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This course, delivered by Bob Ziroll, Head of Education at Scrimba, will introduce you to a important aspect of React's history and a skill that is still very useful in today's workforce. Class components are still used in a large number of old codebases, long-term projects and open-source libraries, even though functional components and Hooks have mostly replaced them in modern React development. The goal of this short, 80-minute course is to fully familiarize you with this crucial subject. You will not only watch films throughout these 17 interactive scrims; you will pause, code right in the editor and test out the ideas in real time. This practical method guarantees that the information is retained. You will start with a refresher on ES6 classes before learning how to build React components using the class syntax, manage state, and master the component lifecycle, equipping you to confidently navigate any React codebase you encounter.
Topics the Course Covers:
- ES6 Class Refresher: A review of how JavaScript classes, constructors and the this keyword work outside of React.
- Class Component Fundamentals: Learn the basic syntax for creating a class component by extending React.Component and using the required render() method.
- State Management:
- Initializing state in the constructor method.
- Reading state using this.state.
- Correctly updating state using this.setState().
- Handling complex state objects and ensuring safe updates.
- Component Lifecycle Methods:
- Mounting: Understanding the constructor() and the componentDidMount() method for tasks like fetching data.
- Updating: Using componentDidUpdate() to react to changes in props or state and prevent infinite loops.
- Unmounting: Leveraging componentWillUnmount() for cleanup tasks, such as removing event listeners or timers.
- An overview of other, less common lifecycle methods.
- Practical Challenges: Multiple interactive challenges to convert components and solidify your understanding of state and lifecycle logic in a class-based context.
Benefits of Opting for This Course:
- Become "Job-Ready": Gain the ability to work on older, established React codebases, a common requirement in many developer roles.
- Ace Technical Interviews: Confidently answer interview questions about the differences between class and functional components, state and lifecycle methods.
- Understand Legacy Code: Stop feeling lost when you open a project and see class instead of const. You'll be able to read, debug and refactor older React code.
- Deepen Your React Knowledge: Understanding class components gives you a stronger historical context for why Hooks were introduced and how they solve an older set of problems.
- Learn Interactively: Engage with Scrimba's unique platform, where you can code along, experiment and solve challenges directly in the instructor's environment.
- Efficient Learning: Master a complete topic in just 80 minutes, making it a highly focused and time-effective way to fill a specific knowledge gap.
Why Take This Course:
In the modern React ecosystem, it’s easy to focus exclusively on functional components and Hooks. However, this leaves a significant gap in a developer's knowledge that can become a major blocker in the real world. This course is the perfect solution. It acknowledges that you don't need to spend weeks on this topic, but you absolutely need to understand it. Bob Ziroll provides a "whistle-stop tour" that is fast, efficient, and built around a "learn by doing" philosophy. You'll take this course to become a more well-rounded, versatile, and hireable React developer. You will gain the confidence to contribute to any React project, regardless of whether it was written last week or five years ago. It’s the essential "legacy" knowledge you need, taught in a modern, interactive way that respects your time.
