In the domain of mobile app development services, two frameworks have captured the spotlight: React Native and ReactJS. Emerged from the innovative minds at Facebook, these platforms have gained significant popularity and thus became powerhouses in the industry.
Did you know that ReactJS, initially known as FaxJS, has turned out to be the world’s leading web app development framework? In a stack overflow developer survey, it has stepped beyond the popularity of Angular, jQuery, and VueJS. In the JavaScript Library category, React is the fourth most popular in the United States.
The platform was an instant success, and due to its growing popularity, the Facebook team open-sourced ReactJS two years after its initial release. In addition, Facebook introduced React Native in 2015.
Both platforms now have numerous similarities and differences. However, the question here is which of them will be better suited for the development of mobile apps. And for that, a detailed comparison of ReactJS and React Native is required.
As a result, in this blog on ReactJS vs React Native, we will discuss the fundamentals of this platform, its benefits and drawbacks, and then we will look at the key differences between these platforms. Finally, we will determine which of these platforms is better suited for mobile app development. So, you must read the entire blog from the start to the last.
Table of Contents
ReactJS: The Power of Web Development
ReactJS is a JavaScript framework that creates incredibly dynamic and responsive websites by fusing the speed of JavaScript with a cutting-edge technique for creating web pages.
As a result, it significantly altered Facebook’s development approach.
Following its release as an open-source JavaScript utility in 2013, the library quickly gained popularity due to its unique approach to UI programming, leading to in a long-standing collaboration between React and Angular, another popular web development tool.
React Native: Bridging Mobile and Web Development
React Native, a hybrid app development platform for iOS and Android, was announced by Facebook engineers two years after ReactJS was released as an open-source tool. The program was developed using the same principles as ReactJS and swiftly adopted by the engineering community and businesses using a mobile-first strategy.
React Native is a cross-platform mobile framework that utilizes ReactJs to build one-of-a-kind websites and applications. When you hire ReactJs developers to build mobile apps, the process is streamlined because they can convert native app components into JavaScript and make them work on multiple platforms like Android, Windows, and iOS.
Even more fascinating element is that React Native builds the Reactjs framework into its own framework, and Reactjs assists in the development of components using React Native app development.
ReactJS vs React Native
- Installation Process
ReactJS is a JavaScript library that may be run on any web platform. It is simple to set up and operate, and it has a significant user and development community. Find out more about React certification here.
However, because ReactJS does not natively support mobile devices, you will need to construct mobile apps with a third-party toolkit such as React Native or Cordova.
React Native, on the other hand, is a mobile-specific framework that can construct cross-platform apps. It requires more effort to set up than ReactJS. Nonetheless, it offers improved speed and a more uniform user experience across platforms.
- Efficiency
When it comes to presenting dynamic information, ReactJS is thought to be more efficient than React Native. This is due to ReactJS’s usage of a virtual DOM (Document Object Model), which enables for speedier rendering speeds.
React Native, on the contrary, employs a real DOM, which might slow down speed when generating complicated websites.
Moreover, ReactJS is lighter than React Native app development framework, which might enhance efficiency even further.
As a result, if you want the quickest solution, ReactJS is the way to go.
- Technology Base
ReactJS and React Native are different from one another in terms of the technologies they use.
ReactJS is JavaScript-based, whereas React Native is Objective-C or Java-based. Because native code is quicker than interpreted code, this has a major impact on performance.
Likewise, ReactJS employs a virtual DOM, which might be slower than interacting with the DOM API directly. However, the extra flexibility provided by virtual DOM makes this trade-off worthwhile.
- Feasibility
ReactJS is a framework that is ideal for creating web applications. React Native, on the other hand, is better suited for mobile app development.
However, depending on the project requirements, both frameworks are still viable options for application development.
- Compatibility
ReactJS is a JavaScript library for creating user interfaces that works with a wide range of browsers, including Internet Explorer. React Native, on the flip side, is a framework for developing native mobile apps. It is only compatible with iOS and Android, the two major mobile platforms. Because of its native components, it gives a superior user experience.
- Navigation
ReactJS uses a typical browser-based approach, whereas React Native depends on native platform navigational components. This can have an influence on both the development process and the overall user experience.
ReactJS development services are better suited for apps that will be used mostly in a web browser. At the same time, React Native is a superior alternative for developing native mobile applications.
However, because some hybrid techniques contain parts of both frameworks, deciding which to utilize is not always easy.
The easiest method to pick between ReactJS and React Native is to assess the project’s particular requirements and determine which framework will deliver the greatest overall user experience.
- Storage
For projects that need high-performance storage, for instance, dynamic web apps, ReactJS is an appropriate choice.
It is a great choice for storing enormous volumes of data as well. However, because ReactJS can be difficult to scale, it is not the greatest choice for large projects.
Projects that require the ability to scale quickly should use React Native instead. It also features greater offline storage support and cross-platform compatibility.
- Search Engine-friendly
ReactJS is more optimized for search engines than React Native. This is due to a variety of variables, including the usage of standard HTML elements, which are easier for search engines to index.
ReactJS code is often more well-organized and simpler to understand than React Native code, making it simpler for search engines to scan and index.
Nevertheless, this does not imply that React Native cannot be made SEO-friendly; it only means that it is more challenging to do it with this framework.
Which is Better – ReactJs or React Native?
That’s like asking whether apples or oranges are superior.
Anyways, ReactJs and React Native, both are diverse tools with various applications. In the final analysis, ReactJs should be your first choice if you need a web app that loads rapidly, but React Native is the way to go if your app will primarily be used on smartphones.
As ReactJs has been around longer, it has a larger library of components and a larger support network.
Fortunately, there are Github folders for both ReactJs and React Native, as well as various developer communities where you can get free guidance if you’re stuck on your project, such as Stack Overflow, Reddit, and Hashnode.
Future of React Native and ReactJs?
These Facebook-based app developers aren’t the only ones with a single value. Flutter and NativeScript, to name a few, are mounting strong competition.
It also appears that Facebook (under its new parent company Meta) will combine elements of both React variants. Given the company’s direction, it’s possible they’ll develop an all-in-one solution with more support for VR and augmented reality apps. Because they already have React VR and React 360 under the same brand, this trend is likely to continue.
Irrespective of what lies ahead, React Native seems is likely to stay for a long time, building top-rank applications for various well-known companies across the world.
Last Thoughts…
So, now you know that React Js is for high-performing UI while React Native is used in build ative & cross-platform applications.
Hence, the React Native vs. ReactJS competition has no clear winner. It is entirely dependent on your project.
Choose React Native app development services as it is ideal for mobile app development if you want a native mobile app that should work across multiple platforms.
If you want to build a web application, hiring ReactJS developers is an ideal way to proceed. Remember that you will also require backend technology!
Consider the specific requirements of your project, the expertise of your React Native app development company, and the constraints you face to choose the best option for your mobile app development needs