Reactjs – .Js Vs .Jsx

ReactJS – .JS vs .JSX

When working with ReactJS, you might have come across two different file extensions – .js and .jsx. These file extensions are used to differentiate between regular JavaScript files and files that contain JSX syntax. In this blog post, we will explore the differences between .js and .jsx files in ReactJS and discuss when to use each of them.

.js Files

.js files in ReactJS contain regular JavaScript code without any JSX syntax. These files are typically used for defining functions, classes, and other logic that does not involve rendering UI components. You can write your React components in .js files using the regular JavaScript syntax, but you will need to use the React.createElement() method to create your components.

Here’s an example of a simple React component written in a .js file:

import React from 'react';

class MyComponent extends React.Component {
    render() {
        return React.createElement('div', null, 'Hello, World!');
    }
}

export default MyComponent;
    

In the above example, we import the React library and define a class-based component called MyComponent. The render() method returns the JSX equivalent of

using the React.createElement() method.

.jsx Files

.jsx files in ReactJS allow you to write your components using JSX syntax, which is a syntax extension for JavaScript that allows you to write HTML-like code within your JavaScript files. JSX provides a more declarative and intuitive way to define UI components in React.

Here’s the same example component written in a .jsx file:

import React from 'react';

class MyComponent extends React.Component {
    render() {
        return (
            
Hello, World!
        );
    }
}

export default MyComponent;
    

As you can see, we can directly write the HTML-like code within the render() method without the need for the React.createElement() method. This makes the code more readable and easier to understand.

When to Use Each

Now that we understand the differences between .js and .jsx files, let’s discuss when to use each of them. In general, you can use either .js or .jsx files for your React components, depending on your personal preference and project requirements.

If you prefer to write your components using regular JavaScript syntax or if you are working on a project that does not support JSX, you can use .js files. However, keep in mind that you will need to use the React.createElement() method to create your components.

On the other hand, if you prefer the simplicity and readability of JSX syntax or if you are working on a project that fully supports JSX, you can use .jsx files. JSX allows you to write HTML-like code within your JavaScript files, making it easier to visualize and understand your UI components.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we explored the differences between .js and .jsx files in ReactJS. We discussed how .js files contain regular JavaScript code and require the use of React.createElement() method to create components, while .jsx files allow you to write JSX syntax directly within your components. We also discussed when to use each of them based on personal preference and project requirements.

Remember, whether you choose .js or .jsx files, the ultimate goal is to create well-structured and maintainable React components that provide a great user experience.