Jorge CafruneMany developers are familiar with HTML and CSS, but the use of CSS in React may be confusing. React is a JavaScript library used for developing user interfaces, and it doesn’t inherently use CSS. However, it is possible to use CSS with React, and many developers do so. In this article, we’ll explore the different ways developers can use CSS with React and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of doing so.
What is React? React is a JavaScript library created by Facebook for building user interfaces. It is designed to make developing web applications easier and faster by providing a declarative way to describe how the user interface should look. This means developers can easily create complex user interfaces with React, without needing to write complex code. React is often used in combination with other libraries such as Redux, Flux, and MobX.
Does React Use CSS? In short, no. React does not inherently use CSS. React is a JavaScript library, so it does not use any styling language such as CSS. Instead, React relies on JavaScript for styling, which means developers must write custom CSS for React components.
However, it is possible to use CSS with React. React provides several ways to use CSS, including inline styling, CSS modules, and CSS-in-JS libraries. Let’s take a look at each of these methods in more detail.
Inline Styling: Inline styling is one of the most popular and simplest ways to use CSS with React. Inline styling allows developers to add styles directly to React components, without needing to write any additional code. This is done by passing an object to the style prop of the component. This object contains the styles that will be applied to the component.
CSS Modules: CSS modules are a way of organizing CSS styles in a modular way. This allows developers to import and export styles from an external file. This makes it easy to reuse styles and ensures that styles are only applied to the components that need them.
CSS-in-JS Libraries: CSS-in-JS libraries are libraries that allow developers to write CSS directly in JavaScript, instead of in an external file. This allows developers to keep their styles and components together, making it easier to manage their code. Popular CSS-in-JS libraries include styled-components, emotion, and glamorous.
Advantages of Using CSS with React: Using CSS with React has several advantages. Firstly, it allows developers to keep their styles and components together, making it easier to manage and maintain their code. Secondly, using CSS with React allows developers to use JavaScript to define styles, which makes it easier to update and customize styles. Finally, using CSS with React makes it possible to use modern styling approaches such as CSS modules and CSS-in-JS libraries.
Disadvantages of Using CSS with React: Using CSS with React may also have some drawbacks. Firstly, learning and understanding React and CSS together can be difficult, especially for new developers. Secondly, using CSS with React can lead to code bloat, as developers will need to write both React and CSS code for components. Finally, using CSS with React may lead to incompatibilities with other libraries, as CSS and other styling libraries may not work together.
Conclusion: In conclusion, it is possible to use CSS with React. React does not inherently use CSS, but developers can use several approaches to add styles to React components, such as inline styling, CSS modules, and CSS-in-JS libraries. Using CSS with React has several advantages, such as allowing developers to keep their styles and components together, making it easier to manage and maintain their code. However, using CSS with React also has some disadvantages, such as incompatibilities with other libraries and code bloat.