Question 210342 in Reactjs Question posted in
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Reactjs – Can I use a global variable instead of state to store a value which changes?

I’m new to react andI wanted to know if I can just store a value which changes for each render in a global variable. I know we use states so that the component renders after a change in state but if I didnt want to render again can I just use a global variable? will this work and is it a bad practice to do so?

Couldnt find a good explanation for this

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  1. 0

    I did not fully understand the question.

    What you mean is if the variables like const hold a value and this value will not change in every rendering everything is ok.

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  2. 0

    In React, it is generally recommended to use state variables or props to manage data that changes and affects the rendering of components. Global variables, on the other hand, are not typically used for this purpose.

    Using global variables to store values that change and affect component rendering can lead to unexpected behavior and make your code harder to reason about. Here are a few reasons why it’s generally considered a bad practice:

    1. React’s Reconciliation: React uses a process called reconciliation to efficiently update the user interface. When a component’s state or props change, React knows which parts of the UI to update. If you use global variables instead of state, React won’t be aware of the changes, and it may not trigger the necessary updates to the UI.

    2. Unpredictable Rendering: Components in React are designed to be declarative, meaning that the UI reflects the current state of your application. By using global variables, you’re bypassing React’s declarative nature, and it becomes harder to predict when and how the component will re-render. This can lead to inconsistencies and bugs in your application.

    3. Data Flow and State Management: React promotes a unidirectional data flow, where data is passed down from parent components to child components via props. This helps in understanding how data is flowing and makes it easier to debug and maintain your code. Using global variables breaks this data flow and can introduce data coupling and make your code more difficult to manage and scale.

    Instead of using global variables, consider using React’s built-in state management, such as the useState hook, or state management libraries like Redux or MobX, depending on the complexity and needs of your application. These solutions are designed to handle data changes, trigger component re-renders when necessary, and provide a more predictable and maintainable code structure.

    In summary, while it may be technically possible to use global variables to store changing values in React, it is generally discouraged and considered a bad practice. It’s recommended to leverage React’s state management mechanisms to ensure predictable rendering and maintainable code.

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