First React Native app - Mini App: Build & Ship

Build: WelcomeScreen

This screen shows a simple welcome message centered on the screen.

Target UI

---------------------
|                   |
|                   |
|                   |
|   Welcome to the  |
|     React Native  |
|        App!       |
|                   |
|                   |
|                   |
---------------------

Display a centered text message: 'Welcome to the React Native App!'

Use a View container with proper styling to center the text vertically and horizontally

Use a Text component for the message

Apply basic styling: font size 24, bold text

Starter Code

React Native

import React from 'react';
import { View, Text, StyleSheet } from 'react-native';

export default function WelcomeScreen() {
  return (
    <View style={styles.container}>
      {/* TODO: Add Text component here */}
    </View>
  );
}

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: {
    flex: 1,
    // TODO: Add styles to center content
  },
});

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Solution

React Native

import React from 'react';
import { View, Text, StyleSheet } from 'react-native';

export default function WelcomeScreen() {
  return (
    <View style={styles.container}>
      <Text style={styles.welcomeText}>Welcome to the React Native App!</Text>
    </View>
  );
}

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  container: {
    flex: 1,
    justifyContent: 'center',
    alignItems: 'center',
    backgroundColor: '#fff'
  },
  welcomeText: {
    fontSize: 24,
    fontWeight: 'bold',
    color: '#000'
  }
});

We use a View as the main container and apply flex: 1 to fill the screen. The justifyContent: 'center' and alignItems: 'center' styles center the content vertically and horizontally, just like placing a picture in the middle of a frame. The Text component displays the welcome message with a larger font size and bold weight to make it stand out.

This simple layout is a great first step to understand how React Native arranges components on the screen.

Final Result

Completed Screen

---------------------
|                   |
|                   |
|                   |
|   Welcome to the  |
|     React Native  |
|        App!       |
|                   |
|                   |
|                   |
---------------------

The screen shows the welcome message centered vertically and horizontally.

No buttons or gestures are active on this screen.

Stretch Goal

Add a button below the welcome message that shows an alert saying 'Button pressed!' when tapped.

💡 Hint

Use the <Button> component from 'react-native' and the Alert API to show a simple popup.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of the View component in a React Native app?

easy

A. To act as a container for other components and layout

B. To display text on the screen

C. To handle user input events

D. To fetch data from the internet

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of View

   The View component is like a box that holds other components and helps arrange them on the screen.

2. Step 2: Compare with other components

   Text displays text, but View is for layout and grouping.

3. Final Answer:

   To act as a container for other components and layout -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   View = container [OK]

Hint: Remember: View is like a box holding things [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing View with Text
• Thinking View handles user input
• Assuming View fetches data

2. Which of the following is the correct way to import React and React Native components in your first app?

easy

A. import React from 'react'; import { View, Text } from 'react-native';

B. import { React, View, Text } from 'react-native';

C. import React, { View, Text } from 'react';

D. import View, Text from 'react-native';

Solution

1. Step 1: Check React import

   React is imported as default from 'react', so import React from 'react'; is correct.

2. Step 2: Check React Native components import

   Components like View and Text are named exports from 'react-native', so import { View, Text } from 'react-native'; is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   import React from 'react'; import { View, Text } from 'react-native'; -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Default React + named components import [OK]

Hint: React default, components named import [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Importing React components from 'react-native' incorrectly
• Using default import for View and Text
• Missing curly braces for named imports

3. What will the following React Native code display on the screen?

import React from 'react';
import { View, Text } from 'react-native';

export default function App() {
  return (
    
      Hello, React Native!
    
  );
}

medium

A. An error because View is missing a style

B. A blank screen with no text

C. The text 'Hello, React Native!' displayed on the screen

D. The text 'Hello, React Native!' but inside a button

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the returned JSX

   The App function returns a View containing a Text component with the string 'Hello, React Native!'.

2. Step 2: Understand rendering behavior

   React Native will display the text inside the Text component on the screen inside the View.

3. Final Answer:

   The text 'Hello, React Native!' displayed on the screen -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Text inside View renders as visible text [OK]

Hint: Text inside View shows on screen [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking style is required to show text
• Confusing View with Button
• Expecting an error without styles

4. Identify the error in this React Native code snippet:

import React from 'react';
import { View, Text } from 'react-native';

export default function App() {
  return (
    
      Hello World
    
  )
}

medium

A. Missing semicolon after return statement

B. No error; the code is correct and will run

C. The JSX is missing parentheses around the return value

D. The View component must have a style prop

Solution

1. Step 1: Check JSX syntax

   The JSX inside the return is wrapped in parentheses, which is optional but allowed. The code uses valid JSX syntax.

2. Step 2: Check React Native rules

   View does not require a style prop to work. Semicolons are optional in JavaScript.

3. Final Answer:

   No error; the code is correct and will run -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Valid JSX and React Native code [OK]

Hint: JSX parentheses optional; style not required [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking style prop is mandatory
• Expecting semicolons are required
• Assuming parentheses are always needed

5. You want to create a simple React Native app that shows the text 'Welcome!' centered both vertically and horizontally on the screen. Which style object should you apply to the View component to achieve this?

hard

A. { padding: 10, margin: 10 }

B. { flexDirection: 'row', justifyContent: 'flex-start', alignItems: 'flex-start' }

C. { position: 'absolute', top: 0, left: 0 }

D. { flex: 1, justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center' }

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand centering in React Native

   To center content vertically and horizontally, the container needs to fill the screen with flex: 1 and use justifyContent: 'center' for vertical centering and alignItems: 'center' for horizontal centering.

2. Step 2: Evaluate each style option

   { flex: 1, justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center' } uses the correct flexbox properties for centering. Options A, B, and D do not center content both ways.

3. Final Answer:

   { flex: 1, justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center' } -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Flexbox center with flex:1 [OK]

Hint: Use flex:1 with justifyContent and alignItems center [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using padding or margin to center content
• Forgetting flex:1 to fill screen
• Using wrong flexDirection or positioning