I obtained the answer from Copilot, not Google, so approach with skepticism. 😀
I think when React ‘renders’ it’s simply instructing the browser to update the dom, cssom, build a render tree, and so on.
Example:
On the initial paint you see a placeholder for content.
The async function inside the useEffect told your browser to fetch your medical records.
The browser receives the data.
Following the instructions in your code, the browser updates the dom, cssom, generates a render tree, calculates the layout of each item in the render tree, and finally paints the pixels to your screen. You see your medical records.
When you use useEffect, it runs after the browser paints the screen. It doesn’t block the main thread and allows other tasks to continue while it executes.
@starchy, she’s out shopping, splurging on Black Friday deals. I'm unsure if it's the right moment to mention an invoice for just 55 cents, but since you raised the topic, I'll direct your Mastodon account concern to her attention.
[ It was enjoyable chatting with you. Have a pleasant evening! ]