Quick Summary: React vs React Native has been a hot topic amongst developers. Both are popular JavaScript libraries for building user interfaces, but they have some key differences. React and React Native are both powerful tools for building user interfaces, but they are best suited for different types of projects. Let’s see what makes them different and when to choose which framework.
When it comes to building user interfaces, React and React Native are two of the most popular JavaScript libraries. Both have their own unique set of features, advantages, and use cases. However, the decision of whether to hire React developers or hire React Native developers for your next project can be a difficult one.
In this article, we will explore the key differences between React and React Native, and help you understand the pros and cons of each framework. We will also look at the use cases of each platform and help you determine which one is best suited for your project. This will help you make an informed decision on whether to employ React developers or React Native developers for your next project. So, let’s begin!
Table of Content
What is React?
React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces, created and maintained by Facebook. It allows developers to build reusable UI components and manage the state of their applications, making it a popular choice for building complex and dynamic web applications.
React Native, on the other hand, is a framework for building mobile apps using React. It allows developers to write code in JavaScript and use React’s component-based approach to build native mobile applications for iOS and Android. React Native uses the same concepts and principles as React but applies them to mobile app development rather than web development.
In further article we will compare React and React Native and would likely discuss the similarities and differences between the two, such as the syntax and concepts used, the types of applications that can be built with each, and the pros and cons of using each approach. It may also cover specific use cases where one is more suitable than the other and any trade-offs that need to be considered when choosing between the two.
React best practices that developers should follow- Read more!
Pros and Cons of React
Pros
- Reusable components: React allows developers to build reusable User Interface components, which can make it easier to maintain and scale large and complex web applications.
- Virtual DOM: React uses a virtual DOM, which optimizes updates and improves the performance of the application.
- Popularity and community support: React is widely adopted by developers and companies, and it has a large community and a lot of available libraries and tools.
- JSX: React uses JSX, which is a syntax extension for JavaScript that allows developers to write HTML-like elements in JavaScript. This can make it easier to understand and write the structure of the UI.
Cons
- Steep learning curve: React can have a steep learning curve, especially for developers new to the library or the concept of components.
- Complexity: React can add complexity to an application, especially if it is not used correctly or in combination with other libraries and tools.
- Constant updates: React is constantly being updated and improved, which can make it hard to keep up with the latest best practices and changes in the ecosystem.
- JSX: Some developers may find JSX to be confusing or difficult to learn.
What is React Native?
React Native (RN) is a framework for building mobile apps using React. It allows developers to write code in JavaScript and use React’s component-based approach to build native mobile apps for iOS and Android. React Native uses the same concepts and principles as React, such as JSX, components, and state management, but applies them to mobile development.
React Native compiles the JavaScript code into native UI components code, which allows it to access the device’s native APIs and components, such as the camera, GPS, and push notifications. This allows React Native apps to have a native look and feel, and to perform almost as well as fully native apps. React Native also provides a way to access the native code and use native modules when necessary.
It is widely adopted by many developers and companies, and it also has a large community and a lot of available libraries and tools, which makes it easier to build, maintain, and create mobile apps.
React Native is an open-source project, which means it is free to use and is constantly improved by the community native components native app components.
15 Reasons to choose React Native- Click here to learn more!
Pros and Cons of React Native
React Native is a framework for building mobile apps using React, and it also has several pros and cons.
Pros:
- Cross-platform development: React Native allows developers to write code in JavaScript and build apps for both iOS and Android, which can save time and resources.
- Reusable components: React Native uses the same concepts and principles as React, which means that developers can reuse their existing React knowledge and code.
- Performance: React Native applications can perform almost as well as fully native apps, and it also provides a way to access the native code and use native modules when necessary.
- Popularity and community support: React Native is widely adopted by developers and companies, and it has a large community and a lot of available libraries and tools.
Cons:
- Steep learning curve: React Native can have a steep learning curve, especially for developers new to mobile application development or React.
- Limited customization: React Native may not support all the native APIs and components, which can limit the customization of the app.
- Constant updates: React Native is constantly being updated and improved, which can make it hard to keep up with the latest best practices and changes in the ecosystem.
- JavaScript: Some developers may find JavaScript to be less efficient or less powerful than other languages that are commonly used for mobile app development.
Overall, React Native is a powerful tool for building cross-platform mobile apps, but it can take some time to learn and master. It’s a great choice for building apps with a shared codebase, but it may not be the best fit for every project.
React vs React Native: Key Differences
While ReactJS and React native have a lot of similarities, there are notable differences as well. Here are some differences:
- React JS is the base derivative of React DOM (Document object model) for web platforms while React Native is the base derivative itself. Which means that workflow and syntax remains similar, but components may change.
- React JS is a JavaScript library that offers developers to create engaging & high performing UI layers. On the other hand, React Native is itself a whole framework for developing cross platform mobile apps for web, Android or iOS.
- ReactJS uses virtual DOM for rendering code of browsers in ReactJS. Simultaneously React Native uses native APIs to render components in mobile.
- The applications developed using ReactJS render HTML in UI. React Native uses JSX to render UI, that is, JavaScript.
- Reactjs uses CSS for creating styling, and React Native uses stylesheet for styling purposes.
