Why is React So Difficult to Understand?

React introduces a whole new way of thinking called reactive programming. It's different from traditional programming where changing one thing doesn’t automatically impact others. For instance, in React, if you change a state, it causes the UI to update automatically. This concept takes time to get used to, but once you create simple applications, like a counter or a to-do list, things start to make sense. The key is to see how data flows between components.

It's totally normal to feel overwhelmed! A lot of folks find that React really clicks once you start thinking in terms of UI states instead of just steps in code. Personally, building small projects helped me way more than just following tutorials. You might consider trying to create something simple on your own.

React’s way of handling things can initially seem complicated because it's set up differently from normal JavaScript. There’s a learning curve, but once you stick with it and build more, you’ll find that it gets easier. Some people suggest trying out Vue first since it's often considered a bit easier, and that could help bridge the gap before you tackle React again.

If you're familiar with basic web development, that’s a great foundation! But React is a different beast with its own rules. It uses components in a way that feels a bit more complex, and I totally understand the confusion. It might help to practice small projects to get the hang of how it all works together.