Fragment in React

What Is Fragment?

Fragments in React are a handy feature that allow developers to group multiple elements without adding extra DOM nodes. This can be especially useful when you need to return multiple elements from a component’s render method.
A fragment is like an invisible wrapper for your elements. Instead of using a div to group elements together, which adds an extra node to the DOM, you can use a fragment, which doesn’t. This helps keep your markup clean and your DOM lightweight.

Syntax for Using Fragment In React

1. Short Syntax

import React from 'react';

return(
  <>
    ...
  </>
);

2. By Explicitly Importing

import React from 'react';
import { Fragment } from 'react';

return(
<Fragment>
  ...
</Fragment>
);

Use of Fragment In React

• With Fragment

In this case all the child Node gets combined without creating an extra parent Node.

• Without Fragment

In this case an additional parent Node is created to combine the child Node which affect some changes in D.O.M(Document Object Model).

Why We Need Fragment in React?

• No Layout or Style Impact: Wrapping elements with a fragment has no effect on layout or styles, unlike using an extra DOM element.
• Clean and Concise Code: Fragments help keep your JSX clean by avoiding unnecessary wrapper elements.
• Readability: They enhance the readability of your code by clearly grouping related elements.
• Prevent CSS Side Effects: By eliminating unnecessary wrappers, fragments help prevent unintended CSS styling issues.
• Conditional Rendering: When React requires a single element in conditional rendering, fragments allow you to group elements without adding extra tags.

Conclusion

React fragments are a powerful tool for building efficient and maintainable user interfaces. They help you write cleaner JSX, improve code readability, and reduce unintended side effects in your CSS. By incorporating fragments into your React components, you can enhance your development experience and create more elegant UIs.

Frequently Asked Questions