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Bootstrap vs Bootstrap React

October 01, 2024

Bootstrap and React Bootstrap (or Bootstrap React) are related, but they serve different purposes when building web applications. Here’s a comparison of the two:

1. Bootstrap

  • What it is: A popular CSS framework used to create responsive and mobile-first websites. It provides pre-styled components (like buttons, forms, grids, etc.) that help developers quickly build user interfaces without writing custom CSS.
  • Technology: Pure HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
  • Usage: You write your HTML markup and apply Bootstrap’s predefined classes to style your components. You can use vanilla JavaScript or jQuery for any interactivity.
  • Advantages:
    • Easy to integrate with any project, regardless of the frontend framework or library.
    • Extensive documentation and wide community support.
    • Can be used with plain HTML or other frameworks like Angular, Vue, or React.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Bootstrap's JavaScript components rely on jQuery (which React does not use natively).
    • May require more custom coding if working in modern JavaScript frameworks, like React.

2. React Bootstrap (Bootstrap React)

  • What it is: A complete re-implementation of Bootstrap components using React. Instead of relying on Bootstrap’s JavaScript (which depends on jQuery), React Bootstrap uses native React components.
  • Technology: Fully built with React, meaning you can use JSX and React’s state and lifecycle features.
  • Usage: You import and use Bootstrap components as React components (e.g., <Button />, <Form />, <Modal />), which makes it more aligned with React’s programming model.
  • Advantages:
    • No need for jQuery or direct DOM manipulation, which makes it more suitable for React-based applications.
    • The components are more customizable and fit well within React’s architecture.
    • Better integration with React's component lifecycle, hooks, and state management.
  • Disadvantages:
    • Slightly larger bundle size due to React dependencies.
    • Not as widely used outside React, meaning you are tied to the React ecosystem.

Summary of Key Differences:

  • Language/Technology:

    • Bootstrap uses plain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (with jQuery), while React Bootstrap uses React.

  • Components:

    • Bootstrap components are styled with classes, while React Bootstrap components are React components that encapsulate styles and behavior in a React-friendly way.

  • Integration:

    • Bootstrap is framework-agnostic and can be used with any technology, while React Bootstrap is specifically for React projects.

If you're using React, React Bootstrap is usually the better option because it integrates seamlessly into React's ecosystem without the need for jQuery. If you're not using React, or if you prefer to use plain HTML and JavaScript, then the regular Bootstrap is a better choice.