JSX vs TSX

TSX vs JSX

When you start working with React, you’ll often see files ending with .jsx or .tsx. Both look almost identical at first glance — but they serve slightly different purposes. In this post, let’s break down what JSX and TSX are, how they differ, and when you should use each.

What Is JSX? 

JSX (JavaScript XML) is a syntax extension for JavaScript, used in React to describe what the UI should look like.
It allows you to write HTML-like code inside JavaScript — making your components more intuitive and easier to read.

Example of JSX:

// App.jsx
import React from 'react';

function App() {
  const name = 'Buggerspot';
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Hello, {name} 👋</h1>
      <p>Welcome to my React app!</p>
    </div>
  );
}

export default App;

JSX gets transpiled into JavaScript behind the scenes by tools like Babel. The above code turns into something like this:

React.createElement('div', null,
  React.createElement('h1', null, 'Hello, Buggerspot👋'),
  React.createElement('p', null, 'Welcome to my React app!')
);

So, JSX is just syntactic sugar for React.createElement() calls.

What Is TSX?

TSX (TypeScript XML) is the TypeScript version of JSX.
It works exactly like JSX but supports TypeScript’s static typing system, which helps you catch type errors early and write more reliable React code.

Example of TSX:

// App.tsx
import React from 'react';

type Props = {
  name: string;
  age?: number;
};

const App: React.FC<Props> = ({ name, age }) => {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Hello, {name} 👋</h1>
      {age && <p>Age: {age}</p>}
    </div>
  );
};

export default App;

Here’s what’s new: 

  • We defined a type for the props (Props). 
  • TypeScript will warn you if you pass the wrong prop type (e.g., a number instead of a string). 
  • The file uses the .tsx extension — required for React code in TypeScript.

Why TypeScript (and TSX) Is Better for React

  • Type Safety: Detect type errors before running your app.
    Example — passing a number instead of a string triggers a compile-time error.
  • IntelliSense Support: Editors like VS Code show better autocomplete suggestions.
  • Better Refactoring: Renaming props or interfaces updates automatically across files.
  • Scalability: When your app grows, TypeScript helps maintain consistency and reduces bugs.
If you’re just getting started with React, JSX is perfect for learning the basics.
But once you move on to larger projects — or want cleaner, more maintainable code — switching to TSX with TypeScript is the way to go.

Thank You!