By small project i mean, something not so complicated. It can be any size you want. For example, think about building an e-commerce website's front end with React, or a calculator app front end, anything you can do.
You can't really build a CRUD App with React. It's a JS lib for building front end user interfaces. For the backend is when you'll need a CRUD app, not front end, backend can be built with Node, and understanding React makes it much easier for you to understand Node. Your React app will connect to an API endpoint for communication and for the app to work, you may be able to find free public API to use and connect to. If you can't find an API or a backend to use, use arrays or read from a local file, use that as a replacement for connecting to the API or database.
For full stack:
Front can be: React, or Angular, e.t.c.
Backend: Node, Python, PHP, Java, C++, e.t.c.
You'll use React pretty much for the whole of the front end. From user login, to admin dashboard, to JS animations, e.t.c.
I suggest you really practice the fundamentals, especially es6.
You're gonna use a lot of es6 concepts in React. Really learn the fundamentals and you'll be fine.
Most importantly, practice everyday. Take 10 - 30 mins to create a small react app.
Spaced repetition is a very powerful concept in mastering any skill.
Finally, try building a small project with React. Anything you like. Just build something, here's why:
1. You'll learn more by building a small project yourself than watching those videos/tutorial of any kind, because you'll get to a point where you'll have issues with your code, things won't work, (trust me, this happens alot to beginners), then you'll research online. This'll give more understanding about how React works, than just watching tutorial.
2. You'll have a small project in your portfolio, which can be useful later on.
You can't really build a CRUD App with React. It's a JS lib for building front end user interfaces. For the backend is when you'll need a CRUD app, not front end, backend can be built with Node, and understanding React makes it much easier for you to understand Node. Your React app will connect to an API endpoint for communication and for the app to work, you may be able to find free public API to use and connect to. If you can't find an API or a backend to use, use arrays or read from a local file, use that as a replacement for connecting to the API or database.
For full stack: Front can be: React, or Angular, e.t.c. Backend: Node, Python, PHP, Java, C++, e.t.c.
You'll use React pretty much for the whole of the front end. From user login, to admin dashboard, to JS animations, e.t.c.
Hope this helps.