Before we delve into ReactJS and React Native, let’s check out how these technologies came into existence. We just need to go a decade back and we will have the real story.
As of now, some of the most powerful mobile apps and websites are developed with ReactJS and React Native. Both of these technologies are highly powerful, developer-friendly, and easy to work with.
The thing was, in 2011, when Facebook, one of the giant tech companies, was expanding features in Facebook ads, developers realized that the app development progress is slowing down due to regular updates.
If there are any content cascading changes, they had to realign the whole app. This was something that must be addressed instantly. The model was the perfect one, but it needed to have an intuitive user interface.
A programmer at Facebook, one day, used XHP (an HTML component library for PHP) to build FaxJS. Experts believe that it was the invention of ReactJS. Soon, ReactJS was developed and deployed on the timeline of Facebook.
After acquiring Instagram in 2012, ReactJS was also deployed on the Instagram timeline as well.
Then, to end the dependency on HTML, they created a feature-rich framework called React Native. Both of these technologies gave a paradigm shift to the way mobile apps and websites are developed globally.
Developers were happy and soon they adopted these two technologies to develop web applications, mobile apps, and other solutions.
ReactJS is a Facebook-powered open-source JavaScript framework and library which is used to create highly interactive and intuitive user interfaces for mobile apps and websites.
Furthermore, the best thing about ReactJS is that you can create UIs efficiently and quickly and with less code compared to JavaScript. Just hire React developers and let them create a great, feature-rich app for you.
On the other hand, React Native is an open-source JavaScript framework that is designed specifically to build mobile apps for various platforms such as Android and iOS.
Furthermore, you can use the same code to build web applications as well. React Native framework is based on React and is one of the most preferred mobile app development frameworks in the world.
Many times, ReactJS and React Native are considered the same, thanks to their similar names and origins. However, they do share some similarities, but both of these frameworks are different.
Both, ReactJS, and React Native are free-to-use and open-source frameworks to build highly advanced and interactive user interfaces and components.
Also, both of these technologies are backed by a community of developers, programmers, and companies.
As per the report by Stack Overflow Developer Survey in 2022, ReactJS got a 42.62% market share when it comes to framework popularity.
The same survey also revealed that React Native is the 6th most popular cross-platform mobile app development framework with 14.51% votes.
In this post, we will discuss almost everything that you need to know about ReactJS and React Native.
We will discuss what they are, their benefits, limitations, and differences.
What Is ReactJS?
Before we start comparing ReactJS and React Native, let’s check out both of them individually. We will start with React.
React is also called ReactJS or React.JS in popular terms. It is a Facebook-owned JavaScript library that developers use to build dynamic single-page web apps and mobile apps.
The core area of ReactJS is to develop highly functional, intuitive, and impressive user interfaces for mobile and web apps.
Some of the applications that are built with React are Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, WhatsApp, Dropbox, and others.
Developers love the fact that ReactJS helps them build a highly functional viewable layer of apps with reusable components.
Developers create highly dynamic and interactive UIs with the help of ReactJS. Also, React JS development is quick and easy.
Some of the Features of ReactJS:
- ReactJS allows developers to update and render various components with data changes. Also, its declarative view helps developers to read and debug codes.
- The performance of ReactJS-powered apps is due to its Document Object Model.
- Developers can easily create highly impressive and dynamic web and mobile apps that are easy to navigate and user-friendly. Also, they don’t have to write more code for that.
- ReactJS uses JavaScript syntax that makes it possible to build applications quickly.
- ReactJS has a one-way binding data feature that allows developers to mitigate errors. For example, for a small error, you don’t have to rewrite the entire component. ReactJS code is highly stable and easy to implement.
- ReactJS allows developers to use all the libraries while offering them to access HTML.
- Also, ReactJS allows developers to divide the framework into multiple components.
- The ReactJS community is a huge one with constant evolution and updating.
- ReactJS allows developers to view changes in real-time. It reduces errors and bugs to a great extent.
- It is highly SEO-friendly with many SEO features and functionalities such as easy indexing.
- Websites made with ReactJS are efficient, excellent in performance, and impressive in design.
What are the Benefits of Using ReactJS?
Now, let’s check out some of the benefits of ReactJS:
- The learning curve of ReactJS is very smooth and linear. If a developer has some background in working with JavaScript, he can easily learn and use ReactJS. This is the main reason why you can hire React developers so easily in the market.
- ReactJS allows you to use reusable components multiple times. It eliminates the need of creating everything from scratch each time you start a new project. Developers simply love ReactJS for this single benefit.
- Developers can easily build highly versatile, dynamic, and flexible applications with less coding and more features and functionalities.
- We have discussed the virtual Document Object Model of ReactJS that is responsible for the performance. The thing is when you make some changes to a React component, the virtual DOM that resides in memory does not affect by these changes. Hence, you can expect excellent performance.
- The ReactJS community is very rich and active. They have a wide range of tools to quicken up the development tasks.
What is React Native?
Now, let’s check out React Native and its features and benefits.
In 2015, Facebook launched React Native, an open-source mobile app development framework that can be used to develop mobile apps for Android, iOS, and Windows.
The best thing about React Native is its reusable components that can be run by developers on multiple platforms.
The library components of React Native make it a completely different mobile app development framework from ReactJS. The main use of React Native is to build highly intuitive and dynamic UI components for mobile apps.
Some of the most popular apps that have been developed with React Native are Facebook Ads, Instagram, SoundCloud, Walmart, and Bloomberg.
Some Features of React Native
Now, let’s check out some of the features of React Native.
- React Native allows cross-platform app development with platform-specific code. So, you can use the same codebase to develop mobile apps for other platforms. For example, you can use an Android codebase to develop an iOS app. For developers, it is a time-saving affair. Also, reduces the app-to-market time as well.
