How does React handle updates to the DOM?

Short answer: React uses the Virtual DOM to handle updates. When state or props change, React creates a new virtual DOM, compares it to the previous version, and calculates the most efficient way to update the actual DOM. Steps:

Real-world example (ShopNest)

ShopNest’s storefront is React: components for ProductCard, CartDrawer, and CheckoutForm, with hooks for local UI state.

Say this in the interview

1. Define — one clear sentence (the short answer above).
2. Example — relate it to a project like ShopNest or your real work.
3. Trade-off — when you would not use it.