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React Query Hello World Code

Last updated on 14 Sep, 2021

In this section, we are going to write our first React Query code. Before starting with code, we need to install react-query in our project using:

yarn add react-query

Next, we can go to our code editor. We need to have an environment where we can write React components and execute them. I have setup a project using create-react-app.

useQuery Hook

As part of this getting started code, we will be using useQuery hook from React Query. useQuery hook is used to create query objects.

To do that, first, create a React component in App.js file.

function Gitusers() {}

In this example, the query object will be retrieving Github users using Github API. That is why I have given the name as Gitusers.

Inside the component, we make use of useQuery hook to get the user details. For that, first we need to import useQuery from react-query.

import { useQuery } from "react-query";
function Gitusers() {
  const gitUsers = useQuery("gitusers", async () => {    const { data } = await axios.get(      "https://api.github.com/search/users?q=react"    );    return data;  });}

The gitUsers const variable is now a query object. We can retrieve the server state of Github users from gitUsers object. Later, we will see how we make different decisions based on the state values.

We use axios to make the API request. Please make sure to install and include axios package.

Before moving further, let me show you the different building blocks we used.

First, the useQuery hooks accepts a string "gitusers" as first argument. This unique key is used by React Query to identify the promise it is connected.

The promise I mentioned is the one returned by axios.get(). Query object automatically re-render Gitusers component based on the AJAX request states.

Using Query Object

Now we have the query object gitUsers which listens to the Github API request. Let us design a component that is returned by Gitusers component.

function Gitusers() {
  // ...
  return (
    <>
      {gitUsers.isLoading ? (
        <div>Loading...</div>
      ) : (
        <div>Total result count: {gitUsers.data?.total_count}</div>
      )}
    </>
  );
}

Basically what is happening here is, the query object gitUsers has some helper attributes like isLoading. We can make use of these flags to inform the users what is happening right now.

Using Component

Now our Gitusers component is ready to be used. We use it in App component.

function App() {
  return (
    <QueryClientProvider client={queryClient}>
      <Gitusers />
    </QueryClientProvider>
  );
}

export default App;

The Gitusers component is wrapped inside QueryClientProvider. The provider needs a client attribute which contains a QueryClient object. You can see how the QueryClient object is created and the full code below:

import { useQuery, QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from "react-query";
import axios from "axios";

const queryClient = new QueryClient();

function Gitusers() {
  const gitUsers = useQuery("gitusers", async () => {
    const { data } = await axios.get(
      "https://api.github.com/search/users?q=react"
    );
    return data;
  });
  return (
    <>
      {gitUsers.isLoading ? (
        <div>Loading...</div>
      ) : (
        <div>Total result count: {gitUsers.data?.total_count}</div>
      )}
    </>
  );
}

function App() {
  return (
    <QueryClientProvider client={queryClient}>
      <Gitusers />
    </QueryClientProvider>
  );
}

export default App;
--- ○ ---
Joby Joseph
Web Architect