What Are Third Party Libraries Used in React JS
React.js has revolutionized the way developers build modern web applications. Developed and maintained by Facebook (now Meta), React enables developers to create highly interactive user interfaces using a component-based architecture. While React provides powerful built-in features, developers often rely on third-party libraries to simplify complex tasks, enhance productivity, and improve performance.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what third-party libraries are, why they are important in React JS Development, and review some of the most popular third-party libraries used in React JS. We’ll also discuss how these libraries help accelerate development and when you should consider using them.
Understanding Third-Party Libraries in React
Before we dive into specific examples, it’s important to understand what third-party libraries actually are.
A third-party library is an external package or module created by developers outside of your core project or framework. These libraries provide pre-written code that performs specific tasks — from UI components to data fetching, routing, and state management.
In React, these libraries help fill gaps where React itself doesn’t provide a built-in solution. For instance, React doesn’t handle HTTP requests, routing, or global state out of the box — developers rely on third-party solutions for these needs.
Why Use Third-Party Libraries in React?
- Faster Development: Instead of reinventing the wheel, developers can use pre-built solutions that are tested and reliable.
- Enhanced Functionality: Third-party libraries extend React’s capabilities with tools for animation, routing, forms, charts, and more.
- Improved Performance: Many libraries are optimized for performance, helping apps run more efficiently.
- Community Support: Popular libraries have strong communities, frequent updates, and great documentation.
- Consistency: They provide consistent patterns and reusable components, improving code maintainability.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the most widely used third-party libraries in React JS development.
1. React Router
React Router is the most popular library for handling navigation in React applications. Since React is a single-page application (SPA) framework, React Router helps simulate multi-page navigation by managing URL changes dynamically.
Key Features
- Supports dynamic routing based on component state and props.
- Enables nested routes for structured navigation.
- Provides hooks like
useNavigateanduseParamsfor seamless routing. - Works well with both web and mobile (React Native).
Installation
npm install react-router-dom
Example Usage
import { BrowserRouter, Routes, Route } from "react-router-dom";
import Home from "./Home";
import About from "./About";
function App() {
return (
<BrowserRouter>
<Routes>
<Route path="/" element={<Home />} />
<Route path="/about" element={<About />} />
</Routes>
</BrowserRouter>
);
}
React Router simplifies the user experience by creating smooth navigation transitions without reloading the entire page.
2. Axios
Axios is a promise-based HTTP client used to make requests to APIs. It works both in the browser and Node.js and is preferred for its simplicity and powerful features.
Key Features
- Supports GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE methods.
- Easy to set up interceptors for handling authentication tokens.
- Automatically transforms JSON data.
- Works with async/await syntax.
Installation
npm install axios
Example Usage
import axios from "axios";
import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
function Users() {
const [users, setUsers] = useState([]);
useEffect(() => {
axios.get("https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/users")
.then(res => setUsers(res.data))
.catch(err => console.log(err));
}, []);
return <ul>{users.map(user => <li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>)}</ul>;
}
Axios helps streamline communication between frontend and backend servers, making it a must-have for React projects.
3. Redux and Redux Toolkit
Redux is a state management library that helps manage global state across a React application. For larger apps where state needs to be shared across multiple components, Redux provides a predictable structure.
Key Features
- Centralized global store for managing state.
- Works seamlessly with React via the React-Redux binding.
- Supports middleware for asynchronous actions.
- The Redux Toolkit simplifies configuration and reduces boilerplate code.
Installation
npm install @reduxjs/toolkit react-redux
Redux Toolkit includes utilities like createSlice() and configureStore() that simplify state logic.
4. React Query (TanStack Query)
Managing server-side state (like API data) can be complex. React Query handles fetching, caching, and synchronizing server data automatically.
Key Features
- Caches API responses to improve performance.
- Automatically refetches outdated data.
- Provides built-in support for pagination and infinite scrolling.
- Reduces boilerplate code compared to Redux for data fetching.
Installation
npm install @tanstack/react-query
React Query enhances performance by ensuring your app always displays fresh and consistent data.
5. Formik
Forms are one of the most repetitive parts of web development. Formik simplifies form creation and validation in React.
Key Features
- Easy form handling with controlled components.
- Built-in validation support (integrates well with Yup).
- Reduces repetitive boilerplate for handling form state.
- Works great with both small and large forms.
Installation
npm install formik yup
Formik helps manage form states efficiently, especially when combined with Yup for schema-based validation.
