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  • Nayantika Srivastava

Understanding The Difference Between React Vs. React Native

React and React Native are two very popular names among web developers. The inception of react can be dated back to 2013 when it was designed and developed by a Facebook engineer. 2 years later, react native was born with the intent to serve the demand for android and iOS app development.


Facebook introduced these modern technologies to fuel the web development process cumulative of website and mobile app development. In no time, these two became pervasive, universally becoming the preferred choice for a large community of developers. According to reports by GitHub, more than 700,000 developers use React native framework across the globe. It powers over 33k applications in more than 1700 companies acquiring the 6th position with 14.51% votes.


Regarding understanding the difference between react and react native, although the terms sound similar, their applications are diverse. While the former assists in developing the front end of the websites, the latter supports cross-platform application development for iOS and Android. The resemblance between the two is the use of an XML-Esque markup language, JavaScript and JSX. Some of the significant benefits of using these technologies are:


  • React developers can eliminate the hassle of developing separate mobile apps for iOS and Android. This saves time and cost, as 90% of the implementation can be done with a single code.

  • The ease, efficiency, and agile development make it a well-known choice among Fortune 500 companies.

  • The most SEO-friendly frameworks make a developer's life much easier.



Let’s take them up one at a time and understand the differences between react vs react native in a better way.


What is ReactJS?




React, most commonly famed as ReactJs, is a front-end JavaScript library that is free and open-source for building user interfaces. Statista reports that ReactJs holds the second largest market share of 42.62% in the list of most used web frameworks by global developers.


Do you know the features and the reasons for its lasting fame?


Some of the vital ReactJS features that benefit the process of web development are:

  • The virtual DOM speeds up the app development process and offers flexibility.

  • The use of JSX is one of the top features of ReactJS that benefits the developers by making it easier for them to write the building blocks.

  • The contribution of native can’t be ignored when we understand react vs. react native. Using native instead of web components for android and iOS development renders the advantage of transforming react code for cross-platform compatibility.


The top-rated benefits of using ReactJs include:

  • Due to its short learning curve, businesses can build their online presence in minimal time as developers can learn ReactJS quickly.

  • The ability to build a feature-rich UI for an app with engaging interfaces of superior quality adds a feather to success.

  • One of the biggest perks is the possibility of creating unique components that suit your business requirements.


Considering all these, some leading websites have been developed using ReactJS, such as Facebook, PayPal, Airbnb, Reddit, Yahoo Mail, Netflix, DropBox, and many more.


Now let’s dive into the specifics of React native.


What is React Native?




This library is rich in myriad effective characteristics that assist in the well-functioning of an application. To build an understanding of what is the difference between ReactJS and React Native, take a look at the below-mentioned features first.


  • React native is an open-source framework backed by Facebook that falls under the ‘Write Once Learn Anywhere’ category.

  • There is a greater degree of flexibility in the development team as a single code is used to implement any web application upgrades.

  • The page load time for React Native is less, so users can see the pages more quickly than others contributing to a better page score.

  • And many more


Being feature-rich, its advantages are limitless. Some of them are:


  • The availability of a native code in React Native makes it possible to optimize the app’s performance and accelerate it to the next level.

  • Who doesn’t want to eliminate the extra work? The most significant bonus of using React Native is that it assists in cross-platform mobile app development with a reduced hassle.

  • It is one of the most used libraries in the tech segment due to the support of its large community base that offers comprehensive knowledge and information to the developers to constantly stay updated.

  • And many more


React vs. React Native is thus a substantial topic to explore.


Conclusion

You might wonder that every coin has 2 sides; what are the cons? Your mind is asking the right question; unlike every other technology, react js vs react native also has it’s downsides. But if you weigh the pros and cons, you will see that the former outshines the latter.


If you have plans for web or mobile app development for your business, reach out to a team of React experts pre-vetted from across the world via a reputable and reliable source.





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