How to Code React in Visual Studio Code and Online: A Beginner’s Guide
How to Code React in Visual Studio Code and Online: A
Beginner’s Guide
React.js has revolutionized frontend development by making
UI creation faster, modular, and more maintainable. But knowing React is just
part of the equation — using the right development tools can make or break your
coding experience.
If you're starting with React or want to optimize your
setup, this guide will walk you through how to code React in Visual Studio,
the most popular and versatile code editor, and how to run React code online
without local setup.
💡 Want the full setup
walkthrough? Check out this in-depth guide on how to code React in Visual Studio and online editors from
the Keploy blog.
🔧 Why Use Visual Studio
Code (VS Code) for React Development?
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free, lightweight, and
powerful source code editor from Microsoft. It’s highly extensible and has a
rich ecosystem of extensions that makes React development seamless.
🚀 Key Benefits:
- IntelliSense
support for JSX/TSX
- Built-in
Git integration
- Auto-formatting
and linting
- Extension
support for React snippets and ESLint
- Integrated
terminal for running dev servers and commands
🛠️ Setting Up React in
Visual Studio Code
Here’s how to get started:
1. Install Node.js and npm
Download from https://nodejs.org.
This is essential for creating and running React apps.
2. Create a React App Using Create React App
bash
CopyEdit
npx create-react-app my-app
cd my-app
npm start
3. Open the Project in VS Code
Use code . in the terminal (from the project folder) to
launch VS Code.
4. Install React-Friendly Extensions
- ES7+
React/Redux snippets
- Prettier
– Code formatter
- ESLint
- GitLens
- React
Developer Tools
These extensions enhance productivity and catch errors
early.
⚙️ Folder Structure Overview
Here’s what the typical folder structure looks like:
pgsql
CopyEdit
my-app/
├── node_modules/
├── public/
├── src/
│ ├── App.js
│ └── index.js
├── package.json
└── README.md
You’ll mostly be editing files inside the src/ folder.
🌐 How to Run React Code
Online (Without Setup)
Sometimes, you might want to test React code or demo a
feature without installing anything locally. You can do that using:
1. CodeSandbox
- URL: https://codesandbox.io
- Supports
React out-of-the-box
- Ideal
for prototyping and sharing
2. StackBlitz
- URL: https://stackblitz.com
- Runs
on the browser using WebContainers
- Supports
npm packages
3. PlayCode
- URL:
https://playcode.io/react
- Beginner-friendly,
real-time output
- Perfect
for quick snippets
These tools are also useful for interviews, workshops, or
education where fast access is needed.
🔍 Tips for Productive
React Coding in VS Code
- Use VS
Code snippets like rafce (React arrow function component export)
- Leverage
Emmet abbreviations in JSX
- Enable
auto-save for instant reloading
- Use
live share for remote pair programming
- Format
code on save using Prettier
📘 Recommended Reading
- 👉
Learn more about testing methodologies in software testing to understand
how your React app should be tested.
- 👉
Want AI to review your code? Check out Keploy’s AI
code checker.
✅ Conclusion
Whether you're building a small component or a full-scale
web app, knowing how to code React in Visual Studio can significantly
improve your workflow. Combined with online tools like CodeSandbox, you get the
best of both worlds — a robust local setup and the flexibility of cloud-based
coding.
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