What is the difference between React and React Native, where did they come from, and their advantages of using them?
What started everything: React
React, React.js or ReactJS was created by a software engineer at Facebook in 2011 and was released in 2013. By 2021, the software is well known and one of the most popular open-source.
Since its release, React keeps growing and expanding the horizons of software, which has positioned it as a must-know and must-use for developers.
Its function is to provide knowledge and incentive for the best development possible. There’s no problem if you aren’t particularly familiar with JavaScript or code. JavaScript is the main framework, but it’s known as a JavaScript library.
React works with diverse projects and allows the developers to innovate from many parts of the stack incrementally. Created by Facebook but is used by many businesses since then.
From small to large-scale businesses, Reactjs is the go-to for many because of its extensive UI library. This type of addition to projects makes their long-term goals attainable. It allows developing new features without rewriting existing code, and It’s extremely SEO friendly, which is why developers so love it.
With React, the reusable components make code modular more organized, which benefits effective development. Another important feature worth mentioning is its flexibility while working with it; it’s collected and allows a data-visualization screen in real-time, plus continuous updates on the components, making it easier to operate.
React also renders on the server using Node and power mobile apps using React Native.
What is React Native?
It’s a framework created for mobile app development, both iOS and Android. It contains a set of general UI components based on React that allows developers to work easier and better thanks to its synchronous API, continuous development, and quick performance.
Learn once, write anywhere. — React Native slogan
React Native was born on Facebook as an internal project during a hackathon session in the platform headquarters. It was public by 2015 as an open-source project to try to help the many problems mobile developers had.
The objective was to create Native UI elements using the JavaScript framework to answer the developer’s previously internally discussed needs, mostly rigidness, and limits, while developing apps creatively.
The framework works in famous world-class apps like Instagram, Skype, Airbnb, SoundCloud Pulse, UberEats, Tesla, and many others.
The hype is worth it. React Native maintains its position as a favorite on many ranks, and rightfully so. React Native is the progressive technology solution that provides creative methods for modern hybrid mobile app development to save money, stand out and be user-friendly.
This framework is also cross-platform, which means its development can work great on both platforms at once (iOS and Android). It integrates the benefits of mobile app development with power and agility.
What’s the difference between React and React Native?
React Native works similarly to React itself; it contains the same features and is very friendly and easy to get started with just basic React knowledge.
But in a simple definition, React Native builds mobile apps for iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile. While Reactjs is for creating web pages and for use in a web browser only.
Both use reusable components, but the syntax to render elements in the components (using JSX) is different.
Where am I using React and React Native?
We likely use both React and React Native every day. While using our smartphones and computers, we can found them as the backbone of many daily used apps.
For example, React is on the Calculator Implementation of the iOS calculator, the Emoji Search option, Skype, Facebook, and much more. But, what does React Native does? Everything: While you are scrolling through Instagram or when you see a Facebook ad. When you order food with Uber Eats, or even when you are looking for an Airbnb for your next vacation.
Their reputation snowballed after their release, and within the last years, they’ve been undisputed first and second place in different rankings of development tools. They count satisfaction, usage, interest, and user awareness. By their constant placement is easy to tell is very used and loved by the industry.
What benefits brings React?
- React allows to interface with other libraries and frameworks
- Allows developing new features in React without rewriting existing code
- Facilitates the process of creating interactive UIs with simple design views for each state of an application
- It updates and renders just the right components when any data changes in your development
- Components are written in JavaScript, making it easy to pass data through the app and keep the state out of the DOM
- SEO friendliness. Search ranking is a vital aspect of web development for any business
- React can also deliver on any server using NodeJS and mobile apps using React Native
Why choose React Native?
