While other libraries and frameworks like Angular existed when Facebook developed React, they weren’t as developer-friendly as React. In fact, developers using other libraries had the challenge of having to rework code every time they developed a component that changes frequently.
What made React so interesting for developers is that it enables them to break down complex components and reuse code to complete projects faster. Developers using a headless CMS can build with React and leverage the API friendly architecture of a headless content management system to publish content quickly, using the same API to deliver content across channels, devices, and applications.
New to React? Read more here: What is React.js? And Why You Should Try It.
What is React.js (And Why is it Trending)?
Why is that?
The Benefits of Building Digital Experiences With React
React is not only famous because Facebook created it. The library has a series of features that make it one of the best options for developers who want to build robust digital experiences quickly. Let’s take a look at some of those benefits.
React’s use of an HTML-like syntax (JSX), and keeping the pieces that make up a component (JSX, styling, and logic) helps React developers build dynamic apps and websites faster and eases maintenance over time.
Components are React’s building blocks. A React app or website is made up of multiple components that can be reused independently from one another, and more complex components composed of simpler ones.
Gentle Learning Curve
React uses a virtual representation of the browser’s document model. This let’s React bundle together large groups of changes to the UI into a single update, reducing rendering time.
A React app or a website built using React is easier to maintain than other libraries and frameworks. React components simplify maintenance and since the library enables the reuse of the same set of parts, it’s easier for developers to maintain a React application than it would be with other frameworks.
Why a Headless CMS Makes Sense for Building React Apps
The benefit of using a React CMS is that developers will end up doing less duplicate work by managing components rather than duplicating effort across multiple devices and channels, delivering omnichannel experiences at a fraction of the cost and with significantly less effort.
For content teams, React components represent a way of building better content models that can be reused. That simplifies content creation and scaling content initiatives. Plus, a React CMS fetches data faster and more efficiently by using GraphQL and REST APIs when content is updated and enables managing structured content in a simple way, adding to the agility of a React-powered CMS like Agility CMS.
With a headless CMS like Agility CMS React developers can build a content structure that provides value almost immediately, all while providing an easy to use UI for content authors and content editors. Agility CMS can be customized in minutes and enables customization with your React components, all within a cloud-based interface that can be edited from anywhere.
The fact that React enables such a level of customization thanks to its components makes it a great choice for integration with a headless CMS. It breaks down complex UI elements into smaller ones and allows users to work on individual, separate pieces without risk for the other content editors.
Here are some advantages of the React + headless CMS combos:
- Stop worrying about maintenance and hosting
- Build and deploy content infrastructures quickly
- Use markup language to build and structure apps
- Create a single page application without too many technicalities
Agility CMS: The Most Agile React CMS
An API based CMS like Agility can make the most of all the things that developers know and love of React. For instance, React’s reusable components play well with Agility’s content-first approach and site generators like Next and Gatsby make it a great candidate for users who want to build blazing-fast digital experiences.
With Agility CMS, React components are mapped directly to the Modules that you work within your CMS’s administrative UI.This is the magic that powers Agility’s drag-and-drop visual builder, allowing editors to create and modify page layouts as needed.Our API-first approach enables content creators to build both static and dynamic sites with great SEO, all in a drag and drop setting that everybody can use.
If you want to get started building React websites and apps and need a headless CMS to do the heavy lifting for you, check our tutorial ‘Using Agility CMS with Create React App’ and learn how to build React experiences using Agility CMS. Create your free Developer account here and start building!