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How to Use React.js with Laravel. Step by Step Guide

Updated: Aug 04, 2023

Welcome to this step-by-step guide on using React.js with Laravel, two powerful technologies that, when combined, can lead to impressive web applications. React.js, a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces, and Laravel, a robust PHP framework, complement each other to create seamless, interactive, and performant web projects. In this article, we will explore the process of integrating React.js with Laravel, covering essential concepts, code snippets, and best practices. Whether you are new to React.js or Laravel or already have experience with both, this guide will cater to all skill levels.

How to Use React.js with Laravel. step by step

1. Understanding React.js and Laravel

Before we delve into the integration process, let's briefly understand what React.js and Laravel are and what makes them unique.

React.js: React.js, developed by Facebook, is a JavaScript library that allows developers to build reusable UI components for web applications. Its virtual DOM and one-way data binding enable efficient rendering and make the user experience smoother.

Laravel: Laravel, on the other hand, is a PHP web application framework known for its elegant syntax and developer-friendly features. It follows the MVC (Model-View-Controller) pattern and provides robust tools for database management, routing, and authentication.

2. Setting Up Your Development Environment

To begin using React.js with Laravel, you need to set up your development environment. Here's a step-by-step guide:

  1. Install Node.js: React.js requires Node.js to manage packages and run build processes. Download and install Node.js from the official website.
  2. Create a New Laravel Project: Use Laravel's Composer to create a new project. Open your terminal and run the following command:
composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel my-app
  1. Install Laravel Mix: Laravel Mix simplifies asset compilation. Install it via npm:
npm install laravel-mix --save-dev
  1. Install React.js: Initialize npm in your project directory and install React.js and other required packages:
npm init -y
npm install react react-dom
npm install babel-preset-react babel-preset-env cross-env --save-dev

3. Creating a React Component

Now that your development environment is set up, you can start creating a React component and integrate it into your Laravel application.

  1. Create a New React Component: Inside your Laravel project, make a new directory called components. In that directory, create a new file for your React component. For example, ExampleComponent.js.
  2. Write Your React Code: Open ExampleComponent.js and write your React component code. Remember to import React and other necessary modules.
import React from 'react';

const ExampleComponent = () => {
return (
<div><h1>Hello, React.js with Laravel!</h1><p>This is an example React component integrated into Laravel.</p></div>
);
};


export default ExampleComponent;

4. Integrating React Component into Laravel Blade Template

With your React component ready, it's time to integrate it into a Laravel Blade template.

  1. Create a Blade Template: In the resources/views directory, create a new Blade template file. For example, react.blade.php.
  2. Include React Component: In the react.blade.php file, include your React component using Laravel Mix's asset function.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head><!-- Add your head content here -->
</head>
<body><div id="app"></div><script src="{{ mix('js/app.js') }}"></script>
</body>
</html>

5. Creating the Main JavaScript File

To load and render your React component, create the main JavaScript file.

  1. Create app.js File: In the resources/js directory, create a new file named app.js.
  2. Write the JavaScript Code: Open app.js and write the code to render your React component.
import React from 'react';
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
import ExampleComponent from './components/ExampleComponent';


ReactDOM.render(<ExampleComponent />, document.getElementById('app'));

6. Compiling Assets

Before you can see your integrated React component, you need to compile the assets using Laravel Mix.

  1. Update webpack.mix.js: In the root of your Laravel project, open the webpack.mix.js file and add the following lines:
mix.js('resources/js/app.js', 'public/js')
.sass('resources/sass/app.scss', 'public/css');
  1. Run the Compilation: Run the following command to compile your assets:
npm run dev

7. Serving Your Laravel Application

Now that your React component is integrated into your Laravel application, serve the application to see your creation in action.

  1. Start the Development Server: In your terminal, run the following command:
php artisan serve
  1. View the Application: Open your web browser and visit http://localhost:8000/react.

8. Passing Data to React Components

Often, you'll need to pass data from your Laravel backend to your React components. You can do this using props.

// In Laravel Blade template (react.blade.php)
<div id="app" data-props="{{ json_encode($data) }}"></div>


// In app.js
const data = document.getElementById('app').getAttribute('data-props');
const parsedData = JSON.parse(data);


ReactDOM.render(<ExampleComponent data={parsedData} />, document.getElementById('app'));

9. Implementing AJAX Requests

To make your application more dynamic, you can use AJAX requests to fetch data from your Laravel backend without refreshing the page.

import axios from 'axios';


const ExampleComponent = () => {
const [data, setData] = React.useState([]);


React.useEffect(() => {
axios.get('/api/data')
.then(response => {
setData(response.data);
});
}, []);


return (
<div>
{data.map(item => (
<p key={item.id}>{item.name}</p>
))}
</div>
);
};

10. Handling Events

React allows you to handle user interactions effectively. Here's an example of handling a button click event:

const ExampleComponent = () => {
const [count, setCount] = React.useState(0);


const handleButtonClick = () => {
setCount(count + 1);
};


return (
<div><p>Count: {count}</p><button onClick={handleButtonClick}>Click Me</button></div>
);
};