- It’s more accessible and better for users and developers alike
- Allows developers to focus on both the visual and efficiency of the product on both platforms
- It’s important to highlight its focus on UI and access. React Native works exclusively on mobile UI building, making it friendly to other frameworks and easy to pair
- Its connection with React makes Native feel like a JavaScript library too, and that’s a positive denotation for any developer
- It allows creating prominent mobile apps in a fluid, faster way
- React Native blocks are reusable native components; this framework’s architecture is adaptable to the demand of mobile gadgets and has a strong performance; there’s no more need to use of WebView system
- Its features are more continuous when they run, less memory needed, and faster loading
- React Native is compatible and available for all developers, which is one of the most significant advantages that it has and attractive points in the industry
- Its language and coding make updates, changes, and debugging accessible and effortless. It means that other developers not engaged in the project from the start can easily understand and collaborate, no need to rewrite
Extra Resources:
Are there cons against React and React Native?
ReactJS is constantly evolving and changing, and that is both a negative and positive implication. Its pace is brought up frequently among developers because, in ReactJS’s case, this constant improvement makes either developer’s job easier or aggravates the relearning.
It depends on your vision of the programming world.
Another negative denotation made of its rapid development is that the documentation and resources can be inadequate when covering its progress, or at least not fast enough. If all the updates and changes are not detailed or covered, the effort of keeping up can be a massive setback for any developer working.
Technology does not wait for anyone.
With React Native, the main concern is how new it is. Even though that it’s been almost a decade, it is not new in software development years. And like React, it is constantly evolving, making it hard to catch up as well.
The documentation can use improvement too, and some features on iOS and Android still aren’t fully supported. But, like React, the fact that it’s so constantly evolving makes it possible that the resolution of these concerns will come soon.
Do you want to start learning React and React Native?
Getting to know the basis of React can be easier than you think. If you can’t take your time, you want it to be quick and easy, not going through the complete list; start with the React 16 — The Complete Guide by Max on Udemy.
Udemy right now has a very good, strong line of courses that takes React and Redux fundamental concepts, new topics, and advanced development just like you need to have for either a start-up or a more grown developer wanting to learn more about React.
You can start with an excellent course, practical and concrete like Modern React and Redux; or the Complete React Web Developer Course (with Redux), a bit more extensive option where you will learn how to build React web applications using Reactv16, Webpack, Redux, React-Router v4, and all familiar React technology.
Pluralsight has a great course too, where you will find everything you need, from basic knowledge to advance therms: React.js: Getting Started.
For React Native we have recommendations as well, no matter, just like we mention with the ones with React if you are just starting to learn the basics or you want to grow more on your React Native knowledge.
Udemy keeps our attention on its courses. In this accessible, practical, and complete, you will learn the theory and the practice of React Native The Practical Guide [2021 Edition]. Or, if you want more of a challenge, React Native: Advanced Concepts by the author Stephen Grider, shows how to master advanced React Native topics.
Complete React Native Developer in 2021: Zero to Mastery is another course using the latest version of React Native, primarily focused on efficiency.
Coursera has fantastic courses as well, designed for you to build cross-platform mobile apps using React Native. Multiplatform Mobile App Development with React Native by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is part of a fantastic specialization called Full-Stack Web Development with React Specialization, perfect for someone who wants to become a better web developer.
And last but not least, if you are looking for more of an interactive learning experience, Codecademy, a new platform for technology learning and development, has a recently open course to learn React Native.
To keep in mind!
React is ideal for building high-performing, effective and responsive UI for web interfaces.
React Native provides mobile apps with a genuinely instinctive feel.
React and React Native will help develop high-quality software and mobile presence, whether a start-up or big enterprise. And with their benefits, they are assuring time-saving, more manageable code maintenance, easy debugging process, simultaneously platform work, flexibility with other frameworks, and eventually lower cost and more accessible, faster work.
They are great options for you if you are an executive searching to increase its business or a new developer who needs to master the software industry.
Now you know their advantages, the way they work and why you should use them!
If you think that your next project can benefit from this technology, please contact us, and let’s start to build the best in creative technology.
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