React

React is a free, open-source JavaScript library built by Meta for creating interactive user interfaces on the web. It works by letting you build pages out of reusable components, each managing its own behavior and appearance, and it efficiently updates only the parts of the page that actually change when a user interacts with it. React is the most widely used frontend library in production today, powering everything from Facebook to small business sites.

The Simple Version

Most of a website is just text and images sitting on a page. But some parts need to do things: a menu that opens when you click, a form that validates as you type, a modal that pops up with more details. React is a tool (built by Meta) that makes those interactive pieces easier to build.

Think of React as the difference between a poster and a touchscreen. The poster just shows information. The touchscreen responds to you.

Why It Matters

React is one of the most widely used tools in web development. When someone says they “know React,” they’re saying they can build the interactive, responsive parts of modern websites. It’s everywhere: Facebook, Instagram, Airbnb, Netflix, and millions of smaller sites.

You don’t need React for everything. A simple blog doesn’t need it. But when you want buttons that do things, forms that respond, or content that updates without reloading the page, React is a popular choice.

How It’s Used on This Site

This site is mostly static HTML (built with Astro), but the interactive pieces use React:

• The glossary search bar on the Dictionary index page: type a term and the list filters instantly, all running in the browser
• The experience timeline on the homepage: click a role to open a detail modal
• The mobile navigation: the hamburger menu that slides open on smaller screens
• The File Clarity™ demo at /projects/file-clarity: the interactive before-and-after explorer

Each of these is a React “island” inside an otherwise static page. Astro only loads the JavaScript for these specific components, so the rest of the site stays fast and lightweight.

Try It

React is free and open source, maintained by Meta.