11. Using React Router with Laravel

React Router enables client-side routing in your React.js application. To use React Router with Laravel, follow these steps:

  1. Install React Router: Run the following command in your Laravel project directory:
npm install react-router-dom --save
  1. Set Up Routes: Create a new file named routes.js in the resources/js directory. Define your routes in this file.
import React from 'react';
import { BrowserRouter as Router, Route, Switch } from 'react-router-dom';
import HomeComponent from './components/HomeComponent';
import AboutComponent from './components/AboutComponent';


const Routes = () => {
return (
<Router><Switch><Route exact path="/" component={HomeComponent} /><Route path="/about" component={AboutComponent} /></Switch></Router>
);
};


export default Routes;
  1. Update app.js: Modify your app.js file to render the Routes component.
import React from 'react';
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
import Routes from './routes';


ReactDOM.render(<Routes />, document.getElementById('app'));

12. State Management with Redux

To manage the state of your React.js application more efficiently, you can use Redux. Here's how to set up Redux with Laravel:

  1. Install Redux: Run the following command in your Laravel project directory:
npm install redux react-redux --save
  1. Create a Store: In the resources/js directory, create a new file named store.js for setting up your Redux store.
import { createStore } from 'redux';
import rootReducer from './reducers';


const store = createStore(rootReducer);


export default store;
  1. Implement Reducers: Create a folder named reducers in the resources/js directory and add your reducers.
// For example, in a file named counterReducer.js
const initialState = {
count: 0,
};


const counterReducer = (state = initialState, action) => {
switch (action.type) {
case 'INCREMENT':
return { ...state, count: state.count + 1 };
case 'DECREMENT':
return { ...state, count: state.count - 1 };
default:
return state;
}
};


export default counterReducer;
  1. Combine Reducers: In the reducers folder, create an index.js file to combine your reducers.
import { combineReducers } from 'redux';
import counterReducer from './counterReducer';


const rootReducer = combineReducers({
counter: counterReducer,
});


export default rootReducer;
  1. Update app.js: Modify your app.js file to use the Redux provider and pass the store.
import React from 'react';
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
import { Provider } from 'react-redux';
import store from './store';
import Routes from './routes';


ReactDOM.render(
<Provider store={store}><Routes /></Provider>,
document.getElementById('app')
);

13. Styling with CSS Modules

To manage your styles more efficiently and prevent naming conflicts, you can use CSS Modules.

  1. Configure Laravel Mix: In your webpack.mix.js file, add the following lines to enable CSS Modules:
mix.webpackConfig({
module: {
rules: [
{
test: /.module.css$/,
use: [
'style-loader',
{
loader: 'css-loader',
options: {
modules: true,
localIdentName: '[local]_[hash:base64:5]',
},
},
],
},
],
},
});
  1. Use CSS Modules: Now, you can create a CSS file with the .module.css extension, and it will automatically apply CSS Modules.
/* styles.module.css */
.container {
display: flex;
justify-content: center;
align-items: center;
height: 100vh;
}


.title {
font-size: 24px;
font-weight: bold;
}
  1. Apply Styles to Components: Import and use your CSS classes within your React components.
import React from 'react';
import styles from './styles.module.css';


const HomeComponent = () => {
return (
<div className={styles.container}><h1 className={styles.title}>Welcome to React.js with Laravel</h1></div>
);
};


export default HomeComponent;

14. Optimizing Performance

To ensure optimal performance of your React.js with Laravel application, consider the following tips:

  1. Code Splitting: Use dynamic imports and React.lazy to load components only when needed.
  2. Memoization: Implement memoization techniques to avoid unnecessary re-rendering.
  3. Server-Side Rendering (SSR): If SEO and initial load speed are crucial, consider SSR.
  4. Caching: Cache API responses and assets to reduce server load and improve user experience.

15. Testing Your Application

Testing is an essential part of the development process. You can use libraries like Jest and Enzyme to test your React.js components.

npm install jest enzyme enzyme-adapter-react-16 --save-dev

Write test cases for your components and run the tests using the following command:

npm run test

16. Deploying Your Application

To deploy your React.js with Laravel application to a production server, follow these steps:

  1. Build Assets: Run the following command to create optimized assets for production:
npm run prod
  1. Copy Files: Copy all the necessary files from your Laravel project's public directory to your production server.
  2. Set Up Server: Configure your web server (Apache, Nginx) to serve the Laravel application.
  3. Set Environment Variables: Ensure that all required environment variables are set for your production server.

17. Troubleshooting Common Issues

While working with React.js and Laravel, you may encounter some common issues. Here are some potential solutions:

  1. CORS Errors: If you encounter CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) errors during AJAX requests, consider using Laravel's CORS middleware or installing a package like barryvdh/laravel-cors.
  2. Unexpected Behavior: Check your JavaScript console for any errors or warnings and inspect your code for potential logical errors.

18. Resources and Further Learning

Here are some valuable resources for further learning and mastering React.js with Laravel:

Tutorial Package Freelancing