React vs React Native: Which one to choose and why?

React and React Native are the two robust frameworks that come to mind while building interfaces, moreover, in recent years, they have gained significant popularity amongst developers. Furthermore, React also known as React JS, is a JavaScript library that is used for building website application interfaces.

React Native, on the other hand, is a framework that is an extensive form of React JS’s capabilities that enables developers to develop mobile applications for both iOS and Android-based platforms with the utilization of Java Script.

Moreover, in the comparison of React Native Vs React JS, both interface frameworks have a common syntax and component-based architecture, but they serve distinct purposes while building mobile applications. To further explain, they are also used for varied platforms. Let us see who comes out to be the best in this React vs React Native Comparison.

History

In 2013, React was introduced by Facebook and has since become a popular solution for the demand for rapid UI rendering and reusable components. Its innovative virtual DOM rendering approach and unidirectional data flow provided developers with an efficient and reliable experience. React’s virtual DOM offers intelligent component updates, allowing only necessary components to render, resulting in an impressive gain in performance for your business app. The one-way data flow ensures developers can anticipate how changes will affect the system, making React a widely accepted choice among businesspersons globally. There are many popular websites built with React JS at the time of its beginning.

Facebook introduced React Native in 2015, an extension of React that aimed to minimize the disparity between mobile platforms by allowing developers to create cross-platform mobile applications. This technology allowed for the development of robust applications for both iOS and Android using a single codebase, significantly reducing the time and effort required during app development.

React Native has gained substantial popularity and possesses a dedicated community since its inception. React development helps startups achieve their goal because young entrepreneurs can get developers at affordable rates. These programmers utilizeReact’spotential to develop exceptional mobile applications that are comparable to fully native ones.

What is React JS?

The JavaScript library, commonly referred to as React JS, is highly esteemed within the development community for its ability to facilitate the creation of interactive and dynamic user interfaces for web applications. An essential element of React’s design philosophy is its reliance on a component-based architecture that fosters code reusability and modularity, benefiting all businesses. It is, for this reason, you may find some of the popular websites built using ReactJS.

By segmenting the UI into self-contained and reusable components, developers can more effectively manage and maintain intricate applications. As a buyer, you hire React JS developer who understands the vast capabilities and features that React JS has to offer: they are given in the following section.

Features:

• React implements a component-based architecture that is proficient and allows developers to use top UI react frameworks and design components that are reusable and modular. Result: quick app development for your business.
• React employs a virtual DOM, which is a condensed version of the physical Document Object Model (DOM), to enhance the rendering process of the user interface. Result: great user engagement.
• React utilizes JSX, an extension of the syntax that merges JavaScript and XML-like syntax, to define the structure and visual aspects of UI components. Result: attractive UI for better UX.
• React adheres to a unidirectional data flow model wherein information is transmitted only in one direction, from parent to child components.

Benefits:

• React offers a component-based approach that enables reusability, making it one of its primary benefits.
• React boasts a robust community and ecosystem, characterized by an abundance of highly engaged and proactive developers. This thriving community offers a plethora of resources, libraries, and tools that aid in the development of web applications with React. Thus, no issue in React shall remain for long for any business app.
• Hired developers stand to gain tremendously from the shared knowledge, collaborative discussions, and access to a vast array of pre-built components.
• Consequently, this fosters greater efficiency in the software development process while enhancing overall satisfaction levels among stakeholders of the product.

Its rationale and application

It is essential for developers and companies to understand why and where to use React JS for web development as organizations that are delving into mobile app development can reap numerous advantages utilizing React. It is an ideal choice for developing dynamic and interactive user interfaces, owing to its effective rendering mechanism and the ability to reuse components. This allows clients to have engaging and responsive UIs. Regardless of whether programmers need to handle complex user interactions or update data in real time, React offers the necessary flexibility and performance needed to deliver exceptional interactive experiences customized to any business.

