable values that can change over time and trigger a re-
render of the component.

9. What is props in React?

Props (short for properties) are used to pass data from a parent
component to a child component. Props are read-only and cannot be
modified by the child component. They are passed as attributes to the
child component in JSX.

10. What is the purpose of the virtual DOM in React?

The virtual DOM is a lightweight copy of the actual DOM maintained by

React. It allows React to perform efficient updates and minimize direct
manipulations to the real DOM. React compares the virtual DOM with the
previous version and updates only the necessary parts, improving
performance.

11. What is a React component lifecycle?

React component lifecycle refers to a series of phases that a component

goes through from initialization to destruction. The key lifecycle methods
are:

Mounting: constructor(), render(), componentDidMount()

Updating: render(), componentDidUpdate()
Unmounting: componentWillUnmount()

12. What is the significance of the render() method in React?

The render() method is a required method in React components. It returns

JSX that describes the structure and appearance of the component. The
render() method is called whenever the component needs to be re-
rendered due to changes in props or state.

13. What is the purpose of the componentDidMount() method?

The componentDidMount() method is a lifecycle method that is called

after a component has been mounted (inserted into the DOM). It is
commonly used for performing side effects, such as fetching data from an
API orsubscribing to events.

14. What is the difference between controlled and uncontrolled

components in React?

In a controlled component, the value of the form elements is controlled by

React. The component's state is used to manage the value, and any
changes to the value are handled by updating the state. In an
uncontrolled component, the value of the form elements is managed by
the DOM itself, and React doesn't control or track the value.

15. What is the purpose of keys in React lists?

Keys are used in React lists to give each item a unique identifier. They help
React identify which items have changed, been added, or been removed
in a list, improving performance and avoiding unnecessary re-rendering of
components.

16. What are React refs used for?

Refs are used in React to get direct access to a DOM element or a React
component instance. They provide a way to interact with the underlying
DOM or component imperatively, outside of the typical React data flow.

17. What is conditional rendering in React?

Conditional rendering in React allows you to render different content or

components based on certain conditions or state. It enables dynamic
rendering and helps in creating responsive and interactive UIs.

18. What is the purpose of the shouldComponentUpdate() method?

The shouldComponentUpdate() method is a lifecycle method that allows

you to optimize performance by controlling whether or not a component
should re-render. By implementing this method, you can compare the
current props and state with the next props and state and decide if a re-
render is necessary.

19. What are React Hooks?

React Hooks are functions introduced in React 16.8 that allow you to use
state and other React features in functional components. Hooks provide a
way to use local component state, lifecycle methods, and other React
features without writing a class.

20. What is the useState() Hook used for?

The useState() Hook is a built-in Hook in React that allows functional

components to manage local state. It returns an array with two elements:
the current state value and a function to update the state. It replaces the
need for using a class and this.setState() to manage state.

21. What is the useContext() Hook used for?

The useContext() Hook is a built-in Hook in React that allows functional

components to access a context directly. It retrieves the current value of a
context and subscribes the component to updates when the context value
changes.

22. What is the useEffect() Hook used for?

The useEffect() Hook is a built-in Hook in React that allows functional

components to perform side effects. It replaces the lifecycle methods like
componentDidMount(), componentDidUpdate(), and
componentWillUnmount(). The useEffect() Hook runs after every render by
default.

23. What is the purpose of the useMemo() Hook?

The useMemo() Hook is a built-in Hook in React that memoizes the result
of a computation and returns the cached result when the dependencies
haven't changed. It helps in optimizing performance by avoiding
unnecessary expensive calculations.
24. What is the useReducer() Hook used for?

The useReducer() Hook is a built-in Hook in React that provides a way to

manage complex state logic in a predictable way. It is an alternative to
useState() for managing state when the state transitions are more
complex and involve multiple sub-values.

25. What is React Router used for?

React Router is a popular library for routing in React applications. It

provides a way to handle navigation and routing between different
components and views in a single-page application.

26. What are React Fragments?

React Fragments are a feature in React that allows you to group a list of
children without adding extra nodes to the DOM. They are useful when
you need to return multiple elements from a component's render()
method, but they don't need a parent container element.

27. What is the purpose of the useCallback() Hook?

The useCallback() Hook is a built-in Hook in React that returns a

memoized version of the callback function that only changes if one of the
dependencies has changed. It helps in optimizing performance by
preventing unnecessary re-rendering of components that depend on the
callback.

28. What is the purpose of the useRef() Hook?

The useRef() Hook is a built-in Hook in React that provides a way to create
a mutable reference that persists across re-renders of a component. It can
be used to access DOM elements or store mutable values that won't
trigger re-renders.

29. What is React context?

React context provides a way to pass data through the component tree
without having to pass props manually at every level. It allows you to
create a global state accessible to all components within a context
provider.

30. What is the significance of the displayName property in React?

The displayName property is an optional property that you can define on a
React component. It is used by React in debugging messages and
component identification. It helps in identifying components in React
DevTools and error messages.

31. What is the purpose of the dangerouslySetInnerHTML attribute in

React?

