In the world of web development, React is a popular library for building user interfaces. React has been continuously evolving, and with each new version, it brings better ways to build and manage applications. One of the changes in the recent versions of React is the way we create the root of our application.

What is createRoot?

When we start a React application, we need to tell React where to start rendering our app. This is done by creating a root. In older versions of React, we used to do this using ReactDOM.render. In newer versions, this was replaced by createRoot from “react-dom”.

The Problem with createRoot from “react-dom”

React is now moving forward and has introduced a new way of creating roots in React 18, making createRoot from “react-dom” somewhat outdated. Here are some reasons why continuing to use createRoot from “react-dom” might not be the best idea:

Compatibility Issues:

• The older method may not be fully compatible with the new features and improvements in the latest versions of React.
• Using the outdated method could lead to bugs or unexpected behavior in your application.

Missing Out on New Features:

• Newer versions of React come with cool features like Concurrent Mode and Suspense. These features improve the performance and user experience of your application.
• If you continue using createRoot from “react-dom”, you might not be able to take advantage of these new features.

Learning the Latest Standards:

• As a developer, it’s important to stay updated with the latest standards and practices.
• By learning and using the new methods, you ensure that your skills are current and relevant.

How to Use the New createRoot

React 18 introduces a new way to create the root of your application. Here are some simple steps on how to do it:

Install React 18:

Make sure you have the latest version of React installed. You can install it using npm or yarn:

npm install react@latest react-dom@latest

Update Your Code:

• Replace the old createRoot with the new method from “react-dom/client”.
• Here’s an example of how to update your code:

Old way:

// Old way
import React from 'react';
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
import App from './App';

ReactDOM.render(<App>, document.getElementById('root'));

New way:

// New way
import React from 'react';
import { createRoot } from 'react-dom/client';
import App from './App';

const container = document.getElementById('root');
const root = createRoot(container);
root.render(<App />);

Conclusion

In summary, it’s important to move on from createRoot from “react-dom” to the new method provided in React 18. This will ensure your application remains compatible with new features, avoids potential bugs, and keeps you up-to-date with the latest development practices. By doing this, you’ll be building better, faster, and more efficient applications.