Glossary · Web & App Development
React
Overview
What React Is
React is an open-source JavaScript library, created and maintained by Meta, for building user interfaces. You compose an interface from small, reusable components—self-contained pieces of markup and logic—and React efficiently updates the screen when the underlying data changes. It's one of the most widely used front-end technologies on the web today.
How It Works
React uses a declarative model: you describe what the UI should look like for a given state, and React figures out the minimal DOM updates needed to match it. Components manage their own state and receive data through props. Because React handles only the view layer, it's commonly paired with routing, data-fetching, and full-stack frameworks like Next.js.
Why It Matters for Business
React's component model makes interfaces faster to build, easier to maintain, and consistent across a product, while its large ecosystem and talent pool reduce long-term risk. We use React across frontend development, full-stack builds, and React Native mobile apps—often with TypeScript and Tailwind CSS—to ship interfaces that are fast, accessible, and straightforward to extend.
Where we use it
Related Zen in Tech services
How our team puts React to work in real projects.
FAQ
React — common questions
Is React a framework or a library?
React is technically a library focused on the UI layer, not a full framework. It doesn't dictate routing or data fetching, which is why it's often combined with a framework like Next.js that adds those pieces on top.
React vs Vue—which is better?
Both are excellent component-based tools. React has the larger ecosystem and job market, while Vue is often praised for a gentler learning curve. The best choice usually comes down to team experience and project requirements rather than raw capability.
Is React still worth learning?
Yes. React remains one of the most in-demand front-end technologies, backed by Meta and a vast ecosystem, and it underpins popular frameworks like Next.js. It's a safe, widely supported foundation for new web projects.
Need React done right?
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Knowledge hub
From our knowledge hub
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