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React.js vs. React Native

August 15, 2024

React.js and React Native are both frameworks developed by Facebook, but they serve different purposes and are used in different contexts. Here's a comparison of the two:

React.js

  • Purpose: React.js (often referred to as React) is a JavaScript library used for building user interfaces, primarily for web applications.
  • Platform: Web.
  • Language: JavaScript and JSX (JavaScript XML).
  • Rendering: React.js uses a virtual DOM (Document Object Model) to render components, making updates efficient.
  • Use Cases: Building dynamic, high-performance web applications. Commonly used for single-page applications (SPAs), content-heavy websites, and web applications where a rich user interface is needed.
  • Ecosystem: React.js can be integrated with various backend frameworks like Node.js, Django, or Ruby on Rails. It also works with state management libraries like Redux and server-side rendering frameworks like Next.js.

React Native

  • Purpose: React Native is a framework used for building mobile applications. It allows developers to write code that runs on both iOS and Android devices using a single codebase.
  • Platform: Mobile (iOS and Android).
  • Language: JavaScript and JSX, with some native modules potentially written in Swift, Objective-C, Java, or Kotlin.
  • Rendering: React Native uses native components rather than web components, which allows for a more native look and feel. It doesn’t use a virtual DOM; instead, it directly manipulates native views.
  • Use Cases: Building cross-platform mobile applications. It's ideal when you need to develop apps for both iOS and Android without writing separate codebases.
  • Ecosystem: React Native includes access to native device features and APIs through JavaScript. It integrates with native code and allows for platform-specific components.

Key Differences

  • Platform: React.js is for web apps, while React Native is for mobile apps.
  • Rendering: React.js renders to the browser's DOM, whereas React Native renders to mobile device components.
  • Code Reusability: React Native allows a higher degree of code reuse across iOS and Android, while React.js code is specific to the web.
  • Learning Curve: If you're familiar with React.js, transitioning to React Native is relatively straightforward, though you’ll need to learn some platform-specific concepts for mobile development.

When to Use Which?

  • Use React.js if you're developing a web application.
  • Use React Native if you're building a mobile application that needs to run on both iOS and Android.