React
React is straightforward until something re-renders when you did not expect it. These articles cover hooks as they behave in real components, the dependency array rules that cause most bugs, and the patterns worth reaching for once the basics work.
Hooks
- React useReducer Explained: When useState Stops Scaling Three useState calls that must change together will eventually disagree with each other. A reducer makes the illegal combinations impossible to reach. Tutorial · 11 min read · August 6, 2026
- React useRef Explained: A Ref Is Not State Change ref.current and nothing happens on screen. That is not a bug, it is the entire point of the hook, and it is what makes refs useful and dangerous. Tutorial · 10 min read · August 6, 2026
- React.memo, useMemo and useCallback: When They Help You wrapped the component in React.memo and it still re-renders every time. The inline style object you pass it is a different object on every render. Tips & Tricks · 11 min read · August 6, 2026
- TypeScript With React: Props, Hooks and Events useState([]) gives you an array of never, so the first setItems call fails with an error that mentions a type you never wrote. That one line explains most React and TypeScript friction. Tutorial · 12 min read · August 6, 2026
- React useState Explained: State That Actually Updates The hook is three lines to learn and months to get right. Almost every useState bug comes from the same two misunderstandings. Tutorial · 10 min read · August 6, 2026
- React useContext Explained (and When Not to Use It) Context solves prop drilling, not state management. Using it as a performance tool is how apps end up re-rendering everything. Tutorial · 10 min read · August 6, 2026
- React Custom Hooks: Reusing Logic Without Repeating It A custom hook is just a function that calls other hooks. The important part is understanding that it shares logic, not state. Tutorial · 10 min read · August 6, 2026
- React useEffect Hook Explained: Dependencies and Cleanup A beginner-friendly guide to the React useEffect hook — side effects, the dependency array, cleanup functions, data fetching, and infinite-loop pitfalls. Tutorial · 9 min read · July 22, 2026
- React Hooks: 7 Mistakes That Cause Bugs Stale closures, missing dependencies and effects that fire twice — the seven hook mistakes that produce the most confusing React bugs, and the fix for each. Tutorial · 11 min read · May 7, 2026
Components and state
- React Forms Guide: Why Your Input Will Not Type You type into the field and nothing appears. The console has warned you already, and the fix is one prop, but the reason explains how React forms work. Tutorial · 11 min read · August 6, 2026
- React Conditional Rendering: if, Ternary, and && Patterns The main ways to render UI conditionally in React JSX — if/early return, ternary, and logical && — with the classic && with 0 bug explained. Tutorial · 9 min read · July 22, 2026
- What Is JSX in React? A Beginner's Explanation JSX lets you write HTML-like markup inside JavaScript. Learn how it maps to React.createElement, plus curly braces, className, lists and conditionals. Tutorial · 8 min read · July 22, 2026
- React Props vs State: What's the Difference? Confused about props vs state in React? Learn the difference with a simple greeting and counter example, plus a quick guide on which to reach for. Comparison · 9 min read · July 22, 2026
Performance and pitfalls
- React Error Boundaries: What They Actually Catch One undefined property in one component and the entire page goes white. Error boundaries stop that, but they miss more kinds of error than they catch. Tutorial · 10 min read · August 6, 2026
- Debounce vs Throttle: Which One Your Handler Needs Wrapping your handler in debounce and still seeing a request per keystroke? In React the usual cause is that a fresh debounced function is created on every render, so the timer never survives long enough to fire. Comparison · 11 min read · August 6, 2026
More on React
- JavaScript sort(): Why [10, 9, 1] Becomes [1, 10, 9] Sorting numbers with plain .sort() gives you an order that looks random until you realise every element was converted to a string first. And the array you sorted was modified, which is its own bug. Tutorial · 11 min read · August 6, 2026
- Shallow vs Deep Copy in JavaScript: The Nested Trap You spread an object, change one nested field, and the original changes too. The copy was real, but it only went one level deep. Tutorial · 11 min read · August 6, 2026
- 8 React Project Ideas That Teach Something Specific Another to-do app teaches nothing new. These eight each introduce one concept you will be asked about in an interview. Tips & Tricks · 11 min read · August 6, 2026
- React Interview Questions and Answers for Beginners React interviews test whether you understand rendering, not whether you can list hooks. The state-batching question catches most candidates. Career · 12 min read · August 6, 2026