- The learning curve, similar to ReactJS, is smooth, easy, and quick. If you are a front-end developer with a JavaScript background, you can easily start working with React Native to develop an app.
- The coding time can be reduced to a great length, thanks to ready-made libraries and reusable components.
- React Native can be integrated seamlessly with any mobile application.
- Developers can develop React Native apps quickly, thanks to its flexible architecture.
- The React Native apps have highly flexible, intuitive, and customizable user interfaces.
- Developers can see code changes in a real-time environment during the development process.
Benefits of React Native
React Native offers some amazing benefits to developers and businesses. Let’s check out some of them:
- The React Native developer community is very active. If you have some issues during the development process, you can reach out to the community and you will get instant help.
- React Native is based on JavaScript and you can use it to build highly dynamic, impressive, and versatile native mobile applications.
- You have ready-made code to build mobile apps. You can easily develop apps and save time and money.
- React Native is backed by Facebook and is updated regularly by Facebook.
ReactJS and React Native Comparison
Now that you know ReactJS and React Native in detail, we will compare both of these frameworks. There are some differences that you need to keep in mind while working with these technologies.
The major difference that you need to keep in mind is that ReactJS can be used for all platforms. It is not the case with React Native which has some platform-specific restrictions.
Furthermore, remember that ReactJS is a JavaScript library and React Native is a whole framework that can also be used to develop cross-platform applications. On the other hand, ReactJS can be used to develop intuitive user interfaces.
1 Installation Process
All you need to do is to integrate the ReactJS library into the HTML page. Now you can easily create ReactJS components to be integrated into the website. However, if it is a large project, you can use a bundler for the installation process.
On the other hand, developers need an app development environment such as Android Studio or Xcode for app development. Developers can also use some tools such as Node, and React Native CLI to create a new project.
If you are good at JavaScript, you can easily work with React Native to develop simple apps. However, for complex React Native app development, you might need to hire professional React Native developers.
2 Animation
In ReactJS, developers can easily animate UI components with the use of CSS.
On the other hand, React Native allows developers to use an animated API for component animation.
As ReactJS allows developers to use CSS for animation, they can come up with different creative styles and visuals to develop highly advanced and intuitive UIs.
React Native has its own stylesheet. If we compare both for animation, ReactJS has higher animation capabilities compared to React Native.
3 Syntax
In React Native. Developers write code in JavaScript. For the HTML component rendering, developers use tags such as <div> and <h1>. Also, developers can use a JavaScript extension called JSX as well.
The best thing about JSX is its inability to distinguish between Markup and Logic. So, even if developers write markup code, JSX code will not be seen once the compilation is done.
React Native has a particular syntax that allows developers to render native components with tags such as <view>, <images>, and <text>. As React Native is not capable to render HTML, you cannot develop websites with React Native.
React Native is highly preferred for mobile app development and also to develop TVs, AR, and other technologies.
4 Feasibility
Sometimes, react is also known as ReactJS due to its strong connection with JavaScript. ReactJS combines JavaScript with HTML beautifully. Hence, CSS integration is smooth and easy with ReactJS.
On contrary, React Native allows developers to make changes to apps without compromising the code. You can simply add more components, features, and functionalities to the app code.
Also, React Native allows developers to reuse and various components while developing hybrid apps. Also, it supports plugin integration.
5 Technology Base
Now, this is a confusing part of the comparison. When it comes to the technology base, React Native and ReactJS are intertwined.
To work with ReactJS, you will need a JavaScript background. All you need to do is to read the technical documentation of ReactJS to learn how to build apps.
However, if you want to add complex features and functionalities, you need to hire React developers for the job.
React Native is a whole mobile app development framework that uses ReactJS for app development. Developers must remember that React Native is not just JavaScript based, but a combination of JavaScript, Objective C, and C++.
If you want to build a React Native app, you will need proficiency in all these programming languages.
6 Platform Dependency
ReactJS does not depend on any platform, enjoying platform independency. This is the reason businesses hire React JS development services more. Developers can easily develop apps and websites on all platforms.
However, a React Native developer will need more skills and languages to develop apps for multiple platforms.
React Native possesses a single codebase that recognizes the platform during the deployment and generates code accordingly.
7 Security
When it comes to security, ReactJS wins the battle. React Native has some security concerns due to its open-source characteristic.
Developers have to add advanced security features to strengthen the security of a React Native app.
8 Costs
Developing an app with ReactJS is a costly affair compared to React Native app development. You need to download other libraries to build a ReactJS app or web app. It increases the overall cost.
React Native allows developers to reuse code to develop cross-platform apps. It saves time and money. Also, the maintenance of the app is also cost-effective.
9 UI Rendering
To render browser code, ReactJS has a virtual DOM. On the other hand, React Native has native APIs for mobile component rendering.
10 Navigation
Developers can use the react-router library for navigation in ReactJS. This feature is not available in React Native.
React Native has its own library navigator to enable transition between multiple displays.
Also, React Native has a library called React Native Navigation with various navigation features.
Conclusion
ReactJS and React Native are both highly preferred by developers to build highly flexible, versatile, and dynamic web and mobile apps.
ReactJS is mostly used to develop interactive and intuitive user interfaces. On the other hand, React Native is a framework that is used to develop native and cross-platform apps. You cannot develop websites with React Native, which is a limitation.
Which framework to use for your project? Well, both work fine together, but you have to choose a framework that is best suited for your project.
Apps made with React JS and React Native are high in performance and have dynamic and intuitive UIs. ReactJS is also SEO-friendly compared to React Native.
You can hire React developers if you want to build highly impressive and dynamic UIs for mobile and web apps.
