Top Books on React JS Every Software Developer Should Read in 2024

What is React JS?

React JS is a JavaScript library that is primarily used to create user interfaces.

JavaScript libraries are a set of codes that help to develop interactive websites by providing the necessary tools for developers.

It facilitates the creation of interactive UIs and has wide support from many industry leaders like
Facebook (now Meta), Instagram, Netflix, Airbnb, etc. A lot of these companies even created their framework based on React that includes all the necessary features for UI design.

React was released by Facebook (now Meta) in 2013 and the latest version is React 18 at the time of writing (in May 2022). You can use React to develop interactive web apps, websites, and mobile applications.

How to choose the best React book?

Choosing good books is a skill. To select the best React book, you must consider more than just quality: you must know exactly what you want to study, which might be confusing.
So let's break it up into two scenarios according to your expertise. First determine your existing skill set.

If you are proficient with some of the elements in front-end development, you are ready to go on to publications, written exclusively for experienced engineers.

Books for advanced developers are often published by experienced or working professionals, i.e., web developers using JS on a daily basis.

If you are new to programming and want to start building interfaces using React JS library (with simple examples and code executions), go for the React books that include the fundamental functions and attributes explanations of JavaScript principles as well.

These books will provide a range of info, geared toward beginners in development.

Best React Books for Experienced Developers

React engineers have a huge impact on the success of software projects because of their ability to create intuitive UIs and great user experiences.

So, developers here we go, presenting to you the best React JS books for learning how to create magic on web pages:

React book: Learning React

If you want to learn how to create successful UIs using React JS, this is the book to read. The book demonstrates how to use this little JavaScript toolkit to design UIs that can elegantly present data changes on a wide-array of data-driven platforms without reboots.

This React book also demonstrates the latest ECMAScript features and how to work with functional programming.

You can learn about the effectiveness of React JS once you get acquainted with the process of constructing React components with this hands-on guide.

With this React book, you’ll be able to –

• Discover important functional programming principles with JavaScript.
• Understand how React operates in the browser.
• Use React components, create application layout layers.

Best React Books: Learning React by Alex Banks and Eve Porcello

For advanced developers ✔️

React book: The Road to Learn React: Your Journey to Master Plain Yet Pragmatic React.JS

The Road to React guides the novice developer through one of JS language's most fundamental functions, which is the creation of a React component and explains how to return data to the user.

This React book begins with a very fresh approach to the development and React JS and works its way through the learning process. Every chapter expands on the learning of the previous chapter.

The Road to Learn React paves the way for React styling with ReactCSS Modules in ReacStyled Components.

With this React book, you’ll be able to –

• Learn the foundations of React.
• Dive into related subjects such as React with TypeScript, Testing, and Optimizations.
• Create and deploy a React application.

Best React Books: The Road to learn React by Robin Wieruch

Beginner Friendly ✔️

For advanced developers ✔️

React book: React in Action

If you have hands-on experience in development, particularly front-end development, this React book is a must-read. It will teach you about the React library and how to use it to design interfaces.

Front-end developers can learn about the React framework and related technologies in React in Action.

This book helps developers build a website dynamic and cohesive, so that the user has a consistent experience with a wide range of practical examples using React components.

You will learn about ecosystems and tools. Your familiarity with HTML and other web-related concepts will be useful in supplementing your understanding of React.

With this React book, you’ll be able to –

• Explore mobile device user interfaces.
• Understand React Rendering data and data flow.
• Learn about Third-party library integration with React Routing.

For advanced developers ✔️

React book: Full Stack React: The Complete Guide to ReactJS and Friends

This book expands the awareness of several frameworks and approaches to full-stack development. After going over the contents in this React book, you will be a confident developer.

All contributors are well-known writers and developers who have substantial expertise in various languages and frameworks.

The authors have combined great information with numerous real-world examples in this book.
You'll learn all you need to know to work professionally and create strong, well-tested, and streamlined ReactJS apps. This is a definitive guide for optimizing the react web apps.

With this React book, you’ll be able to –

• Understand the ReactJS tree structure in detail.
• Use Webpack in conjunction with Create React App.
• Learn the fundamentals of Flux and Redux.

Best React Books: FullStack React

Beginner Friendly ✔️

For advanced developers ✔️

React book: React Quickly: Painless Web Apps with React

This React book will show you how to use React (JavaScript library) along with GraphQL (a query language for your API) and JSX (JavaScript eXtension), so that you can build well-designed, high-performing applications in future.

The modern web app is a complicated beast. It has to be responsive, fast, and easy to maintain. It needs a whole lot of moving parts to work together. This react book teaches you the ideas you need to know through a variety of examples, tutorials, and a major primary project that is created throughout the book.

With this React book, you’ll be able to –

• Learn about the lifecycle events of React components.
• Understand the effectiveness of JSX in your React JS projects.
• Integrate React JS with Node, Express JS, MongoDB, and Mongoose.

Beginner Friendly ✔️

For advanced developers ✔️

React book: Learning React: A Hands-On Guide

React is the only library that has been extensively used and documented to create large, complex web applications. The book will teach you how to use React and Redux to build a variety of projects, starting with the fundamentals of both libraries.

This React book is one of the most recommended textbooks for both beginners and expert developers.

This book includes essentials of react development and core React concepts such as JSX, components, props, and state. It also throws light on how to optimize your React workflow using tools such as Node, Babel, web pack, and others.

With this React book, you’ll be able to –

• Learn to Pass the data to children's components using props
• Create dynamic interfaces and reusable components with Higher Order Components (HOC)
• Pivot your way into modular code using advanced techniques such as Mixins.

Beginner Friendly ✔️

For advanced developers ✔️

React JS book: Learning React JavaScript Library From Scratch

This book will take you on a journey through React.JS features and components, with concise explanations and practical examples.

This React book does not require any prior knowledge of JavaScript, or programming for that matter to get started with React. It starts from scratch and uses practical examples to teach concepts like components, props, and state and event handling.

It’ll guide you through the process of setting up a development environment and learning Reactive programming from beginning to end.

With this React book, you’ll be able to –

• Apply the fundamental ideas of Reactive Programming.
• Learn about Component Structure.
• Understand React JS lifecycle methods.

Beginner Friendly ✔️

React book: React: Up & Running: Building Web Applications

This book will teach you how to create components (React's fundamental building blocks) and organize them into large-scale, maintainable programs

React: Up & Running demonstrates the development of a completely customized Whinepad software that allows users to review wines and record notes. You’ll be able to understand the concept of using bespoke React JS components alongside generic DOM components.

With this React book, you’ll be able to –

• Design a data table component that can be edited, sorted, searched, and exported.
• Learn the use of Flux to handle component communication.
• Create a minimal, low-level build process that allows you to concentrate on React JS.

For advanced developers ✔️

React book: Conclusion

The job market has been booming for React developers. Demand is far outpacing the supply of qualified React developers. These React books can help you in learning how to build complex single-page applications with React using basic, as well as advanced techniques and patterns.

As this blog compiled the top React books to study from, Turing's Knowledge base includes a wealth of other learning material and insights for a variety of programming languages to assist you in growing your developer career.