Untitled design 15
Untitled design 15

Exploring React Hooks and Vue Composition API: A Comprehensive Comparison

Introduction

React Hooks, introduced with the React 16.8 update, have become indispensable for single-page applications, offering a functional approach to hook into React state and lifecycle methods. With the advent of Vue 3, the Vue.js framework challenges React’s dominance by introducing the Composition API, allowing developers to extract and share reactive logic among components. This article delves into a detailed comparison of the Vue Composition API and React Hooks to shed light on their differences and similarities.

React Hooks: Way of Rendering

React Hooks are exclusive to functional components, executing with each rerender. Let’s explore a code example demonstrating the use of React Hooks. By importing useState and useEffect from React, a local state is added to the functional component using the useState Hook. The useEffect Hook updates the document title on every render, showcasing the versatility of React Hooks.

jsx

import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react';

function Example() {
const [count, setCount] = useState(0);

useEffect(() => {
document.title = `You clicked ${count} times`;
});

return (
<div>
<p>You clicked {count} times</p>
<button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>
Click me
</button>
</div>

);
}

export default Example;

Vue Composition API: Way of Rendering

In Vue 3, a component is an object defined with the setup() method of the Composition API. Unlike React, the setup() method is executed only once, serving as an entry point to the Composition API. This enables the definition of state without recreating it with each call. The following code illustrates the script part of a Vue component, utilizing watchEffect and ref to keep track of a variable (price) and display its updated value.

html
<script>
import { watchEffect, ref, defineComponent } from "vue";
export default defineComponent({
name: “Store”,
setup() {
const price = ref(10);watchEffect(() => console.log(price.value));

return {
price,
};
},
});

</script><template>
<h3>Price</h3>
<input v-model=“price” id=“price” placeholder=“edit me”>
</template>

Reactive Objects

React’s useState facilitates the creation of reactive objects with a two-member array. In Vue’s Composition API, a similar result is achieved by defining reactive objects inside the setup() component without the need for a mutation function. The following Vue example showcases the simplicity of defining and updating a reactive object.

html
<template>
<p>You clicked {{count}} times</p>
<button @click="count += 1">
Click me
</button>
</template>
<script>
import { ref } from “vue”;
export default {
name: “Hooks”,
setup() {
let count = ref(0);

return {
count,
};
},
};
</script>

Implementing Reactive Objects: Rules and Comparisons

React imposes rules for using Hooks, such as calling them at the top level of function components and avoiding placement inside loops or nested functions. On the other hand, Vue’s setup() default behavior prevents such issues, executing before the component creation. Vue’s Composition API shines in complex scenarios, offering more concise and readable code compared to React Hooks.

Aesthetics and Readability: Defining the State

When comparing the aesthetics and readability of defining state, Vue’s Composition API proves advantageous in complex scenarios. While React Hooks may suffice for basic functionality, Vue’s approach becomes more appealing as the code complexity increases.

javascript
// React
const [name, setName = useState('Apple');
const [price, setPrice] = useState(20);
const [quantity, setQuantity] = useState(100);
// Vue
setup () {
return {
name: ref(‘Apple’),
price: ref(20),
quantity: ref(100)
}
}

Aesthetics and Readability: Changing the State

The process of updating the value of a variable is a crucial aspect of the comparison. React achieves this through the useState Hook, while Vue utilizes its syntax, including v-model. The Vue example demonstrates how the value of a local state (name) changes effortlessly.

jsx
// React
import { useState } from 'react';
function Example() {
const [name, setName] = useState(‘Apple’);return (
<form>
<input
type=“text”
value=name
onChange={e =>
setName(e.target.value)}
/>
<h2>My favorite fruit is {name}</h2>
</form>

);
}

html
<!-- Vue -->
<script>
import { ref } from 'vue';
export default {
setup() {
return {
name: ref(‘Apple’),
};
},
};</script><template>
<form>
<input type=“text” v-model=“name” />
<h2>My favorite fruit is {{name}}</h2>
</form>
</template>

Handling Side Effects

Handling side effects is crucial in both frameworks. React employs the useEffect Hook for this purpose, allowing developers to manage various side effects. Vue’s Composition API offers similar capabilities with the watch and watchEffect methods, each with its own use cases. The Vue example below demonstrates the usage of watchEffect to log changes in the price variable.

html
<script>
import { watchEffect, ref, defineComponent } from "vue";
export default defineComponent({
setup() {
const price = ref(100);watchEffect(() => console.log(price.value));

return {
price,
};
},
});

</script>

Key Differences in Side Effect Handling

While both React’s useEffect and Vue’s watch and watchEffect methods handle side effects, there are key differences in their usage. React’s useEffect allows manual addition of dependencies, specifying when the effects should be active. Vue’s methods, on the other hand, provide flexibility in tracking changes in variables but require explicit setup.

Final Thoughts

In concluding this comprehensive comparison, it is evident that the basis for both React Hooks and the Vue Composition API is JavaScript. React tends to stick closely to Vanilla JavaScript, while Vue boasts fewer lines of code and quicker execution for similar operations. The Vue code emerges as more precise and readable, enhancing maintenance capabilities. Whether you’re considering a switch between frameworks or choosing one for a new project, this article aims to provide valuable insights into the strengths of React Hooks and the Vue Composition API.

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