React Functional Components
React Functional Components are a way to define React components using JavaScript functions, which return JSX to describe the UI. They are simpler and more concise than class-based components, and with the introduction of Hooks in React 16.8, they can now manage state and side effects, making them the preferred approach in modern React development. Functional components promote a more functional programming style and are easier to test and reason about.
Developers should learn and use React Functional Components because they are the standard in current React applications, offering better performance and cleaner code compared to class components. They are essential for leveraging React Hooks (like useState, useEffect) to handle state, lifecycle events, and side effects, which simplifies complex logic and reduces boilerplate. Use cases include building reusable UI elements, managing component state in functional ways, and integrating with modern React features like Context API and custom hooks.