# How to Install React.js on Ubuntu 24.04

> URL: https://www.atlantic.net/dedicated-server-hosting/how-to-install-react-js-on-ubuntu-24-04/ | Published: 2024-01-15 | Updated: 2025-05-16 | Author: Hitesh Jethva

React is an open-source JavaScript front-end library developed by Facebook and a large community of developers. It is lightweight, which makes your application faster to load. React can be integrated into various projects, which makes it a preferred choice for diverse applications. If you are looking to design interactive user interfaces for single-page applications, then React is the best option for you.

## Step 1 – Install Node.js

First, install the necessary dependencies using the following command.

```
apt-get install -y ca-certificates curl gnupg
```

Next, download the Node.js GPG key.

```
mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/gpgkey/nodesource-repo.gpg.key | gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/nodesource.gpg
```

Next, add the NodeSource repo to the APT source list.

```
echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/nodesource.gpg] https://deb.nodesource.com/node_22.x nodistro main" | tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nodesource.list
```

Then, update the repository index and install Node.js with the following command.

```
apt update
apt-get install -y nodejs
```

Next, verify the Node.js version using the following command.

```
node -v
```

Output.

```
v22.15.1
```

## Step 2 – Create a React App

First, install the create-react app using the NPM command.

```
npm install -g create-react-app
```

Next, create a new project for your application.

```
create-react-app test-project
```

You can verify all files of your project using the following command.

```
ls test-project/
```

Output.

```
node_modules  package.json  package-lock.json  public  README.md  src
```

## Step 3 – Create a Systemd Service File

Next, create a systemd service file to manage React application.

```
nano /lib/systemd/system/reactjs.service
```

Add the following configuration.

```
[Service]
Type=simple
User=root
Restart=on-failure
WorkingDirectory=/root/test-project
ExecStart=npm start -- --port=3000
```

Save and close the file, then reload the systemd daemon.

```
systemctl daemon-reload
```

Next, start and enable the React service.

```
systemctl start reactjs
systemctl enable reactjs
```

You can now verify the React service status using the following command.

```
systemctl status reactjs
```

Output.

```
● reactjs.service
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/reactjs.service; static)
     Active: active (running) since Fri 2025-05-16 07:03:34 UTC; 4s ago
   Main PID: 79062 (npm start --por)
      Tasks: 29 (limit: 629145)
     Memory: 189.8M (peak: 190.0M)
        CPU: 5.129s
     CGroup: /system.slice/reactjs.service
             ├─79062 "npm start --port=3000"
             ├─79073 node /root/test-project/node_modules/.bin/react-scripts start --port=3000
             └─79080 /usr/bin/node /root/test-project/node_modules/react-scripts/scripts/start.js --port=3000
```

## Step 4 – Configure Apache as a Reverse Proxy

First, install the Apache package with the following command.

```
apt install apache2 -y
```

Next, create an Apache virtual host configuration file.

```
nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/reactjs.conf
```

Add the following configuration.

```
<VirtualHost *:80>
  ServerName react.example.com
  ProxyRequests off 
  ProxyPass / http://127.0.0.1:3000/ 
  ProxyPassReverse / http://127.0.0.1:3000/ 
</VirtualHost>
```

Save and close the file, then activate the Apache virtual host and other required modules using the following commands.

```
a2ensite reactjs.conf
a2enmod proxy
a2enmod proxy_http
```

Finally, reload the Apache service to apply the changes.

```
systemctl reload apache2
```

## Step 5 – Access React Web UI

Now, open your web browser and access the React web interface using the URL **http://react.example.com.** You will see the React web UI on the following screen.

![react dashboard](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/p1-7.png)

## Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed React.js on Ubuntu 24.04. You can now start creating your React application and deploy it to the production server. Build your React application and deploy it on [dedicated server hosting](https://www.atlantic.net/dedicated-server-hosting/) from Atlantic.Net!