Unlock the Power of Chakra UI: A Comprehensive Guide to Building a React App
Getting Started with Chakra UI
When building a React app, using isolated UI components can significantly speed up the development process. Chakra UI, a modular component library, offers a convenient way to style components using utility props. With its default theme and extensible architecture, Chakra UI provides a robust foundation for building responsive and customizable React applications.
Installing Dependencies and Setting Up the Theme
To begin, install the necessary dependencies, including Chakra UI and its peer dependencies. Then, set up the default theme by importing the ThemeProvider and CSSReset components in your App.js file. This will enable you to toggle between dark and light theme modes using the ColorModeProvider and useColorMode hook.
Creating a Theme Toggler
Next, create a ThemeToggler component that allows users to switch between theme modes. This component utilizes the Box component to pass style props and the IconButton component to render an icon that changes depending on the current theme mode.
Building a Login Form UI
Now, let’s create a LoginForm component that displays a form with two input fields and a button. Use the Flex component to wrap the form and apply flex properties. Then, add a Heading component and import the FormControl component to provide context for individual form fields.
Adding Form Components and Styles
Use the FormControl component to add an isRequired field to both input fields, displaying red asterisks on the FormLabel. Then, modify the Box component to add border width, border radius, and box shadow to make the form more visually appealing.
Defining Initial State Variables and Handling Form Submission
Define two state variables using the useState hook to track the values of the email and password input fields. Then, create a handleSubmit method that makes an API call to simulate the user’s login attempt.
Simulating a Sign-in API Call
Create a mockApi.js file to simulate the API call using an asynchronous function. This function returns a promise that resolves if the entered credentials match the hardcoded values.
Creating an Error Message Display Component
Create an ErrorMessage component that displays an error message when the user’s credentials are invalid. This component uses the Alert component from the @chakra-ui/core library and has a message prop to display the error message.
Handling Loading State and Error Messages
Add two state variables to track the loading state and error message. Then, update the handleSubmit method to handle the API call simulation and display the error message if the credentials are invalid.
Handling User Login and Logout
Keep track of the user’s logged-in state using a isLoggedIn state variable. When the user successfully logs in, display a success message and a logout button.
Adding Password Show/Hide Functionality
Use the InputGroup component to add show/hide password functionality. Create a showPassword state variable and a method to toggle between show and hide modes for the password input field.
With these components and features in place, you’ve successfully built a React app using Chakra UI. The source code for this project is available on GitHub.