React JSX

What is JSX?

JSX stands for JavaScript XML.

JSX allows us to write HTML in React.

JSX makes it easier to write and add HTML in React.

Coding JSX

JSX allows us to write HTML elements in JavaScript and place them in the DOM without any createElement()  and/or appendChild() methods.

JSX converts HTML tags into react elements.

Let us demonstrate with two examples, the first uses JSX and the second does not:

const myelement = <h1>I Love JSX!</h1>;

ReactDOM.render(myelement, document.getElementById('root'));

const myelement = React.createElement('h1', {}, 'I do not use JSX!');

ReactDOM.render(myelement, document.getElementById('root'));

As you can see in the first example, JSX allows us to write HTML directly within the JavaScript code.

JSX is an extension of the JavaScript language based on ES6, and is translated into regular JavaScript at runtime.

Expressions in JSX

With JSX you can write expressions inside curly braces { }.

The expression can be a React variable, or property, or any other valid JavaScript expression. JSX will execute the expression and return the result:

const myelement = <h1>React is {5 + 5} times better with JSX</h1>;

Inserting a Large Block of HTML

To write HTML on multiple lines, put the HTML inside parentheses:

const myelement = (
  <ul>
    <li>Apples</li>
    <li>Bananas</li>
    <li>Cherries</li>
  </ul>
);

One Top Level Element

The HTML code must be wrapped in ONE top level element.

So if you like to write two headers, you must put them inside a parent element, like a div element

const myelement = (
  <div>
    <h1>I am a Header.</h1>
    <h1>I am a Header too.</h1>
  </div>
);

Elements Must be Closed

JSX follows XML rules, and therefore HTML elements must be properly closed.

const myelement = <input type="text" />;