React vs React Native - Which JS Framework is the Best For You?

React and React Native are two individual JavaScript frameworks popular among developers to develop exciting applications. React vs React Native is nowadays a trending topic to discuss. Everyone wants to know which of these JS frameworks is the best. Well, that really depends on what type of project you are willing to create. The differences between React and React Native come down to their functionality and critical purposes. The goal of this blog is to make you aware of the key differences between React.js vs React Native and help you make the right choice. Stay tuned.

What is React?

React, also known as React.js, is an open-source front-end development library that is used to develop single-page web applications. It is specifically designed to develop the view layer of web and mobile apps. Its reusable components allow developers to create quick, adaptive, and intuitive applications with a much stronger structure.

ReactJS is made of two parts: the first is components that contain HTML code and what is visible in the user interface. The second one is HTML documents where the components are rendered. React enables the automation of the designing process. It makes it easy for ReactJS developers to integrate plugins and libraries with existing code. Facebook, Instagram, and Netflix are some popular applications built on React.

Features of React.js

Speed: Its virtual DOM (Document Object Model) feature plays a vital role in boosting application performance.

Dynamic Applications: It’s a good choice for creating a user-friendly dynamic web application with only a few lines of code.

JavaScript Syntax: Reactj.s has a JavaScript syntax feature that allows you to describe the user interface for applications.

One-way binding data functionality: It has a one-way binding data functionality that offers code stability and helps in reducing errors.

Component-based Framework: Its component-based framework allows you to pass data throughout the application without affecting your DOM.

HTML Uses: ReactJS provides you with access to libraries where you can still use HTML.

Efficiency: It provides you with a real-time view of all the changes so that you have to spend less time coding.

SEO Functionality: ReactJS supports SEO optimization that allows your website to be indexed faster.

What is React Native?

React Native or React Native JS is an open-source native mobile development library developed by Facebook to meet the growing demand for mobile applications. It is a hybrid mobile app framework, that helps developers to create mobile applications with a single code base. React Native allows developers to expand the reach of ReactJS to platforms such as Windows, Android, and iOS. Instagram, Facebook Ads, Bloomberg, and Walmart, are some popular applications that are built on React Native.

Features of React Native

Accessible to All Platforms: React Native is accessible to all platforms - Windows, Android and iOS. You can use its APIs to integrate it with any mobile application.

Excellent Architecture: Its flexible architecture makes it easy for developers to code.

Flexible CocoaPods Support: It has flexible CocoaPods support with which you can associate it with iOS coding projects.

Compatible with JavaScript: React Native is compatible with JavaScript which makes it one of the easiest to use.

UI-focused: React Native is UI-focused which makes it a good choice for the customizability and interactivity of applications.

Cost-effective: Codes in React Native do not need to be rewritten for every application which ultimately reduces code density and maintenance costs.

Excellent Support: The React Native community is large and very supportive.

React vs React Native: How Do They Work?

Before starting with the difference between React and React Native, you must first understand what works behind the stage. The Virtual DOM function in React is used to create UX while the leverage APIs in React Native are used to render UI components that you can again use in both Android and iOS platforms.

Virtual DOM for ReactJs

Document Object Model (DOM) is an essential programming interface used to represent web documents. The capacity of libraries and frameworks significantly impacts DOM on the end result of the project.

Virtual DOM, on the other hand, is a virtual representation of the real DOM. Virtual DOM can manage quick updates as dynamic Uls are being created. Virtual DOM is speedy and provides a better user experience than real DOM updates.

Native APIs for React Native

React Native features Java APIs that are used to render Android components and native Application Program Interface (API) to write iOS components. Developers use JavaScript to construct the remaining code and personalize the app for each platform. This enables maximum component reusability and code shareability.

Unlike Reactjs, React Native doesn't leverage HTML and CSS which means one needs to create style sheets in JavaScript to style the components in React Native. It may look similar to CSS, but they are very different.

