How to Display Results in a React Calculator

Learn how to effectively display addition and subtraction results in your React calculator. Follow our step-by-step guide.
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How to Display Results in a React Calculator: A Beginner's Guide

Creating a calculator in React is a great way to hone your coding skills. However, if you’re new to React, you might run into some issues, like displaying the results of your calculations. In this article, we will walk you through the process of creating a simple calculator that performs both addition and subtraction, and how to display those results effectively.

The Problem

You may find yourself wondering: “How do I return and display the result of addition and subtraction in my React calculator?” This is a common question among beginners who are trying to make their projects interactive and functional. Fortunately, the solution is straightforward!

The Solution

Step 1: Use a Single State Variable

Instead of keeping separate state variables for addition and subtraction, you can simplify your code by using a single variable called result to track the output of your calculations. Here’s how you can set it up:

Create a new state variable for result:

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Step 2: Update Your Input Types

Using HTML number inputs can help ensure that the user only enters numbers. Here’s how to do that:

Change your input fields to use the type="number" attribute:

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Step 3: Calculate and Display the Result

You’ll need to convert the input values to numbers each time an operation is performed. Here's how you can set up your addition and subtraction functions:

Define the functions for addition and subtraction:

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Return the result in your component's render method:

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Full Example Code

Here's how your finalized App component could look:

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Solution with a Single Handler

For more advanced functionality, you can use a single function to handle multiple operations. Here's an efficient way to do that:

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Conclusion

Now you have the tools to build a React calculator that captures user input, does calculations, and displays the results right on the screen. Experiment with the code and see how adding more operations is a breeze when you start with a well-structured approach. Happy coding!