React powers the WordPress block editor—but you can go even further. In this post, I’ll walk you through how I used React in a real client project to build dynamic front-end functionality.
1. Project Overview
- Client needed a real-time review widget
- Custom post type + REST API + React component
2. Setup React with WordPress
- Enqueued built React app via wp_enqueue_script
- Used
create-react-appand compiled with Webpack
3. Interacting with REST API
- Fetched custom post type data
- Displayed and updated data in real-time
4. Bonus: React in Gutenberg
- Also built a custom Gutenberg block using React
- Shared state between editor and front-end via API
Conclusion: React is no longer optional in modern WordPress development. Start small—then grow. This example shows how React can enhance both back-end and front-end UX.