12 React Portfolio Projects (and What Each One Proves in Interviews)

Updated on February 07, 2026 13 minutes read

Adult career changer building React portfolio projects on a laptop, with a modern dashboard UI, interview prep checklist, and notes in a bright home office.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many React portfolio projects do I need to get hired?

Most candidates do well with 3–5 strong, finished projects. Quality beats quantity, especially if your projects are deployed, documented, and show different skills (forms, APIs, complex state, testing).

Should I use TypeScript in my React portfolio?

If you can, yes, TypeScript often helps you stand out. But it’s not mandatory. A clean JavaScript codebase with good structure, error handling, and documentation is better than TypeScript used inconsistently.

What React skills do interviewers look for in portfolio projects?

They want evidence of fundamentals: components, state, props, hooks, routing, and data fetching. Strong portfolios also show testing basics, accessibility, and performance awareness.

Do I need a backend for React interview projects?

Not always. You can use public APIs, mock data, or services like Firebase/Supabase. That said, having one full-stack capstone can be a big advantage because it proves end-to-end thinking.

What’s the best way to host React projects for free?

Many candidates use free tiers on platforms like Vercel or Netlify for front-end hosting. For databases and auth, Firebase or Supabase have free options that work well for portfolio projects.

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