Moreover, it is imperative to notice how React app development helps startups in the bigger arena. React is well-suited for the creation of single-page applications, which are designed to offer a smooth and uninterrupted user experience using dynamic content updates instead of full-page reloads. React’s efficacy in managing highly intricate user interfaces and handling alterations in state renders it an optimal selection for developing SPAs, where both performance and interactivity play significant roles resulting in the best experience for end users.

What is React Native?

The React Native app development framework is a remarkable tool that extends the capabilities of React to the mobile domain. It facilitates the creation of mobile applications through JavaScript, simplifying app development for iOS and Android platforms. React Native’s key advantage lies in its capacity to furnish a range of user interface elements that closely mimic native ones benefiting businesses to develop one app performing like a native app. Consequently, hired professional React Native developers can design apps with an interface that resembles native apps while requiring coding only once.

Features:

• React Natives enables developers to create a mobile application that works effortlessly well on both Android and iOS-supported arenas. Result: saved money and budget.
• It reduces time and resources as it has various inbuilt features that support both iOS and Android platforms. Result: quick app development and time-to-market.
• It utilizes native components that are under the hood, and with the same it achieved a robust performance in comparison to the fully native developed apps. Result: same features and facilities as native.
• It has a hot-reloading, enabling developers to view the code changes right after running the app to speed up the development process. Result: happy developers, quick deliverables.
• React Native’s API allows developers to access various features on the device such as geolocation, push notifications, and camera, that in return enhances the capabilities of the app.

Benefits:

• With React Native developers can write self-generated codes once and then utilize the same on various other platforms, reducing the effort in time-taking development individually on every platform.
• React Native is a platform that provides cost-effective development to its users, which is helpful for start-ups coming along.
• It can handle complex user interfaces and has a large ecosystem with tools and third-party libraries which provides a scalable solution to the industries looking to build their own mobile applications.

Its application and rationale

To begin with, the platform’s ability to reuse code and facilitate rapid development cycles makes it an ideal option for startups seeking to swiftly erect and examine their concepts. React Native enables startups to promptly construct prototypes, add or refine features, and substantiate their workability. This way, they can conserve significant time and resources while executing their projects.

By leveraging a unified codebase to cater to various platforms, startups can markedly curtail their developmental and upkeep costs. This method does away with the requirement of distinct development teams or sustaining numerous codebases, thereby leading to enhanced efficiency and optimal resource utilization.

A major difference between React Native and React JS

As per our analysis in this era of React native v. React JS, it is imperative to notice that they both have distinct differences that separate them in terms of target platforms and UI rendering. There is a measurable difference between React and React Native but we can analyze that React is exclusively designed for web development, and excels in rendering components to the browser’s DOM.

On the other hand, React Native is specifically tailored to mobile app development and renders components to native UI elements, thereby providing a genuine native experience. Furthermore, React Native offers an extensive array of UI components that are specific to mobile platforms unlike React which primarily relies on HTML and CSS for UI rendering in web applications.

One major difference between React JS and React Native is the potential of React Native to reuse code across multiple platforms; however, React is better suited for web development services. Take these distinctions into account when determining whether you should choose either React or React Native based on your project’s unique requirements.

Which is better for your business: React vs React Native?

When choosing between React and React Native, the choice should solely depend upon the specific requirements of a project. If one aims to build a website application then React JS is the go-to option, it provides vast features such as excellent performance, a powerful ecosystem, and a varied community of developers.

On the other end, if the goal is to develop a website and mobile application compatible with iOS and Android, then React Native is the option to go with. It provides developers various benefits such as re-usability of codes, native features access, and the ability to utilize existing JavaScript skills that ultimately help their clients deliver products quickly and up to their satisfaction.

Hardik Shah

As the tech-savvy Project Manager at Prismetric, his admiration for app technology is boundless though!He writes widely researched articles about the app development methodologies, codes, technical project management skills, app trends, and technical events. Inventive mobile applications and Android app trends that inspire the maximum app users magnetize him deeply to offer his readers some remarkable articles.