What exactly is state in React App anyway?

In a React app, “state” refers to an object that holds data or information about the component. It determines how the component behaves and renders. State is managed within the component and can change over time, usually in response to user actions or other events.

Key points about state in React:

1. Local to a Component: State is specific to a component and cannot be accessed directly by other components unless passed down as props.
2. Dynamic: Unlike props, which are immutable, state is mutable and can be updated using the ‘setState’ function (in class components) or the ‘useState’ hook (in functional components).
3. Triggers Re-renders: When the state of a component changes, React re-renders the component to reflect the updated state in the UI.

Example with “useState” in a Functional Component:

import React, { useState } from 'react';

function Counter() {
const [count, setCount] = useState(0); // Declare state variable 'count'

return (
<div>
<p>You clicked {count} times</p>
<button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>Click me</button>
</div>
);
}

export default Counter;

In this example:

• useState(0) initializes the state variable “count” with a value of “0”.
• setCount` is used to update the state.
• Every time the button is clicked, the state changes, and the component re-renders to display the updated count.

State is essential for creating interactive and dynamic React applications.