Understanding React's Component Lifecycle and useEffect Hook

React, a popular JavaScript library, offers a unique approach to building user interfaces. Unlike frameworks that provide comprehensive solutions, React focuses on the UI and allows developers to choose their own tools for state management, routing, and testing. This flexibility makes React an attractive choice for many projects.

The component lifecycle in React is a critical concept that determines when specific actions occur during a component's "life." Class-based components have built-in methods like componentDidMount(), componentDidUpdate(), and componentWillUnmount() that can be used to perform tasks at different stages. However, with the shift towards functional components, React introduced the useEffect hook to manage the component lifecycle.

The useEffect hook allows developers to run side effects or reactions after rendering, re-rendering, or before unmounting a component. It takes two parameters: a callback function and an optional dependency array. This flexibility enables developers to create custom logic for their components.

Source: https://dev.to/lostshades/understanding-react-component-lifecycle-and-useeffect-hook-gaf