Hey there! If you’re new to React and have been happily coding away with version 16, you’ve actually been using something cool called React Fiber without even knowing it. Let’s break it down in simpler terms.

React Fiber is like the secret superhero that makes React work faster and smarter. It’s a set of behind-the-scenes tricks for drawing things on the screen.

Now, let’s talk about two important terms: reconciliation and rendering. Reconciliation is like comparing two lists of items and figuring out what changed. The renderer is like an artist who takes those changes and draws them on your screen.

Before version 16, React had a way of doing this that could sometimes make your app act a bit slow. Imagine you’re loading new info, and while that’s happening, someone starts typing. Boom! Your app might freeze up for a sec. Not great.

But then, the awesome React team came to the rescue! They rewrote the way React does things with Fiber. Instead of doing everything all at once and potentially slowing things down, Fiber breaks the work into smaller parts. It’s like slicing a pizza into smaller, easier-to-eat slices.

Now, Fiber doesn’t update the whole screen in one go. It’s smart and only updates what needs changing, step by step. It’s like doing one chore, then moving on to the next. That way, your app stays quick and responsive even when lots of things are happening.

So, there you have it – a sneak peek into the superhero world of React Fiber! If you’re curious to learn more and want to be a superhero coder yourself, check out the React docs for a deeper dive.