useState vs. useReducer: Which Hook Should You Use in React?

Introduction

When managing state in React functional components, hooks like useState and useReducer provide powerful options. While both serve the purpose of managing the state, they excel in different scenarios. Choosing the right one depends on the complexity and requirements of your application. In this blog, we’ll explore the differences between useState and useReducer, their use cases, and when to choose one over the other.

1. What is useState?

useState is a basic hook that lets you add state to functional components. It is ideal for simple state management, where the state is updated with straightforward values.

Example:

import React, { useState } from 'react';

function Counter() {
  const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
  return (
    <div>
      <p>Count: {count}</p>
      <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}>Increment</button>
    </div>
  );
}

Here:

• count is the state variable.
• setCount is the function to update the state.
• Updates are straightforward: passing the new state directly or a function that computes it.

2. What is useReducer?