React vs React Native: Key Features, Differences, and Advantages

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Nothing quite stands out like React and React Native when it comes to building responsive and attractive web apps for people. For instance, they are used by companies like BBC, PayPal, Netflix, Airbnb, just to name a few. Both are developed by Facebook and widely loved by app owners and developers worldwide.

React or ReactJS is a front-end open JavaScript library – a staple for web development. It comprises reusable web technologies and components to design single-page web applications. You can use it to develop app skeletons and compelling user interfaces. It’s adaptable with an exhaustive resource library. As it is flexible, you can simply add React as part of your existing codebase without losing any data.

React Native, also an open-source framework based on JavaScript. It takes the abilities of React to make developing mobile apps efficient. This means you can build cross-platform apps for iOS, Windows, and Android with the familiar React components. This saves up time and energy in learning new concepts. It also has a growing community with resources and components. For example, the open-source UI kits and libraries on GitHub. This ensures you have support when needed.

Key Differences: React JS vs React Native

Both of them share a similar syntax and design principle, as they are both by Facebook. Nonetheless, they have unique functions and properties designed to meet the unique requirements of developers.

Refer to the React vs React Native differences to decide on the framework for your platform.

Parameters	React or ReactJS	React Native
Installation Process	It requires only the <script> tags of the HTML page.	It requires a dedicated development environment- iOS Xcode or Android Studio.
Efficiency	Less development time and code reusability make it efficient. You can execute apps on the client’s side while rendering them on the server side.	React Native uses ReactJS reusable native components compiled into the native code. It enhances efficiency in performance and memory.
Styling	It uses CSS for styling and animations.	It uses JS Stylesheet for style and Animated API for animations.
Platform	It is a framework to build web apps with the help of JavaScript.	It is a complete platform for building native and cross-platform mobile apps.
Syntax	It uses HTML and its syntax.	It uses a specific React Native syntax.
Rendering	It uses Virtual DOM to render its components in Browser code.	Native APIs render components.
Learning Curve	It is easy to learn as it is the most used JavaScript library with endless resources.	Learning React is necessary as it includes all its components.
Storage	Ideal for high-performance projects with high storage needs. It uses local storage to store and manage data.	Ideal for projects that need high scalability. It uses Asyncsorage by default for Android and iOS apps.
Navigation	The Reactor Router library offers navigation on click events. Another tool, useHistory, allows access to history instances.	It uses its distinct library navigator to tackle navigation across different displays.
Technology Basis	It uses JavaScript for its documentation.	It uses ReactJS to build app interfaces. You can also integrate your code written in other languages- Java, Objective C, Objective C++, and C++ without hassle.
SEO Friendly	You can create SEO-friendly dynamic interfaces while building your web apps.	React Native does not take SEO into mind for building mobile apps.

What are the Features of React & React Native?

React and React Native have unique features and follow defined frameworks for app development.

Features of React

Free and Open source:

Due to this, it is regularly updated, improved, and future-proof.

One-way data binding:

Data flows in one direction and is passed between parent and child blocks for ultimate data control.

Declarative syntax model:

This syntax simplifies the coding process in how the UI will look. This makes it easier to understand and develop code.

Virtual DOM:

It uses the Virtual Document Object Model (VDOM or Virtual DOM) for rendering. VDOM efficiently updates the UI without needing unnecessary rendering and updating.

Features of React Native

Cross-platform compatibility:

Build apps on both platforms, i.e., Android and iOS, without worrying about different codebases.

Third-party library access:

You can avail a large third-party ecosystem with plug-ins and libraries. These tools help when you feel stuck in something or need some guidance.

Performance:

React Native combines the capabilities of native code with APIs. This helps in designing mobile apps that look and perform the same as those built with native tools like Java.

Hot reloading:

A useful feature, with hot reloading, you can see the result of any code changes in real-time. So, you can view any changes without refreshing or restarting your web app page.

React vs React Native: Advantages and Disadvantages

Here’s a quick overview of the pros and cons of React and React Native.

Softwares	Advantages	Disadvantages
React or React JS	It has an easy learning curve with endless guides, tutorials, and articles on the internet. You can reuse components from your existing codebase without building from scratch. Resources are readily available with libraries, tools, and community support.	It can get complex to manage state and data flow as the apps grow in size and functionality. It uses JavaScript, XML, or JSX as an extension to write HTML code in React. It is difficult for beginners to learn. Frequent changes in the React library can hinder the app development speed.
React Native	It saves time, effort, and costs on building apps for Android and iOS devices. Since it uses JavaScript and React.js as its base language, you can grasp it faster once you have hold of React. React apps work effortlessly- less worry about debugging and optimization.	Application load time is a critical issue in React Native apps. It happens as the JavaScript thread may take time to deploy. Despite cross-platform capabilities, some apps may need platform-specific configurations and code.

Choosing the Right Technology: React vs React Native

Both React and React Native are powerful frameworks for developers to design highly interactive apps. So, which one to choose ultimately comes down to three things: your project scope, unique output preferences, and long-term goal.

To further support your choice, consider other key elements. These include your available resources, project type, its scalability and scope, and your target audience.

To sum it up, choose React for web apps that exclusively run on web browsers. You and/or your team are familiar with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Also, you prioritize SEO-friendly pages and an excellent desktop user experience – a great choice to design scalable, responsive web experiences.

And, opt for React Native if you are developing a mobile app for Android and iOS. Your priority is a mobile-first app that requires cross-platform development. On top of that, you want to build fast native UI components without the need to build separate apps for each platform.

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