Learn JavaScript APIs with This Complete Guide to Using JavaScript Libraries

JavaScript libraries are a great way to add functionality to your apps quickly. Whether you’re building a website that requires an Instagram-like photo filter or you need to provide access to Microsoft Excel, there’s always a library for it. With so many JavaScript libraries available, how do you know which one is right for your project? Read on for the details on what makes good JavaScript APIs and how you can use them in your projects.

What makes a good JavaScript library?

A good JavaScript library should meet the following criteria to make it an optimal framework for your projects:

Easy to use – Ideally, a JavaScript library should be easy to use in your projects. Choose a library that makes your development experience as comfortable as possible. With the many factors to consider when picking a library, you deserve to be as productive as possible.

The ecosystem of Add-Ons – An important factor in choosing a JavaScript library is its ecosystem of add-on modules or packages. You can choose from a wide range of packages that can do almost everything from providing data and charting to adding authentication and workflow.

Extensibility – The last criterion for a good JavaScript library is its extensibility. Does the library have good documentation, helpful community support, and a roadmap for future features? These features can help the library evolve with the future needs of your projects.

Create a new React project

First things first, let’s create a new React project. React can be used with any language that supports JavaScript but it’s best used with React JS. Create a new React project using your preferred tool. A tool like Visual Studio Code is great as it supports both React and JavaScript. To create a new React project, open the project file in your code editor and enter the following code: To launch your project, press F5. You should see an app that looks like this. This is just for visual purposes and is not the UI you will see when you run the app.

Install & use Bootstrap

There are many ways to add Bootstrap CSS to your React project but the easiest and most efficient way is to use a package manager. A package manager replaces your code with a pre-installed copy of CSS files and other dependencies. The best package manager for React is Webpack. Webpack allows you to import Bootstrap CSS and other libraries with one line of code: To package your app using Webpack, open your code editor and enter the following code: Next, open the React project in your browser. You will see Bootstrap. The project is now fully CSS-compliant.

Other popular libraries in React & Angular

There are many more popular libraries you may want to add to your React project. Some of these libraries are built on top of React, others are built on top of Angular:

React-Native – React Native delivers a great experience when building native apps using JavaScript.

Redux – A state container for React that helps you manage the state of your app.

GraphQL – A query language for your app’s data so you can easily fetch data from remote APIs.

Apollo – GraphQL bindings that provide a React-friendly API for Apollo Relay.

How to install and use Redux

Next, let’s add Redux to your React project. Redux is a state container for React apps and helps you manage the state of your app. First, we need to install Redux. The easiest way is to use a package manager. There are many popular package managers for React such as Yarn, NPM, or Webpack.

Discover JavaScript Libraries

Next, we’ll learn how to find the right JavaScript library for your project. The first place to look is on a library’s website. Look for the link to the add-on’s repo on the project’s webpage.

Use JavaScript Libraries for Popular Tasks

There are many common tasks you may want to accomplish with a JavaScript library. Let’s look at a few of them and see what we can find on the library’s website:

GraphQL API integration – GraphQL is a query language for apps that lets you fetch data from remote APIs. It’s becoming a popular way to fetch data from APIs such as Instagram, YouTube, and Wikipedia. A good GraphQL API provider should have an add-on for React.

Authentication – A good authentication add-on for a JavaScript library should use an open standard like OpenID Connect or OAuth 2.0. –

Data manipulation – A great add-on for manipulating data may provide functions to filter, sort, and map your data.

Write Your Own JavaScript Library

If you find the right JavaScript library, you may also want to consider writing your own library. A good way to start is by building a small plugin for a popular library. When you’ve completed your plugin, you can share it with the community and submit a pull request to the library’s repo. Sometimes, the author will even approve your pull request for inclusion in the library.

Which JavaScript Libraries are right for you?

After you’ve used several libraries to get your feet wet, you’ll have a better idea of what you like. At the end of the day, it’s important to pick a framework that fits your needs and helps you get your job done. When you’ve narrowed down your options, do a little research to understand how a library is used and how it’s evolved over time. If you’re unsure, reach out to the community on GitHub or on Reddit for help finding the right library.