What's the difference between an Element and a Component in React?

In React, the terms "Element" and "Component" refer to distinct concepts that play crucial roles in building and managing the UI of applications. Understanding the difference between these two is fundamental for any React developer.

React Element

A React Element is a simple and plain object that describes a DOM node or another React component. It is the smallest building block in React and serves as a lightweight description of what should be rendered on the screen. React elements are immutable, meaning once they are created, they cannot be altered. Elements can be created using the React.createElement() function, which takes the type of the element, its properties, and its children as arguments. For example, React.createElement('div', {id: 'login-btn'}, 'Login') returns an object that describes a div element with certain properties and children[1][2][4][6].

React Component

A React Component, on the other hand, is a self-contained module that encapsulates all the logic and markup needed to render a part of the user interface. Components can be either class-based or function-based. They can manage their own state and lifecycle, respond to user inputs, and even manage side effects. Components return React elements that describe what should appear on the screen. Essentially, components generate elements and dictate the structure and behavior of those elements[1][2][3][5][6].

Components are more complex than elements because they include methods and lifecycle hooks that allow developers to perform actions at specific points in the component’s life, such as when it mounts, updates, or unmounts. Components can also hold and manage internal state and may contain other components or elemen...