---
title: JSX
---

# JSX

> JSX is short for JavaScript XML.

JSX is an expression which uses valid HTML statements within JavaScript. You can assign this expression to a variable and use it elsewhere. You can combine other valid JavaScript expressions and JSX within these HTML statements by placing them within braces (`{}`). Babel further compiles JSX into an object of type `React.createElement()`.

### Single-line & Multi-line expressions
Single-line expression are simple to use.

```jsx
const one = <h1>Hello World!</h1>;
```

When you need to use multiple lines in a single JSX expression, write the code within a single parenthesis.

```jsx
const two = (
  <ul>
    <li>Once</li>
    <li>Twice</li>
  </ul>
);
```

### Using only HTML tags

```jsx
const greet = <h1>Hello World!</h1>;
```

### Combining JavaScript expression with HTML tags
We can use JavaScript variables within braces.

```jsx
const who = "Quincy Larson";
const greet = <h1>Hello {who}!</h1>;
```

We can also call other JavaScript functions within braces.

```jsx
function who() {
  return "World";
}
const greet = <h1>Hello {who()}!</h1>;
```
### Only a single parent tag is allowed
A JSX expression must have only one parent element. We can have multiple elements nested within the parent element.

```jsx
// This is valid.
const tags = (
  <div>
    <h1>Hello World!</h1>
    <h3>This is my special list:</h3>
    <ul>
      <li>Once</li>
      <li>Twice</li>
    </ul>
  </div>
);

// This is not valid.
const tags = (
  <h1>Hello World!</h1>
  <h3>This is my special list:</h3>
  <ul>
    <li>Once</li>
    <li>Twice</li>
  </ul>
);
```

### All Tags Must Be Closed

In HTML, there are self-closing tags such as `img`, `br`, `input`, and `hr`. 

This means that either of these methods are valid:

```html
<!-- no closing / -->
<input type="text" name="city">
<!-- with closing / -->
<input type="text" name="city" />
```

Self-closing (sometimes referred to as **void**) tags can be rendered with or without a closing forward slash.

However, with JSX, _all_ tags must be closed.

The following JSX is invalid:

```javascript
const email = <input type="email">;
```

Closing the `input` tag will make the JSX valid:


```javascript
const email = <input type="email" />;
```

### JSX Map Functionality

You can use the built-in Javascript map functionality in JSX. This will allow you to iterate over a given list in your React application. 

```javascript
const list = [
  {
  title: 'Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire',
  author: 'JK Rowling',
  genre: 'Fiction, Fantasy',
  },
  {
  title: 'Extreme Ownership: How US Navy Seals Lead and Win',
  author: 'Jocko Willink, Leif Babin',
  genre: 'Biography, Personal Narrative',
  },
];

class Example extends Component {
  // component info here
};
```
We use the curly braces to encapsulate our JSX:
```javascript
class Example extends Component {
  render(){
    return (
      <div className="Example">
        {list.map(function(item) {
          return <div> {item.title} </div>;
         })}
      </div>
  }
};

export default Example;
```
There you got it! We used JSX's map to convert a list of book details to HTML elements to the page. See more information on how to use maps below.

### More Information

- [Introducing JSX](https://reactjs.org/docs/introducing-jsx.html)
- [More Info On Using Maps](https://reactjs.org/docs/lists-and-keys.html)