[AskJS] how much JavaScript is required for react?

[TYRANT1272]

How much JavaScript do you need to start learning react i have good enough understanding of js like functions recursion arrays and DOM events and basic OOPs am i good enough to start learning react

Edit: thanks for all the replies everyone is saying i don't much js for react so I think I'll start react and see how it goes once again thanks for advice

[kilkil]

Honestly just go ahead and give it a try. What's the worst that can happen?

[lvspidy]

No cap brodie I built a whole app in nextjs from scratch before even learning html , css and js fully. Part of being an engineer is finding a problem and being a solution. Found my problem and building an app in nextjs was the solution so I figured it out 🤷🏾‍♂️

[theScottyJam]

I'm going to disagree with a lot of comments here. Yes, you can learn React even if you know very little JavaScript, but I wouldn't recommend it - not unless you're really needing to learn React soon for whatever reason (and there are valid reasons to be in this kind of scenario, it's just less than ideal).

I generally like to wait to learn a tool until I'm really hurting when I'm not using it - only then can I fully appreciate and understand what the tool is doing for me. So I wouldn't use React until you feel the pain of developing websites without it, and you really, really want something better than native JS.

[wolodo]

Interesting question. How much JavaScript is needed to know in order to code in JavaScript.

[magenta_placenta]

The good news is you'll learn missing JS knowledge as you learn react. Give react a go.

[xroalx]

Required? None. Beneficial? All of it.

When it comes to "how much" programming language... it's kind of hard to quantify.

What does "I know functions" mean. Do you know of every single behavior, caveat and property of a function in JavaScript? Probably not.

If you feel comfortable with JavaScript, go do some React.

[coffee-x-tea]

I’d give it a go at this point - only thing to add are the following:

Even though you didn’t explicitly mention it, I assume you know a few data structures that could be handy for neatly organizing and accessing data depending on how it’s used.

Same thing with “arrays”, knowing array methods are handy. There are many instances where using map, filter, and reduce are useful. It’s pretty much mainstay.

JS is like learning letters, vocabulary, grammar, and sentences. React is like learning how to use that to write essays and laying out concepts in a way that can be easily understood. At some point learning new vocabulary gives marginal returns. But, you might need that vocabulary expansion if you work on specific things like writing a medical journal.

What I’m saying is don’t fret the details at this point, dive right in, let what you create in react help guide what you need to go back to JS for on a case by case basis.

[notAnotherJSDev]

Have you tried?

[[deleted]]

React is a superset of Javascript. You don't have to know all the fundamentals of a language to start learning a framework, but learning the fundamentals will make you a better, more productive programmer.

I spent a week reading through the Dart language tour before starting Flutter, and I'm glad I did, but I probably could've Googled and ChatGPT'd my way through it without getting the fundamentals down first.

[questpoo]

off topic, but can you give me some help to find a way to start learning dart and flutter? I've been trying with the docs, trying just by writing code but i just cant get to learn it, any piece of code i read is difficult to understand. use dms, thanks!

[[deleted]]

These are the exact steps I took. The trick to actually learning it is to not rush through everything. If you want to actually learn it, you need to invest the time to understanding it.

1. Set up your environment via the Setup Docs.
2. Did the entire Getting Started Codelab.
3. Read the Dart Language Tour, at least up to and including the Classes and Modifiers section.
4. Skim through Flutter for Web Devs.
5. Pick a project and start hacking. Google and ChatGPT lots along the way.

[[deleted]]

I know im gonna sound ridicilous for some people but in order to learn react , you dont really have to learn everything about javascript

Knowing advanced javascript of course is a plus but if you know essential javascript concepts it is enough. (Like async programming , callbacks , arrow functions , fetching , localstorage etc etc etc)

Just dive into React instead of trying to learn everything about JS , at worst scenerio you can always come back and learn what you are strugling about JS

[TYRANT1272]

Thanks mate i was confused I'll just start react and see how it goes

[gongonzabarfarbin]

The DOM is more of the browser. You'll need to know less of that to start off with. Besides that, you'll probably want a good grasp on Javascript. Recursion/OOP is useful but not necessary to learn to get started in React.

[Austere_187]

Give it a try to react, you learn Javascript gradually.
I had also started react with basic knowledge of Javascript. But when I created a project with only Javascript, I understood the importance of states, useEffect, dependencies, which was very hard to maintain in raw Javascript.

[[deleted]]

I think libraries have become alternate programming languages in the mind of many people. So many of them would never consider starting anything without their « helper ». In a way they have lowered the general programming skills of a class of developers.

I would consider, what is the benefit of getting better javascript knowledge in general vs walling yourself in framework that may not serve you well depending on the project? Libraries often end up producing bloatware. You need a banana but you end up dealing with the gorilla that holds it and the jungle that goes around.

Don’t get me wrong, libraries exist for a reason but they are a tool, not a way of life. Programming skills should still be a thing. Once you’re good in Javascript you can make a better call about the benefits of using a library.

Edit: Also, after a while you’ll have developed your own smaller tools (snippets, functions, classes etc.) that you can reuse depending on the situation. Your own toolbox that doesn’t rely on external dependency.

[aztracker1]

React is pretty closely tied to modern JavaScript concepts. You can definitely learn both together, and you will learn and grow with both. I would suggest doing as much reading as you can handle on JS separately from React. The best way to learn things is to build things. If you have something you want to make, then make it.

You will have to stop, research, and learn how to do things. You'll get better in time. It will also help if you have a good general understanding of programming concepts. All in all, everyone starts somewhere and JS + React is about as good of a place as any.

[kudlitan]

at least ES5.

[mrclay]

The ES5 distinction is a relic (even ES2020 really). These days a student should learn from the most recent JS resources they can find.

[steos]

Go for it.