- ReactJS makes animation possible with the use of CSS like web development. While React Native, one animated API is utilized for introducing animation on various components of a React Native app.
- If you need to develop a high performing, responsive, and dynamic UI for different web interfaces, then using ReactJS is the best alternative. While React Native is the best alternative for giving mobile applications a native touch.
- In ReactJS platform, browser code is rendered through virtual Document object model, while in React Native, Native API renders components on mobile.
Which one is easy to learn: React Native vs React?
Now, we have a clear idea that React and React Native are nothing but siblings. We know that these both are different for developing different end-product platforms. But they follow the same principles and methodology for the development process.
If you are keen to learn any one out of these frameworks then you can learn the one which your project might require for development. For developing React Native applications, you should be well versed with React code components. Not only that, we need to understand the depth of native mobile applications as it has limited support of React Native.
Hence, if you are planning to develop a web app or mobile application, you can hire React Native or React developers. Developers will definitely add certain advantages to your project development process. But, if you want to develop your project on your own, you need to learn JavaScript first, then React JS will be a cakewalk. Learning any programming language may require some time, patience and passion.
React vs React Native: Which One’s better?
React, a Javascript library, offers developing platform specific code. For the web development process developers prefer using React as it is easy to learn and implement. It allows web developers to create reusable UI components and manage the state of the application. React is widely adopted by many companies, has a large community, and has a wealth of resources available. It is a good choice for building complex web applications that require high performance and scalability.
React Native, on the other hand, is a framework for building mobile apps using React. It allows developers to write code that can run on both iOS and Android platforms. React Native uses the same concepts and principles as React, but it uses native components instead of web components, which allows for a more native-like performance and look and feel. React Native is a good choice for building mobile apps that need to be performant and have a native look and feel. React native application is generally developed with cross platform mobile framework features.
In summary, React is better for web applications, whereas React Native is better for mobile app development.
React and React Native: Popular Use Cases
ReactJS Use Cases
React.js is a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Some common use cases for React include:
- Building single-page applications (SPAs): React allows developers to create dynamic, responsive user interfaces for web pages that are fast and efficient. Examples of popular React-based SPAs include Facebook, Instagram, and Airbnb.
- Building reusable UI components: React’s component-based architecture makes it easy to create reusable UI elements that can be shared across multiple pages or apps. This can help to speed up development time and reduce code duplication.
- Building mobile apps: React Native, a framework for building mobile apps using React, allows developers to use the same codebase for building iOS and Android apps. Examples of popular React Native applications include Facebook, Instagram, and UberEats.
- Building Progressive Web Apps (PWAs): React is a great tool for building PWAs, which are web apps that can be installed on a user’s device and provide offline functionality. Examples of PWAs built with React include Twitter Lite and Alibaba.
Popular ReactJS projects:
- Twitter lite
- Alibaba
- UberEats
- Airbnb, etc.
These are just a few examples of the many web apps that have been built using ReactJS framework.
React Native apps
React Native is a popular framework with a large react native community for building mobile apps using React. Some popular use cases for React Native include:
- Cross-platform app development: React Native allows developers to build apps for both iOS and Android using a single codebase, making it a popular choice for companies that want to release their apps on multiple platforms without having to maintain separate codebases.
- Building mobile apps for startups: Many startups choose React Native for their app development needs as it allows for fast development, making it easier to get their apps to market quickly.
- Building mobile apps for existing web apps: React Native allows developers to easily reuse code from their existing web apps, making it a popular choice for companies that already have a web app and want to create a mobile app with similar functionality.
Popular React Native projects:
- Airbnb
- UberEats
- Tesla
- SoundCloud Pulse
- Wix.com mobile app
- Discovery VR
- Myntra
- Discord
These are just a few examples of the many apps that have been built using React Native.
Conclusion
In conclusion, React and React Native are both popular choices for building web and mobile apps respectively. React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces on the web, while React Native is a framework for building mobile apps using React. Both technologies offer developers the ability to build high-performance, responsive, and dynamic apps with ease. While React is primarily used for web development, React Native is used for mobile application development and provides the ability to build cross-platform apps for both iOS and Android. Ultimately, the choice between React and React Native will depend on the specific needs of your project and the type of app you want to build. Contact us for further assistance on developing your business project.
FAQs
Which is better: React Native or React?
React and React Native both frameworks are developed and also maintained by Facebook. However, both platforms are used for different purposes.
ReactJS is used for developing web applications, user interface, and much more. While React Native is used for developing mobile apps for iOS and Android.
There’s no proper comparison between these two as they perform completely different tasks. Hence, depending upon your project requirements, you can pick the suitable one.
Are React and React native same?
Both are the same but used for different purposes. Facebook developed both platforms. ReactJS is used for developing UI for web apps. While React Native is used for developing cross platform mobile applications.
React vs React Native: WHEN TO USE WHAT?
When your business project requirements are to develop a web app or website kind of thing, you can go for ReactJS. And when you require a business mobile application, you can pick React Native.
Native UI components- What are React Native components?
There are various native UI components available to be used in different apps. Some of them are a part of the React Native platform. Others are third-party libraries. Examples of popular native components are: TextInput, ScrollView, etc. These native app components enable easy development of different features and build mobile apps which are seamless and performant.
