How to Create a ReactJS Image Lightbox Gallery

If you’re looking to create a gallery of images on your ReactJS website that allows users to view them in a lightbox, then you’ve come to the right place. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the process of building a simple but elegant image gallery using ReactJS and the react-image-lightbox library.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the code, make sure you have the following installed on your computer:

  • Node.js and npm

Step 1: Install react-image-lightbox

First, you need to install the react-image-lightbox library. Open your terminal and run the following command:

npm install react-image-lightbox --save

Step 2: Set Up the Gallery Component

Next, create a new file called Gallery.js. In this file, you’ll create a new component called Gallery that will hold your images and display them in a lightbox.

Step 3: Add Images to the Gallery

Inside the Gallery component, create an array of objects that contains information about each image you want to include in the gallery. Each object should include the image’s URL, width, and height.

Step 4: Create a Gallery Item Component

Create a new component called GalleryItem that will be used to render each image in the gallery. This component will take a src prop that contains the URL of the image to display.

Step 5: Render the Gallery

Render the GalleryItem components inside the Gallery component. When a user clicks on an image, it should open in a lightbox.

Step 6: Add Navigation Buttons

Add navigation buttons to the lightbox that allow users to navigate between images.

Step 7: Add Caption Text

Add caption text to the lightbox that displays information about the image, such as its title or a description.

Step 8: Style the Gallery

Finally, style the gallery to your liking using CSS.

By following these steps, you should be able to create a simple but effective ReactJS image lightbox gallery that allows your users to view images in an elegant and user-friendly manner. Feel free to experiment with different styling options to create a gallery that fits your website’s aesthetic.