React JS vs. React Native for Mobile App Development

While React JS is a library developed by Facebook for the development of web apps, React Native is a complete framework that is used for mobile app development. In this blog, we'll take a look at these two front-end web technologies and the support that you will require to create a robust app with either of these.

React JS vs. React Native

React JS is the frontend library that helps in handling the view layer for web and mobile apps. React JS can be used to create reusable UI components. This technology is currently among the most popular JavaScript libraries because it has a very strong foundation and support from an extensive development community. 

The React Native mobile framework compiles to native app components and this allows developers to build native mobile apps in JavaScript for iOS, Android, and Windows. The best part is that it allows you to in order to build the components while implementing React JS under the hood.

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Both are open-source technologies developed by Facebook. Most of the aspects of React JS and React Native are the same. Both platforms use the JSX (JavaScript XML) extension to JavaScript. However, the rendering mechanisms that are used in the two are different. 

React JS uses the react-DOM implementation to render components to the DOM (document object model). React JS is smaller than the library that it uses. However, React Native has its own varied implementation for rendering components to the different native platforms. 

• Instead of regular CSS for the web, React Native uses the flexbox way of styling
• React JS may be used directly in the DOM but React Native is usually compiled to native code 

To sum it up, React JS is easy to use and allows for the easy creation of complex user interfaces. React Native is smooth and fast and, therefore, it is a good choice for mobile app development. 

Benefits of using React JS

 React JS came up as part of an effort by the Facebook team to reduce rebuild time. React JS has a virtual DOM which is a viewing agreement on data inputs/outputs and refreshes only part of the page. Though this was an accidental discovery, it stayed on because it proved to be faster. Now, this feature improves performance and allows for faster programming. 

React JS allows you to reuse code components and thus helps you to save a lot of time. The complete rendering of your pages from the server to the browser helps to improve the SEO of the web app. The debugging speed is also improved.

Read our blog “Conversion of Native Android and iOS apps to React Native”.

The React JS script is easily readable and there is no extensive list of concepts that a developer has to become familiar with (only to find out that they are useful only inside of the framework). You can also keep pace with all advancements that take place in the Java language ecosystem. 

Benefits of using React Native

React Native consists of Native modules and Native components designed to improve performance. React Native renders specific code components when native APIs are  used. PhoneGap, Cordova, and some other cross-platform frameworks render code via WebView,

React Native has all the advantages of React.js as it focuses on a better UI. React Native allows developers to reuse a common logic layer and therefore this helps developers avoid the exercise of building the same app separately for iOS and Android. 

Using a React Native IDE, such as Visual Studio Code or Expo IDE, developers can streamline the development process by leveraging tools like auto-completion, debugging support, and hot reloading. This enables real-time updates and immediate feedback on changes made to the code, significantly speeding up the development cycle. Additionally, the IDEs provide built-in integrations for managing dependencies, version control, and testing, allowing developers to focus on optimizing their app’s native performance while enjoying the convenience of a robust development environment.

Also read: Which cross platform framework to choose React Native vs. Flutter

React Native has a component-based structure which allows developers to build agile apps using the web-style approach to development when compared to some other hybrid frameworks.

React Native is easy to learn if you already know JavaScript. This allows any front-end web developer to become a mobile app developer if they choose to. All you have to know is JavaScript, some native UI elements, platform APIs, and a few other platform-specific design patterns.

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If you are looking to convert your old app into React Native code, there is no need for any overhaul. You have to just add in React Native UI components into the existing app’s code. You do not have to rewrite any part of the code.

Native app development is associated with inefficiency, slower deployment, and less productivity. However, React Native brings in more speed, better responsiveness, and agility of web app development along with better quality UX in the hybrid space, and provides users with a native app experience.

React is only a framework that allows you to build applications using JavaScript. React Native is a whole platform that allows you to build native, cross-platform mobile apps, and React.JS is a JavaScript library which you can use for creating a high-performing UI layer.

To put it in simpler terms, React is ideal for building dynamic, high-performing, responsive UI for your SaaS applications and web interfaces, while React Native is meant to give your mobile apps a native feel.

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Also Read:

Flutter vs React Native - The framework you should choose