Guide to File Extensions in React Projects

JavaScript Extensions

1. .js (JavaScript)

   • Use for: Plain JavaScript files

   • Pros:

     • Universal compatibility

     • No build step required for browsers

   • Cons:

     • No static type checking

     • May require additional setup for JSX (e.g., Babel)

2. .jsx

   • Use for: JavaScript files with JSX syntax

   • Pros:

     • Clearly indicates files containing JSX

     • Helps differentiate React components from utility files

   • Cons:

     • Requires transpilation

     • No static type checking

TypeScript Extensions

1. .ts (TypeScript)

   • Use for: TypeScript files without JSX

   • Pros:

     • Static type checking

     • Enhanced IDE support (autocompletion, refactoring)

   • Cons:

     • Requires compilation

     • Learning curve for TypeScript

2. .tsx

   • Use for: TypeScript files with JSX syntax

   • Pros:

     • Combines benefits of TypeScript and JSX

     • Best for React components with type checking

   • Cons:

     • Requires TypeScript setup and compilation

     • Slightly more verbose than plain JS

Recommendations

• For new projects: Consider using .tsx for components and .ts for non-JSX files. This provides the full benefits of TypeScript in a React project.

• For existing JS projects: Stick with .js or .jsx unless you're planning to migrate to TypeScript.

• For mixed projects: You can use a combination, gradually migrating to .tsx/.ts as needed.

Remember: Consistency within a project is key. Choose a convention and stick to it throughout your codebase.