juniorReact Hooks
What is useState in React and how does it work?
Updated May 6, 2026
Short answer
useState is a React Hook used to add and manage state in functional components.
Deep explanation
useState allows functional components to preserve values between renders. When state updates, React triggers a re-render of the component. It returns a state value and a setter function.
Real-world example
Used in counters, form inputs, toggles, and UI interactions like modals.
Common mistakes
- Directly mutating state instead of using the setter function.
Follow-up questions
- Why should state updates be treated as asynchronous?
- What happens if you update state multiple times in one function?