Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
What is Render in ReactJS?
2.1.
ReactDOM.render() method
3.
Purpose of Render
4.
Importance of Render in ReactJS
5.
How to perform Rendering in React?
6.
Updation in ReactJs Elements(Rendering in React after updation)
7.
Example of Using Render in React JS
7.1.
JavaScript
8.
Frequently Asked Questions
8.1.
What is the render() method in ReactJs?
8.2.
Does changing state re-render the React Application?
8.3.
Can we have multiple ReactDOM renders?
8.4.
What is the difference between render and return in React?
9.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Sep 15, 2024

Rendering Elements in ReactJs

Author Rubleen Kaur
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Introduction

In the article Introduction to JSX, we explored how to create elements in ReactJS. These elements are the smallest building blocks that can be rendered in a React application. ReactJS allows us to build components using these elements.

render in react js

To make elements functional and interactive, we need to render them, and this article explains how to practice rendering in ReactJS.

So, what is rendering in React? Rendering is the process that occurs when a component’s state changes. If you're interested in learning more about  React Components,, be sure to check out our blog for a deeper understanding!

What is Render in ReactJS?

Rendering in ReactJS refers to the process of displaying elements and components on the user interface (UI). Whenever there is a change in the state or props of a component, React triggers the render process to update the UI. This ensures that the displayed content is always in sync with the underlying data.

React uses a virtual DOM to optimize the rendering process. Instead of directly updating the actual DOM, it first updates the virtual DOM and compares it with the previous version. Based on the differences, React only updates the specific parts of the real DOM that have changed, making the rendering process fast and efficient.

Rendering is crucial because it allows dynamic updates to the UI without the need for reloading the entire page, providing a smooth and responsive user experience.

An element in ReactJs is the smallest unit that we can render. 

Let’s see how we create an element in ReactJs.

const element = <h1>Hello, world</h1>;

 

Apart from different DOM browser elements, the React DOM takes care of the updation of parts after the app has been rendered.

ReactDOM.render() method

The ReactDOM.render() method takes two arguments, the HTML code and the HTML element to be rendered. This method is used to display the HTML code specified in the arguments. The render method is used to Rendering in React on the public folder where the index.html file is located in the folder. This makes our content visible on screen. 

In the context of the first example, when we used a single h1 statement rendered on screen, observe we had a small h1 code inside the index.html file, and the root element was updated using the ReactJS code. This explains how the ReactDOM.renders() method works. 

<div id="root"></div>

 

ReactDOM.render(<p>Explaining the ReactDOM.render method</p>, document.getElementById('root'));

 

OUTPUT

Purpose of Render

The purpose of the render function in ReactJS is to define what elements or components should be displayed on the user interface based on the current state and props of a component. It acts as a blueprint, ensuring the visual representation of the data is accurate. By calling the render method, React knows how to update the DOM efficiently when changes occur, ensuring the application reflects the latest data or state in real-time.

Importance of Render in ReactJS

  • Efficient UI Updates: The render method ensures that only the necessary parts of the user interface are updated, preventing unnecessary re-rendering of the entire DOM.
     
  • Dynamic Content: It allows dynamic content to be displayed based on changing states or props, ensuring that user interactions reflect immediately on the interface.
     
  • Optimization via Virtual DOM: React's render process uses the virtual DOM to compare changes, allowing for faster updates and improving application performance.
     
  • Modularity: Components can be reused and rendered independently, promoting clean and maintainable code.
     
  • Enhanced User Experience: Efficient rendering provides a smoother, more responsive experience for users without page reloads.

How to perform Rendering in React?

Let’s discuss Rendering in React using an example of a component and work our way accordingly in the article to render elements.

In the example we will consider a root id of an id tag and Rendering in React it accordingly, 

<div id="root"></div>

 

All the elements in this tag are considered as the root element in the React DOM. Everything in this div is regarded as a root. 

Most of the time, React Applications are built using a single root DOM, but when we try to integrate React into a pre-existing application, we can isolate as many root nodes as we want in the DOM.

For your reference, we have added an example below, 

const ele = <h1>Hello, Ninja</h1>;
ReactDOM.render(ele, document.getElementById('root'));

 

Using the above HTML and React code, the final output would be:

OUTPUT


Click on the following link to read further: Hooks in React JS

Updation in ReactJs Elements(Rendering in React after updation)

One of the critical features of React DOM is that it compares the elements and their children to the previous values and only updates the DOM if there are changes applied. What would happen if we had rendered the elements once but performed the changes in the app? Will the app render itself again? 

Using Rendering in React, the events are immutable. This means that the DOM creates a new element for a recent change whenever a change is applied. To understand the concept better, go through the live clock code given below, 

function clock() {
  const element = (
    <div>
      <h1>Hello, Ninja</h1>
      <h2>It is {new Date().toLocaleTimeString()}.</h2>
    </div>
  );
  // highlight-next-line
  ReactDOM.render(element, document.getElementById('root'));
}

setInterval(clock, 1000);

 

 

OUTPUT

In the above code, we have used a few ReactJs methods. The ReactDOM.render() is called every second from the setInterval() callback. 

In the above example, we have seen that the ReactDOM.render() method renders the elements on the browser window, using two arguments(the HTML code and the HTML element).

Also See, Dropdown in React JS 

Example of Using Render in React JS

In ReactJS, the render() method is used to specify what the UI should look like. Let’s look at a simple example where we render a component that displays a greeting message.

  • JavaScript

JavaScript

import React from 'react';
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';

// Creating a React component
class Greeting extends React.Component {
render() {
return (
<div>
<h1>Hello, Welcome to React!</h1>
<p>This message is rendered using the render() method.</p>
</div>
);
}
}

// Rendering the component to the DOM
ReactDOM.render(<Greeting />, document.getElementById('root'));
You can also try this code with Online Javascript Compiler
Run Code


Output

Output

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the render() method in ReactJs?

The render() method in ReactJs is used to specify the content that is to be displayed on the website. It is used to describe the view which is finally rendered on the browser. The render method is also used to perform Rendering in React content on the public folder where the index.html file is located in the folder. This makes our content visible on screen. 

Does changing state re-render the React Application?

React components automatically re-render whenever we perform a change in the application’s state or props. A simple update of the condition causes the entire User Interface (UI) elements to be re-rendered automatically from anywhere in the code. This is done only by the render method provided by the ReactDOM. 

Can we have multiple ReactDOM renders?

Yes, we can have multiple renders using the ReactDOM. We can have multiple calls to ReactDOM. render() in a single JavaScript file without any issues. We can have multiple calls to ReactDOM. render() may be especially useful when using React in an existing application/site.

What is the difference between render and return in React?

In React, the render() method is responsible for defining the UI and updating the DOM, while return specifies what the render() method should output (typically JSX). The render() method encloses the return statement.

Conclusion

This article has covered all the essential information about Rendering Elements in ReactJS.he render() method in ReactJs is used to specify the content to be displayed on the website. It is used to describe the view which is finally rendered on the browser. The render method also renders our content on the public folder where the index.html file is located in the folder. This makes our content visible on screen. The article covers the ways using which we can Rendering in React the elements. It also explains the update of ReactJs Elements after the app is rendered. Did you have fun exploring ReactJs?

Recommended Readings:

 

You can also consider our React Js Course to give your career an edge over others.  

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