React JS Interview Questions and Answers


🔹 Section 1: Basic React Questions

1. What is React?

React is a JavaScript library used for building user interfaces, especially single-page applications (SPA).


2. What are the features of React?

  • Component-based architecture
  • Virtual DOM
  • One-way data binding
  • Fast rendering
  • Reusable components

3. What is JSX?

JSX stands for JavaScript XML. It allows writing HTML inside JavaScript.

Example:

const element = <h1>Hello World</h1>;

4. What is a component in React?

A component is a reusable piece of UI.

Types:

  • Functional Component
  • Class Component

5. What is Virtual DOM?

Virtual DOM is a lightweight copy of real DOM that improves performance by updating only changed parts.


🔹 Section 2: Intermediate Questions

6. What is state in React?

State is an object that stores dynamic data in a component.


7. What are props?

Props are used to pass data from parent to child components.


8. Difference between state and props?

StateProps
Internal dataExternal data
Can be changedCannot be changed
Managed inside componentPassed from parent

9. What are hooks in React?

Hooks are special functions that let you use state and lifecycle features in functional components.


10. Name some common hooks.

  • useState
  • useEffect
  • useContext
  • useRef
  • useMemo

11. What is useState?

It is used to manage state in functional components.


12. What is useEffect?

It is used for side effects like API calls, DOM updates, etc.


🔹 Section 3: Advanced Questions

13. What is reconciliation in React?

It is the process of updating the DOM efficiently by comparing Virtual DOM changes.


14. What is React Router?

React Router is used for navigation between pages in React apps.


15. What is conditional rendering?

Rendering UI based on conditions.

Example:

{isLoggedIn ? <Home /> : <Login />}

16. What is lifting state up?

Moving state from child component to parent to share data between components.


17. What are controlled components?

Form elements controlled by React state.


18. What are uncontrolled components?

Form elements handled by the DOM instead of React state.


🔹 Section 4: Lifecycle & Class Components

19. What are lifecycle methods?

Methods that run at different stages of a component:

  • Mounting
  • Updating
  • Unmounting

20. Name lifecycle methods.

  • componentDidMount
  • componentDidUpdate
  • componentWillUnmount

🔹 Section 5: Performance & Optimization

21. What is memoization in React?

A technique to prevent unnecessary re-renders.


22. What is React.memo?

It is used to optimize functional components by memorizing output.


23. What is useMemo?

It caches expensive calculations.


24. What is useCallback?

It returns a memoized function.


🔹 Section 6: Redux & State Management

25. What is Redux?

Redux is a state management library for React.


26. What are Redux components?

  • Store
  • Action
  • Reducer

27. What is the store?

Central place where application state is stored.


🔹 Section 7: API & Data Handling

28. How do you call API in React?

Using:

  • fetch
  • axios
  • useEffect hook

29. What is Axios?

A library used to make HTTP requests.


🔹 Section 8: Routing

30. What is SPA?

Single Page Application loads only one HTML page and updates dynamically.


31. What is Link in React Router?

Used for navigation without reloading page.


🔹 Section 9: Real Interview Questions

32. Why use React instead of JavaScript?

Because React provides:

  • Reusable components
  • Fast rendering
  • Better structure

33. What are keys in React?

Keys help React identify list items uniquely.


34. Why is Virtual DOM faster?

Because it updates only changed elements instead of full page.


35. What are fragments?

Used to group elements without adding extra nodes.


🔹 Section 10: Tricky Questions

36. Can we use setState in useEffect?

Yes, but carefully to avoid infinite loops.


37. What happens if we don’t use keys in lists?

React may render elements inefficiently or incorrectly.


38. Is React a framework?

No, React is a library, not a full framework.


39. What is prop drilling?

Passing props through multiple components unnecessarily.


40. How to avoid prop drilling?

Using:

  • Context API
  • Redux