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JavaScript React Basics (retired) First Steps in React Our First Application

Alex Busu
PLUS
Alex Busu
Courses Plus Student 11,819 Points
Posted by Alex Busu
Alex Busu
Courses Plus Student 11,819 Points

Why do you need to wrap the Application function in < /> tags?

I understand that if you don't wrap the Application function in < /> tags it won't work but if you can enter JSX in the ReactDOM.render function and this returns what looks like JSX, why wouldn't just running the function work?

1 Answer

Jonathan Hogg
Jonathan Hogg
9,142 Points
Jonathan Hogg
Jonathan Hogg
9,142 Points

It's frustrating that this isn't explained. Obviously the < /> tags look like HTML, but this makes it apparent that they are functionally not HTML, even if they may used to render HTML. It appears to me that the tags are essentially an alternate constructor syntax.

This article helps some: https://medium.com/@joshblack/stateless-components-in-react-0-14-f9798f8b992d