React is a JavaScript library that can be used to build efficient and extensible web applications. React was developed by Facebook, and is used in many large-scale web applications, such as Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, and WhatsApp Web.

In this book, we are going to learn how to build complex and efficient user interfaces with React, while keeping the code simple and extensible. Using the new paradigm of React Hooks, we can greatly simplify dealing with state management and side effects in web applications, ensuring the potential for growing and extending the application later on. We are also going to learn about React context and React Suspense, as well as how they can be used with Hooks. Afterward, we are going to learn how to integrate Redux and MobX with React Hooks. Finally, we are going to learn how to migrate from existing React class components, Redux, and MobX web applications, to React Hooks.

In the first chapter of this book, we are going to learn about the fundamental principles of React and React Hooks. We start by learning what React and React Hooks are, and why we should use them. Then, we move on to learn about the functionality of Hooks. Finally, we give an introduction to the kinds of Hooks that are provided by React, and a couple of Hooks that we are going to learn about throughout the book. By learning the fundamentals of React and React Hooks, we will be better able to understand the concepts that will be introduced in this book.

The following topics will be covered in this chapter:

• Learning about the fundamental principles of React
• Motivating the need for React Hooks
• Getting started with React Hooks
• Giving an overview of various Hooks