The dangerouslySetInnerHTML attribute is used in React to render raw

HTML content inside a component. It is typically used when you need to
render HTML received from an external source, but you need to be
cautious as it can expose your application to cross-site scripting (XSS)
attacks if used improperly.

32. What is the difference between a controlled and an uncontrolled

component in React forms?

In a controlled component, the value of the form input is controlled by

React using the value prop, and any changes to the input value are
handled by updating the state. In an uncontrolled component, the value of
the form input is managed by the DOM, and React doesn't control or track
the value.

33. What is the purpose of the React Developer Tools extension?

The React Developer Tools extension is a browser extension that helps in

debugging and inspecting React component hierarchies. It provides a
visual representation of component trees, allows inspection of component
props and state, and helps in understanding the component's lifecycle.

34. How can you optimize performance in React applications?

Some techniques to optimize performance in React applications include:

Using React.memo() to memoize functional components

Using shouldComponentUpdate() or React.memo() to prevent
unnecessary re-renders
Using useMemo() or useCallback() to memoize expensive calculations
or event handlers
Using lazy loading and code splitting to load components on-demand
Optimizing list rendering using keys and React's reconciliation
algorithm

35. What is the purpose of the PureComponent in React?

The PureComponent is a base class in React that automatically
implements the shouldComponentUpdate() method with a shallow prop
and state comparison. It helps in optimizing performance by preventing
unnecessary re-renders when the prop and state values haven't changed.

36. What is the difference between createElement and JSX?

createElement is a method provided by React to create React elements

programmatically. JSX, on the other hand, is a syntax extension that allows
you to write HTML-like code within JavaScript, which is then transpiled to
createElement calls during the build process.

37. What is the significance of the key prop in React lists?

The key prop is used in React lists to give each item a unique identifier. It
helps React identify which items have changed, been added, or been
removed in a list, improving performance and avoiding unnecessary re-
rendering of components.

38. What is the purpose of the componentDidCatch() method?

The componentDidCatch() method is a lifecycle method in React that is

called when an error occurs during rendering, in a lifecycle method, or in
the constructor of any child component. It provides an opportunity to
handle the error gracefully and display an error message.

39. What is ReactRouter's history object used for?

React Router's history object is used for programmatically navigating

between different routes in a React application. It provides methods and
properties for managing the browser history, such as pushing new routes,
replacing the current route, or going back and forward in the history.

40. What is the purpose of the withRouter() higher-order component in

React Router?

The withRouter() higher-order component is used in React Router to wrap

a component and provide access to the router's history, match, and
location objects. It allows a component that is not directly rendered by a
Route component to access the router-related props.

41. What is the difference between the react-router-dom and react-

router-native packages?
The react-router-dom package is used for routing in web applications built
with React, while the react-router-native package is used for routing in
React Native applications. The core functionality of routing is the same,
but the packages provide different implementations based on the target
platform.

42. What is the purpose of the react-transition-group library?

The react-transition-group library is used to create animated transitions in

React components. It provides a way to animate the mounting and
unmounting of components and allows for easy integration with CSS
transitions or animations.

43. What is the React Context API and when is it useful?

The React Context API provides a way to share data across a component
tree without manually passing props down through every level. It is useful
when you have data that needs to be accessed by multiple components at
different levels in the component hierarchy.

44. What is the purpose of the useCallback() Hook in React?

The useCallback() Hook is used to memoize a function. It returns a

memoized version of the function that only changes if one of the
dependencies has changed. It is useful when passing callbacks to child
components to prevent unnecessary re-renders.

45. What is the React DevTools Profiler used for?

The React DevTools Profiler is a tool used for profiling and optimizing the
performance of React applications. It allows you to analyze and measure
component render times and interactions to identify performance
bottlenecks and optimize your application.

46. What is the purpose of the react-router-config package?

The react-router-config package is used to configure and render routes in

React Router. It provides a way to define routes as a configuration object
or array, making it easier to manage and maintain route configurations in
large applications.

47. What are React Hooks rules or guidelines?

Some rules or guidelines for using React Hooks include:

Hooks should only be used in functional components or custom Hooks,
not in regular JavaScript functions or class components.
Hooks should be called at the top level of a functional component, not
within loops, conditions, or nested functions.
Hooks should always be called in the same order in every render of a
component.
Hooks should not be called conditionally based on some condition or
branch of code.
Custom Hooks should always start with the word "use" to indicate that
they follow the rules of Hooks.

48. What is the purpose of the react-router-dom's Link component?

The Link component in react-router-dom is used to create links to

different routes in a React application. It allows for easy navigation
between different views without reloading the page and provides a
declarativeway to define navigation links.

49. What is the purpose of the React.StrictMode component?

The React.StrictMode component is used to highlight potential problems

in a React application during development. It enables additional checks
and warnings, and helps in identifying common mistakes or anti-patterns.

50. How can you handle form submissions in React?

To handle form submissions in React, you can use the onSubmit event
handler on the form element. You can prevent the default form
submission behavior using event.preventDefault() and then access the
form data from the event object to perform further processing or submit
data to a server.