Understanding React Hooks

React Hooks, introduced in React 16.8, revolutionized how developers manage state and side effects in functional components. They allow you to use state, lifecycle methods, and other React features without writing class components, leading to cleaner and more reusable code.

Why Hooks?

Before Hooks, managing state and side effects in React often required complex class components or higher-order components. Hooks simplify this by providing a functional approach. For example, `useState` replaces `this.state` and `this.setState`, while `useEffect` handles side effects like API calls or DOM updates.

Key Hooks

useState: Manages state in functional components. Example: const [count, setCount] = useState(0); creates a state variable `count` and its setter.
useEffect: Handles side effects, like fetching data. Example: useEffect(() => { fetchData(); }, [dependency]); runs on mount or when `dependency` changes.
useContext: Accesses context for global state management, reducing prop drilling.
useReducer: An alternative to `useState` for complex state logic, similar to Redux.

Example: Counter Component

Here’s a simple counter using `useState` and `useEffect`:


import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';

function Counter() {
    const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

    useEffect(() => {
        document.title = `Count: ${count}`;
    }, [count]);

    return (
        <div>
            <p>Count: {count}</p>
            <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>Increment</button>
        </div>
    );
}

This updates the document title whenever `count` changes, showcasing `useEffect`’s dependency array.

Benefits and Best Practices

Hooks encourage modularity and reusability. Custom hooks, like `useFetch`, can encapsulate logic for reuse across components. Always follow the Rules of Hooks: only call hooks at the top level of components or custom hooks, and only in functional components.

For complex apps, combine `useReducer` with `useContext` for state management, or integrate with libraries like React Query for data fetching.

Conclusion

React Hooks simplify state and lifecycle management, making code more intuitive and maintainable. They’re essential for modern React development, especially in projects like those at the Mojaloop Foundation, where clean frontend code enhances user experience in financial systems.

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