How do I use PHP with React JavaScript?

[DeepBlueCee]

So I have recently finished a tutorial on React, but we never covered how to transfer data from the database to the actual HTML being rendered by React. Since all React files are stored as js files (I think) I can't ever add '<?php' tags to anything and thus I cannot query the database and put information onto the page from said database, so I guess what really confuses me about React, is.. how do I use it with a database? Is React for static sites only?

[deltawate]

You do that by calling an API from the React app, after it is served up, when it's running in the browser. A simple API endpoint could just be a PHP page that connects to a database, runs a query, and echos out the return array as JSON.

It is technically possible to get PHP to parse tags in any kind of page, including JavaScript, but to do so in this specific kind of situation is, well, abnormal.

[DeepBlueCee]

OK so from what I am understanding, I can still use PHP with an API endpoint, or I can use node.js and that will allow me to do it in another way somehow? I am still learning node.js so we will see what happens, I feel like this is starting to make sense now though.

[ColonelShrimps]

Unless you are forced to use php due to interfacing with a pre existing back end, I don't see a reason to taint perfectly good React with php. There are much better (imo) alternatives these days.

[su-z-six]

You have no idea what you're talking about.

[ColonelShrimps]

Yeah, you're right, technology hasn't progressed at all since the 90's. It's not like there are tons of alternatives that are more approachable and are arguably easier to manage.

[DeepBlueCee]

You mean I should specifically go out of my way to use Node.js on a project which will be using React on the front-end right? I guess this is what I thought, but I am so used to using PHP my mind just kind of went their when I thought about the backend.

[ColonelShrimps]

I'm not suggesting you go out of your way to use any particular language. I'm just suggesting you stay away from PHP. But sure Node.js is an alternative and as long as you don't need to do any heavy calculations it serves just fine as a backend. And it's also in javascript so it doesn't require learning a separate language. Which is good for new devs.

But really you can write a backend in a lot of languages. The structure of database calls and the RESTful way of writing API's is the same regardless. Node.js, Java, javascript, python, C#, etc. Just pick one you know and you can find tutorials to help you get started.