React is a popular JavaScript library used for building user interfaces. It follows the flux pattern, a design pattern that helps manage the state of an application by providing a unidirectional data flow, where the data flows in one direction, from the top-level components to the child components. In this article, we will explore how React follows the flux pattern.
The Flux Pattern
The flux pattern consists of four main components: actions, dispatcher, stores, and views. Each of these components plays a unique role in managing the application state. Let's look at each component in more detail.
Actions
Actions are JavaScript objects that describe an event that occurred in the application. They contain a type property that describes the action and any other data that is needed to update the application state. Actions are typically created in response to user interactions or other events in the application.
Dispatcher
The dispatcher is a central hub that receives actions and dispatches them to the appropriate stores. It ensures that all actions are processed in the correct order and that the state of the application remains consistent. The dispatcher is a singleton, meaning there is only one instance of it in the application.
Stores
Stores are objects that hold the application state and define how it can be updated in response to actions. They contain the business logic of the application and are responsible for handling the actions that are dispatched to them. Stores can be thought of as containers for the application state.
Views
Views are the components that render the application's user interface. They receive data from the stores and trigger actions in response to user interactions. Views are stateless, meaning they do not hold any application state themselves.
How React Follows the Flux Pattern
React follows the flux pattern by providing a way to implement each of the four components. Let's see how this works.
Actions
In React, actions are typically defined as functions that are called in response to user interactions. For example, if a user clicks a button, an action function can be called to update the application state. These functions typically create an action object and pass it to the dispatcher for processing.
Dispatcher
React does not provide a built-in dispatcher, but there are several third-party libraries available that can be used for this purpose. One of the most popular is Flux, which provides a simple, event-based dispatcher that can be used in React applications.
Stores
They contain the application state and define methods for handling actions that are dispatched to them. When the state of a store changes, it emits a change event that is picked up by the views.
Views
In React, views are implemented as components that receive data from the stores as props. When the state of a store changes, the view is re-rendered with the updated data. Views can also trigger actions in response to user interactions.
Conclusion
React follows the flux pattern by providing a way to implement each of the four components: actions, dispatcher, stores, and views. By following this pattern, React provides a simple, predictable way to manage the state of an application, making it easier to build complex user interfaces. If you are new to React or the flux pattern, it is recommended that you read more about it to fully understand how it works.
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