What is a component in React, and why is component-based architecture beneficial?

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## What is a Component? A component is a **reusable, self-contained piece of UI** that manages its own structure, styling, and behavior. Think of components as custom HTML elements that you can compose together to build complex interfaces. ## Types of Components **Function Components** (Modern approach): ```javascript function Greeting({ name }) { return

Hello, {name}!

; } ``` **Class Components** (Legacy, but still used): ```javascript class Greeting extends React.Component { render() { return

Hello, {this.props.name}!

; } } ``` ## Benefits of Component-Based Architecture **1. Reusability** - Write once, use everywhere - Example: A `Button` component used across all pages **2. Maintainability** - Each component is isolated - Changes in one component don't break others **3. Testability** - Components can be tested in isolation - Unit tests are straightforward **4. Separation of Concerns** - Each component handles one specific task - Easier to understand and debug **5. Team Collaboration** - Different developers can work on different components - Clear boundaries reduce merge conflicts ## Best Practice Keep components small and focused. If a component does too much, break it into smaller ones.