6. React Hook Form
As an alternative to Formik, React Hook Form offers a more lightweight and performant solution for handling forms in React.
Key Features
- Built on React hooks — no need for higher-order components.
- Improves form performance with minimal re-renders.
- Supports schema validation using Yup or Zod.
- Provides an easy API for managing inputs, errors, and submission.
Installation
npm install react-hook-form
This library is ideal for developers who prioritize speed and performance in form-heavy applications.
7. React Icons
Icons are essential for enhancing the visual appeal of an application. React Icons provides a collection of popular icon libraries (Font Awesome, Material Icons, etc.) wrapped as React components.
Key Features
- Offers thousands of icons in one package.
- Easy integration with JSX.
- Supports styling and size customization.
Installation
npm install react-icons
Example
import { FaHome } from "react-icons/fa";
function HomeButton() {
return <button><FaHome /> Home</button>;
}
React Icons is perfect for adding scalable vector icons without additional dependencies.
8. Styled Components
For styling in React, Styled Components is one of the most elegant solutions. It enables developers to write actual CSS code inside JavaScript using tagged template literals.
Key Features
- Scoped CSS — styles don’t leak between components.
- Dynamic styling based on props.
- Eliminates the need for external CSS files.
- Supports theming and global styles.
Installation
npm install styled-components
Styled Components promote modular design and maintainable code, especially in large-scale React apps.
9. Framer Motion
Animations make apps more engaging. Framer Motion is one of the best React libraries for creating smooth, interactive animations.
Key Features
- Declarative animations using simple props.
- Supports gestures, drag, and scroll-based animations.
- Built-in layout transitions and variants.
- Great documentation and community support.
Installation
npm install framer-motion
Framer Motion makes it easy to add polished animations without complex setup.
10. React Bootstrap / Material UI (MUI)
UI libraries like React Bootstrap and Material UI (MUI) provide pre-designed components that make building responsive and modern interfaces easier.
React Bootstrap
Built with Bootstrap’s grid and design system, it allows for responsive layout control.
npm install react-bootstrap bootstrap
Material UI (MUI)
Google’s Material Design library for React provides hundreds of elegant, customizable components.
npm install @mui/material @emotion/react @emotion/styled
These libraries help developers create visually appealing designs quickly while maintaining responsiveness.
11. React Toastify
React Toastify is used for displaying notifications and alerts in a user-friendly way.
Key Features
- Lightweight and customizable.
- Supports auto-close and draggable toasts.
- Works with promises and async calls.
Installation
npm install react-toastify
React Toastify makes handling feedback and alerts in React apps simple and efficient.
12. Chart.js and Recharts
For data visualization, libraries like Chart.js and Recharts are extremely useful.
- Chart.js is great for simple line, bar, and pie charts.
- Recharts, built on D3.js, integrates seamlessly with React.
Installation
npm install chart.js react-chartjs-2
npm install recharts
These libraries help developers present data interactively and beautifully, essential for dashboards and analytics tools.
When Should You Use Third-Party Libraries?
While third-party libraries can greatly speed up development, it’s important to use them wisely. Consider using them when:
- The library is actively maintained and well-documented.
- It provides significant productivity or performance gains.
- You have verified its compatibility with your React version.
- It reduces code duplication and simplifies complex tasks.
Avoid overusing libraries, as too many dependencies can bloat your app and make maintenance harder.
Why AAMAX Uses Third-Party Libraries for React Projects
When developing with React, using the right libraries ensures projects are efficient, scalable, and visually appealing. AAMAX — a full-service digital marketing and web development company — leverages the power of these third-party tools to deliver high-quality web applications.
AAMAX’s experienced team specializes in MERN Stack Development, combining React with Node.js, Express, and MongoDB to build robust and scalable solutions. They also provide Digital Marketing and SEO Services, helping clients grow their online presence while maintaining technical excellence.
Conclusion
Third-party libraries are an integral part of React development. They save time, improve performance, and expand the possibilities of what you can build. From UI components and form management to animations and data fetching, these tools allow developers to focus more on functionality and user experience rather than reinventing common solutions.
Whether you’re building a small portfolio site or a complex enterprise application, choosing the right libraries will dramatically improve your workflow. If you’re looking to develop a React or MERN-based application, consider partnering with experts like AAMAX to ensure your project benefits from the best practices, scalability, and performance possible.
