How to Fix the Unexpected token Error in Conditional Rendering in React

Learn how to solve the `Unexpected token` syntax error in React conditional rendering with clear examples and detailed explanations. --- This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/76663032/ asked by the user 'leemon' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1991185/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/76663091/ provided by the user 'Guillaume Brunerie' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/521624/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions. Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Unexpected token in conditional rendering in React Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/licensing The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license. If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com. --- Resolving the Unexpected token Error in Conditional Rendering in React When working with React, especially if you're utilizing JSX for your component render logic, you may encounter various syntax errors that can be quite frustrating. One common issue developers face is the notorious Unexpected token error in conditional rendering. In this guide, we will explore a specific example of this problem, how it arises, and the way to fix it. Understanding the Problem Imagine you are rendering posts fetched from an API or a state management tool in React. You may be attempting to conditionally display these posts based on certain criteria (e.g., if the posts have resolved successfully and if there are any posts available). In one such scenario, you might write a code snippet that looks like this: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] Here, you may inadvertently trigger a syntax error. The error message could read something like: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] This indicates there's an issue with how the && operator and JSX syntax are being utilized together. Breaking Down the Solution To resolve this issue, we need to better structure the conditional logic in our React component. Let’s dissect how to fix the code snippet step by step. 1. The Importance of Returning Valid JSX You need to remember that when utilizing the && operator in JSX for conditionally rendering elements, you should return valid JSX, not just execute a JavaScript statement. In this case, you're trying to call a function (displayPosts(posts)) as if it were returning a value but what you really seek is the JSX output. 2. Correcting the Syntax Here's the corrected version of the earlier code snippet: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] 3. Explanation of Changes Fragment Usage: The React Fragment (<> ... ) is used here to wrap multiple elements because JSX must return a single root element. This ensures that both the posts and the button are wrapped together in a single return node. No Semicolon Inside JSX: Removed the semicolon after displayPosts(posts). This semicolon caused the syntax error because it broke the flow of JSX. Conclusion Encountering the Unexpected token syntax error can be a stumbling block while developing in React. However, by ensuring that your conditional rendering returns valid JSX and properly using React fragments, you can effectively eliminate these issues. Remember, syntax matters in JSX, and with these clarifying adjustments, your component will run smoothly and render as expected. Feel free to apply this structured syntax in your own projects to enhance your React journey!