React.js

How to Use Bootstrap with React.js: Build Stylish UI Components Easily

Discover how to use Bootstrap with React.js to create responsive, sleek user interfaces with powerful styling and components.

Suresh Ramani

Published:

1 week ago

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Bootstrap and React.js are two powerful tools that, when combined, can help you build beautiful and responsive web applications quickly. Bootstrap provides ready-made styles and components, while React.js allows you to create interactive user interfaces with ease. This guide will walk you through the simple steps of using Bootstrap with React.js, making it easy even for beginners to follow along.

What is Bootstrap and Why Use It with React.js?

Bootstrap is a popular front-end framework that offers a collection of CSS styles and JavaScript components. It helps you design websites that look good on all devices—whether it’s a phone, tablet, or desktop—without having to write all the CSS yourself.

React.js is a JavaScript library used to build dynamic user interfaces. It breaks your web page into small, reusable pieces called components, making your code easier to manage.

By combining Bootstrap with React.js, you get the best of both worlds: beautiful, responsive design and powerful, interactive components.

How to Add Bootstrap to Your React Project

There are a few easy ways to add Bootstrap to a React project. Let’s explore the two most common methods.

1. Adding Bootstrap via CDN

The quickest way to use Bootstrap is by linking it directly from a Content Delivery Network (CDN). This method is great for small projects or when you want to try Bootstrap fast.

Open the public/index.html file in your React project.
Inside the <head> tag, add this line to include Bootstrap’s CSS:

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/[email protected]/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css" />

Save the file and start your React app. Now you can use Bootstrap classes in your components.

2. Installing Bootstrap with NPM

For bigger projects, it’s better to install Bootstrap as a package. This way, Bootstrap becomes part of your project, and you can manage it easily.

Open your terminal and navigate to your React project folder.
Run this command to install Bootstrap:

npm install bootstrap

After installation, open your src/index.js or src/App.js file and import Bootstrap’s CSS:

import 'bootstrap/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css';

This will add Bootstrap styles to your React app.

Using Bootstrap Classes in React Components

Once Bootstrap is included, you can use its classes inside your React components just like in regular HTML. Here’s a simple example:

function App() { 
    return ( 
        <div className="container mt-5">
            <h1 className="text-center">Welcome to My React App</h1>
            <button className="btn btn-primary">Click Me</button>
        </div> 
    ); 
}

In this example:

container centers the content and adds padding.
mt-5 adds margin at the top.
text-center centers the heading text.
btn and btn-primary style the button with Bootstrap’s blue button look.

Using React-Bootstrap for More React-Friendly Components

While you can use Bootstrap classes directly, there is a special library called React-Bootstrap that provides Bootstrap components built specifically for React. This means you get ready-made components like buttons, modals, and navbars that work smoothly with React’s way of handling things.

How to Install React-Bootstrap

In your terminal, run:

npm install react-bootstrap bootstrap

Import Bootstrap CSS as before:

import 'bootstrap/dist/css/bootstrap.min.css';

Now, you can import and use React-Bootstrap components in your code:

import Button from 'react-bootstrap/Button';

function App() { 
    return ( 
        <div className="container mt-5">
            <Button variant="success">Success Button</Button>
        </div> 
    ); 
}

This button looks like a Bootstrap button but is a React component, making it easier to customize and control.

Tips for Using Bootstrap with React

Use className, not class: In React, use className to add CSS classes instead of class.
Combine Bootstrap with your own CSS: You can add your own styles in addition to Bootstrap to make your app unique.
Explore Bootstrap utilities: Bootstrap has many helper classes for spacing, colors, and display that can make styling faster.
Start with React-Bootstrap for complex components: If you need modals, dropdowns, or carousels, React-Bootstrap components are easier to work with than raw Bootstrap JavaScript.

Conclusion

Using Bootstrap with React.js is a fantastic way to build responsive and attractive web apps quickly. Whether you add Bootstrap via CDN, install it through NPM, or use React-Bootstrap components, the process is simple and beginner-friendly. Start by adding Bootstrap to your project, then experiment with classes and components to see how they transform your app’s look and feel. With this powerful duo, your journey into web development becomes smoother and more enjoyable.

Bootstrap Reactjs React