How is the World moving to ReactJS with headless WordPress

When WordPress is used as headless CMS it is functioned only for managing the content of an isolated and separated front-end; it is known as a headless WordPress CMS.

In Jamstack technology the websites and the web applications are working on decoupled approach wherein the technology architecture gives you freedom to choose and combine a stack, the content management system was being developed to manage the content of the website adding extra load to developers. With so many instances with Rest API used in headless WordPress, one can also consider using WordPress with ReactJS framework as a headless CMS for their JavaScript-based web application. Just like using a static site generator with headless CMS in Jamstack technology.

Introduction to headless WordPress?

Headless WordPress is a modern and increasingly trendy approach to building websites that merge WordPress CMS with the ability and versatility of JavaScript front-end interfaces. Being ‘Headless’ does not imply that it has missed the header section, that is the most common thing a layman can imagine. It simply means that you can use the CMS as a general content management system, wherein the front-end that has been based on the theme and design is not available in the WordPress panel, regardless of the technology used to build the front-end.

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Role of APIs in headless WordPress

The APIs either use REST APIs or GraphQL APIs play the most important role in the headless CMS. Rest API enables developers to interact with different technology interfaces until and unless they speak the same language of JSON. 

WordPress Rest API separates data in JSON format that is recognizable by various technologies. JSON is a text-based description of JavaScript objects that includes data in pairs of key-value.

Benefits of headless WordPress?

There have been some drawbacks of using the traditional approach in WordPress like that of speed, security, and also when you add plugins to add functionality there is one plugin for each functionality and more and more plugins slow the website as well as make it insecure. The SEO ranking goes down as and when your website takes a longer time to load. 

WordPress is an open-source platform wherein several community developers are continuously working for improvement and enhancement. It is offering the flexibility of creating any kind of website. 

Using WordPress as a headless CMS enables you to build the front-end of your web application using any web technology and maintain its content using one of the most popular CMS. 

• Headless Themes High speed with less burden on the backend Database being decoupled from the frontend.
• Freedom of frontend designing using the latest technology and modern features.
• Extra secure with APIs and detached approach

Setting up the headless WordPress website

React Website can be used with WordPress CMS as wherever the content entered and maintained in WordPress is built on the ReactJS-based front-end built using the WordPress Rest API. So to clarify everything let’s be very simple and easy-going by stating that do it the way you have been doing it earlier, download WordPress set up the environment, and add pages and content without a theme. 

Like just a hello world page!

No-theme WordPress 

WordPress utilizes themes to display websites, that being said, you can create a headless WordPress website without a theme, by linking to another source for the frontend or developing your own from scratch. If you understand how to write HTML and CSS, it’s great; or you can start with bootstrap, that’s bravo. Several tutorials on YouTube show you how to do this.

But you do not need to develop a theme or download it and use it, you only need plugins that will help you connect to a static site generator. The APIs like GraphQL and plugins for GatsbyJS will help in making the connection. 

Choosing React-based Static site Generator

React is a JavaScript library that was launched and is maintained by Facebook and community developers. It is applied to build the user interface of modern web applications. To fetch external content or data in the JavaScript frontend, you need to use promises. This will be having an implication you want to structure your React components. But this is the case where you are designing a complete application yourself using programming.

The Jamstack web development is further simplified by the implementation of static site generators. The static site generator takes the supply files and generates a whole website or a static site that's sourced from strictly static HTML files. they allow you to form a static, HTML-based website that doesn’t consider information bases or external data sources, avoiding server-side processes once accessing your website. therefore you'll produce quick, visually appealing websites while not suffering the restraints that infested marketers and developers within the past.

Because they’re quicker and additional versatile, static website generators have become progressively in style. the method is additionally simplified, removing the necessity to heavily depend upon information bases or alternative external data sources. they provide a good extent of simplicity and are available with security edges out of the box as well. the opposite blessings of static website generators embody the speed, measurability, less quality, responsibility, and quick load times.

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Gatsby JS 

Gatsby is one of the most common static site generators for React. So what makes Gatsby a good selection of static website generators for React?

Gatsby relies on React and GraphQL and leverages the ability of GraphQL to drag information from totally different sources into your project. as an example, if you utilize sources like Contentful, WordPress, or your filing system, you'll access all of the information that is formed out there from those sources exploitation GraphQL. thus you may have a straightforward and consistent thanks to accessing that information.

NextJS

Next.js is additionally a great well-liked static website generator supported by ReactJS and JavaScript. it's provided by ZEIT, a corporation that is that specializes in creating cloud computing as straightforward as potential.

A very recent update of Next.js permits you optionally use server rendering for a few routes in your website if necessary and additionally includes the power to simply Preview. it's one thing that solely Gatsby was providing before. With this, server rendering React applications has never been easier, notwithstanding wherever your knowledge is returning from.

GraphQL APIs

APIs could be anything that is used to connect and build a connection of one system to another facility or service. You can take an example of pre-existing API that is provided by a third party to a cloud function to perform custom business logic. APIs presented these sites along with the data and business logic that they required.

GraphQL is simply a query language that can be practiced anywhere, but it usually bridges the gap connecting client and server applications. It isn’t obstinate about which network layer is used, so content can be read and addressed between client and server applications. It is utilized to complement the network stack for various libraries and frameworks in JavaScript. 

Conclusion

All in all, static site generators are programmed to deliver a fast and reliable website in almost the same way to build a React website. They are gaining more and more popularity. By Using these static site generators, you can even develop non-trivial and highly customized websites nowadays. Because content is not bound to any single frontend structure, a single piece of content can be reused and delivered via APIs for omnichannel delivery anywhere.