Understanding React Hooks Fundamentals

The Evolution of State Management in React

Before hooks came into the picture, we managed state in React using class components. The introduction of hooks marked a significant shift, allowing us to useState and other React features in functional components. Hooks have revolutionized how we compose and share logic across components, making our code more readable and maintainable.

One of the first hooks we encountered was useState, which simplified state management in functional components. Here’s a quick rundown of how state management evolved:

• Initially, we had this.state and this.setState in class components.
• Then came the Context API, which provided a way to share state without prop drilling.
• Finally, hooks arrived, offering a more direct and efficient way to handle state.

With hooks, we’ve seen a more declarative approach to state management, which aligns well with the functional programming paradigm that React embraces.

An Overview of Built-in Hooks

React provides a suite of built-in hooks that enable us to tap into the state and lifecycle features of our components without writing a class. The most fundamental hook is useState, which allows us to…