Introduction to React Hooks 

Introduction to React Hooks (2019 Edition)

React 16.8 has just introduced a game-changing feature: Hooks! If you’ve been working with React, you know that functional components have always been stateless, and managing component logic required class components. But with Hooks, that’s all changing!

React Hooks allow us to use state and other React features in functional components—no more need for classes. This update is a major shift in how we write React components, making them cleaner and more reusable.


What Are Hooks?

Hooks are special functions that let you “hook into” React features like state and lifecycle methods, directly inside function components. Before this, only class components could handle things like local state and side effects.

Some of the most important built-in hooks include:

  • useState – Adds state management to function components.
  • useEffect – Handles side effects (like API calls, subscriptions, or DOM updates).
  • useContext – Gives function components access to React’s Context API.
  • useReducer – Works like useState, but better suited for complex state logic.
  • useRef – Keeps a reference to a DOM element or a mutable value that persists across renders.

Example: Using useState Hook

With Hooks, managing state in a function component is now possible:

import React, { useState } from "react";

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

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

export default Counter;

Before Hooks, this would have required a class component. Now, state is directly managed within the function component, making it much cleaner and easier to read.


Why Were Hooks Introduced?

1. Class Components Were Becoming Unwieldy

If you’ve written large-scale React apps, you’ve probably struggled with class components. They require:

  • Writing a constructor to initialize state.
  • Binding event handlers manually.
  • Managing lifecycle methods like componentDidMountcomponentDidUpdate, and componentWillUnmount—which often leads to duplicated logic across methods.

Hooks simplify all of this.

2. Reusing Logic Was Hard

Before Hooks, we had to use Higher-Order Components (HOCs) or Render Props to share logic between components. These patterns often led to deeply nested components, commonly referred to as “wrapper hell.”

Now, with Hooks, we can extract and reuse logic using custom hooks!

3. A Simpler Mental Model

Lifecycle methods like componentDidMount and componentDidUpdate can be confusing. Hooks consolidate logic into a single place using useEffect, making it easier to follow how data flows in a component.


Class Components vs. Hooks: A Quick Comparison

Here’s how we used to write a simple counter component before Hooks:

class Counter extends React.Component {
  constructor(props) {
    super(props);
    this.state = { count: 0 };
  }

  increment = () => {
    this.setState({ count: this.state.count + 1 });
  };

  render() {
    return (
      <div>
        <p>Count: {this.state.count}</p>
        <button onClick={this.increment}>Increment</button>
      </div>
    );
  }
}

Now, with Hooks, the same component looks like this:

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

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

The functional version is shorter, cleaner, and easier to read. No need for a constructor, this, or binding methods!


Final Thoughts: Should You Start Using Hooks Today?

React Hooks are the future of React development. While class components are still supported, Hooks provide a simpler and more flexible way to build React applications.

If you’re starting a new project in 2019, it’s a great idea to begin using Hooks today! However, if you’re working on an older project, you don’t need to rush to refactor everything. Hooks are completely opt-in, and class components will continue to work.

What’s Next?

Now that you have an introduction to Hooks, you might want to check out:
How to use useEffect for side effects
Creating custom Hooks for reusable logic
Using useReducer for more advanced state management

Hooks are just getting started, and this is only the beginning of their impact on React development. Exciting times ahead! 

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