React vs React Native: Key Differences

There are a few key differences between ReactJS and React Native. You must first note that React can be used on all platforms while React Native has certain restrictions. React is a JavaScript library that developers use to build high-functioning UIs (user interfaces) for web applications. Meanwhile, React Native is a whole framework that we can use to create cross-platform mobile apps. React is a base derivative of React DOM for the web platform and React Native is its own base derivative.

The bottom line is that React is mainly used to build interactive UIs in the form of a JavaScript library whereas React Native is used in building a whole framework independent of the platform, no matter if it’s Android or iOS.

React.js vs React Native: The Advantages

React

• Easy Learning Curve

React has an easy learning curve as you can learn React in Nepal through hundreds of tutorials, guides, and articles on the internet. Learning Reactjs online help you get a good understanding of the js framework in a very short time. A developer with a basic JavaScript understanding can easily learn Reactjs in Nepal.

• Reusable Components

Components in React are reusable. That means a developer can reuse various components to create a completely different application. Each component has its own logic and rendering and they can be reused whenever it’s required, ultimately speeding up the process of the app development.

• Virtual DOM

The Virtual DOM (Document Object Model) in React is an amazing feature that helps in higher performance, efficiency, and usability of the applications. The Virtual DOM ensures that the lightweight copy of the real DOM is updated.

React Native

• Easy to Learn

React Native uses JavaScript such as React.js as the base language which makes it easy to learn React Native in Nepal. It provides developers with more iterations and flexibility, allowing them to improve their skills and abilities to develop React Native apps.

• Reusable Code

The code reusability functionality in React Native allows developers to build cross-platform apps. On this JS framework, you can use one codebase to deploy on both Android and iOS platforms.

• Fewer Errors

As React Native allows you to deploy one application on various platforms, there are less debugging and optimization are required, and thus you find fewer errors in it.

Reactjs vs React Native: The Drawbacks

React

• JSX

React uses JSX (JavaScript XML), an extension that allows developers to write HTML code. Many developers, especially beginners, don’t like JSX documentation as they feel it is pretty difficult.

• Constant Library Updates

The development speed of an application is highly hindered due to frequent changes in the React library. Because of this reason, many developers prefer React Native over React.

• Third-party Integration

React provides you with multiple third-party modules and plugins, however, it has a few native modules. With third-party integration, you can combine HTML and CSS code into JSX but it is too complex, especially for those who are new to app development.

React Native

• Shortage of Custom Modules

React Native provides you with fewer custom modules for applications. This means if an application is loaded with many features, the development speed slows down due to a shortage of native modules.

• Frequent Updates

When you choose React Native as your JS framework, you will constantly have to work towards its betterment in development as it frequently comes up with new updates, including new ported native components, improved custom components, and enhanced performance.

• Load Time

Application load time is a critical issue that developer faces while using React Native. The loading speed fluctuates because of the JavaScript thread that takes a lot of time to deploy.

React vs React Native: Head-to-Head Comparison

React vs React Native: Which One is Better?

React and React Native are important pillars in app and web development. They both have a lot to offer and due to their flexible functionalities and evolving eco-system libraries, both of these JS frameworks are gaining momentum with each passing day. 

So, which JS framework is better in React vs React Native debate? Well, the betterness fully depends on your needs. React is basically a JavaScript library and React Native is the entire framework. With React, you can create applications with high functionality and complex calculations while React Native is optimal to provide your mobile apps with a native feeling. At last, we ask you to understand what to expect from what JS framework and set your priorities accordingly. The bottom line is that there is no absolute answer for which one is better in React vs React Native.

React vs React Native: Which Should I Learn?

now that you’ve got a clear idea about React vs React Native, you may wonder which of these IT courses in Nepal you should learn. Well, React and React Native are different for the end-product platforms but they both follow similar principles and methodologies for app development.

When you choose to learn either React or React Native frameworks, you will find it easy to learn another framework. However, you must have some basic knowledge of React before starting with React Native training in Nepal. If you want to become an app developer and create interactive web and mobile applications then you must consider connecting with TechAxis. We offer both the React JS training in Nepal and React Native course in Nepal. Established in 2017, TechAxis has helped hundreds of students become successful app developers. We are considered one of the best IT institutes in Nepal.