Define "hydrate" for those unfamiliar with the concept

[tgelu]

On https://reactjs.org/docs/react-dom.html#hydrate it seems like an understanding of "hydration" is already assumed when describing the function. The text simply defines the term in a circular manner: "hydrate(): Same as render(), but is used to hydrate a container...".
I am not sure I completely understand what "hydration" means in the react/SSR world and hence I cannot submit a PR myself, but it would be nice if a phrase or two would introduce the reader to "hydration", what does it do exactly and why does it exist as separate from render().

[mensonones]

Hey, @tgelu . I never read about it, but I managed to understand the difference.

For more details: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/46516395/whats-the-difference-between-hydrate-and-render-in-react-16

[tgelu]

this issue is simply a suggestion to improve the current description so that people don't have to google and hit stackoverflow to understand the difference between hydrate and render :)

[doojin]

it seems like an understanding of "hydration" is already assumed when describing the function. The text simply defines the term in a circular manner: "hydrate(): Same as render(), but is used to hydrate a container...".

Damn, exactly. Arrived here after deciding to read official React docs in depth. All other topics were super clear and well-written until I got to the ReactDOM docs: hydrate() method. Got the same misunderstanding as TS. Required me additional Googling. In the end I got it but preferred to understand it from official docs, not from external sources.

P.S. I believe this issue is not getting that much votes because not that much people are reaching the API Reference section of React docs :)