Quick Summary:
- If you are a newbie in the world of development technologies, let me tell you in advance that you might get confused with two terms – ReactJs and React Native.
- Are they the same or relevant? What are the peculiar functionalities and limitations of both? Which one to choose for the next project? And finally, concluding, “Which one is better?”
- Let’s dive together to help unwrap the ‘two-similar looking tools’.
Before I jot down detailed insights about the differences between ReactJS and React Native, here’s a brief history for your sake.
ReactJS vs. React Native – How It All Started?
ReactJS (also known as React) and React Native are acknowledged and used frameworks developed by Facebook for building user interfaces. In 2011, ReactJS was developed by Jordan Walke and his team at their software development company (Facebook) in response to their need for a high-performing user interface. At that time, Facebook’s timeline was expanding and bringing in newer features. The constant updates were hampering their progress; hence, the team realized they needed to transform their user-interface model. They took a big leap, and the ReactJS library was later released.
What is ReactJS?
ReactJS (JS for JavaScript) is a JavaScript package and helps us to create open-source and single-page web apps. It provides flexibility to the developers to create and use reusable UI components that can be integrated into a more extensive application. It is an adaptive and intuitive framework that allows developers to build whatever they want to; without following any formal rules. ReactJS makes use of a virtual DOM (Document Object Model) to enhance performance efficiency. It also reduces consistent arrival of updates required for the actual DOM.
What is React Native?
On the other hand, React Native is a mobile framework that builds native mobile apps with the help of ReachtJS technologies. It works exactly on the terms of ReactJS but targets native mobile platforms like iOS and Android. React Native developers only write single-code and translate it across multiple platforms, in order to save time and resources.
How to render a button on a webpage using ReactJS?
In ReactJS, a single button on a webpage can be created using JSX syntax, a way of writing JavaScript that looks like HTML. This way you can make more options of inputs on a single webpage.
How does React Native work?
In React Native, you can create a single button by defining a new component that renders a TouchableOpacity element, which is a touchable opacity button component in React Native.
React uses native components and APIs to render the UI on mobile devices, whereas ReactJS renders the UI using HTML and CSS on web browsers. However, the component syntax and development workflow are very similar between the two frameworks.
Apart from a half-alike nomenclature, they are distinct in their purpose and functionality. Let’s delve into the comparative analysis below:
Key Differences between ReactJS and React Native
Following are some of the notable differences between ReachJS and React Native:
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Framework
One substantial difference between the two frameworks is as follows:
- ReactJS: It is a collection of JavaScript code that enables a software development company to develop web applications. In contrast, React Native is used for building cross-platform applications – iOS, Android, and web apps.
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Rendering
ReactJS runs in a web browser, while React Native runs natively on mobile devices. This indicates that ReactJS incorporates HTML and CSS to render components, while React Native uses native components optimized for mobile platforms.
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Access to Native Features
While ReactJS focuses on web development, React Native provides access to native features and APIs of the underlying platform. This means that you can access device-specific functionalities like camera, geolocation, push notifications, and more, using JavaScript code in React Native.
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Set of UI components
Another difference is the set of components available. ReactJS has a wide range of components designed for web applications, such as forms, input fields, and buttons. In contrast, React Native has a different set of components that are optimized for mobile applications, such as maps, touchable elements, and swipe gestures.
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Codebase
ReactJS and React Native have a shared syntax and component-based architecture. This means you can reuse a significant portion of your code between ReactJS and React Native projects, especially for the business logic and components that are not platform-specific. However, the rendering and UI components are different since ReactJS renders to the browser’s DOM while React Native uses native UI components provided by the platform.
ReactJS & React Native | Which One to Choose?
In conclusion, ReactJS and React Native are both useful and popular frameworks for building user interfaces. Which one should you select? There is no answer to this question. But one thing is for sure. The software developers should consider their app goals, key functionality and features and then embark on any app development process.
ReactJS is a JavaScript library for building web applications. It works on the same principles of JS. React Native, as its name suggests, is a complete framework that is used to build end-to-end native mobile apps. Therefore, it would be unfair to award one as a better option over the other. While they share some similarities in their approach and syntax, they are distinct in their functionality and target platforms.
If ReactJS is a player for creating complex apps, React Native has the ideal crown for incorporating a native feel into mobile apps. One complements the other; one completes the other!
When choosing between the two frameworks, consider the platform you are targeting and the type of application you are building. If you plan to develop a web app application, ReactJS would be the best in any circumstances. If your product is targeted at various platforms or mobile apps in particular, React Native is your go-to alternative.
