Explore the power of Abstract Syntax Trees (AST) in React applications through this 28-minute conference talk from React.js Conf 2015. Delve into the concept of "code as data" and discover how Esprima, a JavaScript parser, enables access to AST representations. Learn about static analysis, code transformations, and instrumentation in React. Understand the basics of compilers, AST parsing, and traversal techniques. Gain insights into component wrappers, object literals, and practical implementations for unlocking the structure of React applications. Presented by Gurdas Nijor, Senior Software Engineer at OpenGov Inc, this talk demonstrates how leveraging AST can lead to innovative applications beyond traditional character-based code interpretation.