How to Convert Video of an Existing Website into a Modern React Application in 2026

TL;DR: Learn how to convert video recordings of existing websites into fully functional React applications using Replay's behavior-driven reconstruction, leveraging advancements in AI and video analysis.

From Video to React: Rebuilding the Web in 2026#

The future of web development isn't about staring at static designs; it's about understanding behavior. Imagine being able to record a user flow on an existing website and automatically generate a fully functional React application from that recording. That future is here, powered by advancements in video-to-code engines like Replay. Forget painstakingly recreating interfaces from screenshots. We're talking about capturing the essence of user interaction.

The Problem with Screenshot-to-Code#

Screenshot-to-code tools have been around for a while, and while they offer a starting point, they fall short in capturing the dynamic nature of user interfaces. They simply translate pixels, not intent. This leads to brittle code that misses crucial interactions and requires significant manual rework.

Consider this scenario: you have a video of a user navigating a complex e-commerce site, adding items to a cart, and proceeding to checkout. A screenshot-to-code tool would only capture static images of these screens, missing critical details like:

• •Dynamic updates to the cart total
• •Form validation logic
• •Asynchronous API calls

Reconstructing these behaviors from static images is a tedious and error-prone process.

Behavior-Driven Reconstruction: The Replay Advantage#

Replay takes a different approach: behavior-driven reconstruction. It analyzes video recordings to understand user behavior and intent, then uses this information to generate clean, functional React code. This process involves:

1. •Video Analysis: Replay uses advanced video processing techniques to identify UI elements, user interactions (clicks, scrolls, form entries), and state changes.
2. •Behavior Extraction: The engine infers the underlying logic based on the observed behavior. For example, it can identify that a button click triggers an API call to add an item to the cart.
3. •Code Generation: Replay generates React components with the necessary logic to replicate the observed behavior. This includes state management, event handlers, and API integrations.

This approach results in code that is not only visually similar to the original website but also behaves the same way.

Replay in Action: A Real-World Example#

Let's say you have a video recording of a user creating a new account on a website. Here's how you could use Replay to generate a React component for the signup form:

Step 1: Upload the Video to Replay#

Simply upload the video recording to the Replay platform. Replay will automatically analyze the video and identify the relevant UI elements and interactions.

Step 2: Review and Refine the Reconstruction#

Replay provides a visual interface for reviewing the reconstructed UI and behavior. You can adjust the generated code and add custom logic if needed.

Step 3: Generate the React Code#

Once you're satisfied with the reconstruction, Replay will generate the React code for the signup form.

Here's an example of the generated code:

typescript
// Generated by Replay - Do not edit manually
import React, { useState } from 'react';

const SignupForm = () => {
  const [email, setEmail] = useState('');
  const [password, setPassword] = useState('');

  const handleSubmit = async (e: React.FormEvent) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    // Simulate API call to create a new account
    const response = await fetch('/api/signup', {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: {
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
      },
      body: JSON.stringify({ email, password }),
    });

    if (response.ok) {
      alert('Account created successfully!');
    } else {
      alert('Signup failed. Please try again.');
    }
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      <div>
        <label htmlFor="email">Email:</label>
        <input
          type="email"
          id="email"
          value={email}
          onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)}
        />
      </div>
      <div>
        <label htmlFor="password">Password:</label>
        <input
          type="password"
          id="password"
          value={password}
          onChange={(e) => setPassword(e.target.value)}
        />
      </div>
      <button type="submit">Sign Up</button>
    </form>
  );
};

export default SignupForm;

This code includes:

• •State management for the email and password fields
• •An event handler for the form submission
• •A placeholder for the API call to create a new account

You can easily customize this code to fit your specific needs.

Key Features of Replay#

Replay offers a range of features that make it a powerful tool for converting video to code:

• •Multi-page Generation: Replay can handle videos that span multiple pages, allowing you to reconstruct entire user flows.
• •Supabase Integration: Seamlessly integrate with Supabase for data storage and authentication.
• •Style Injection: Replay can automatically extract and inject styles from the video, ensuring that the generated UI looks visually similar to the original.
• •Product Flow Maps: Visualize the user flow reconstructed from the video, providing a clear overview of the application's behavior.

Replay vs. Traditional Methods#

Here's a comparison of Replay with traditional screenshot-to-code tools and manual reconstruction:

💡 Pro Tip: For optimal results, ensure your video recordings are clear and stable. High-quality video input leads to more accurate and reliable code generation.

The Future of Web Development is Visual#

Replay represents a significant step forward in web development, enabling developers to quickly and easily convert video recordings into functional React applications. This technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we build and maintain websites, making the process faster, more efficient, and more accessible.

Integrating with Existing Projects#

Integrating Replay-generated code into existing React projects is straightforward. The generated components are standard React components that can be easily imported and used within your application.

Step 1: Copy the Generated Code#

Copy the generated React component code from the Replay platform.

Step 2: Create a New Component File#

Create a new

or file in your React project and paste the generated code into the file.

Step 3: Import and Use the Component#

Import the new component into your desired parent component and use it like any other React component.

typescript
// Example of importing and using the generated SignupForm component
import React from 'react';
import SignupForm from './components/SignupForm';

const App = () => {
  return (
    <div>
      <h1>Welcome to our App!</h1>
      <SignupForm />
    </div>
  );
};

export default App;

⚠️ Warning: Always review and test the generated code thoroughly before deploying it to production. While Replay strives for accuracy, manual verification is essential.

Use Cases#

Replay can be used in a variety of scenarios, including:

• •Rebuilding legacy websites: Quickly convert old websites into modern React applications.
• •Creating prototypes: Generate functional prototypes from video recordings of user flows.
• •Automating UI testing: Use Replay to generate test cases based on video recordings of user interactions.
• •Documenting user behavior: Visualize and analyze user behavior through automatically generated product flow maps.

📝 Note: Replay excels at reconstructing common UI patterns and interactions. For highly customized or complex behaviors, some manual adjustments may be required.

Overcoming Challenges#

While Replay offers significant advantages, there are challenges to consider:

• •Video Quality: Poor video quality can impact the accuracy of the reconstruction.
• •Complex Interactions: Reconstructing highly complex interactions may require manual refinement.
• •Edge Cases: Handling unexpected user behavior or edge cases may require custom logic.

However, the benefits of Replay far outweigh these challenges, especially as the technology continues to evolve.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Replay free to use?#

Replay offers a free tier with limited usage. Paid plans are available for increased usage and access to advanced features. Check the pricing page for the most up-to-date information.

How is Replay different from v0.dev?#

While both aim to generate code, Replay uniquely uses video as its input, enabling behavior-driven reconstruction. v0.dev typically relies on text prompts and design specifications. Replay understands how a UI is used, not just how it looks.

What types of video formats are supported?#

Replay supports most common video formats, including MP4, MOV, and AVI.

Can I customize the generated code?#

Yes, the generated code is fully customizable. You can modify it to fit your specific needs.

Does Replay support different UI frameworks?#

Currently, Replay primarily focuses on generating React code. Support for other UI frameworks may be added in the future.

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Ready to try behavior-driven code generation? Get started with Replay - transform any video into working code in seconds.