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ReactJS vs React Native: Which Framework is Right For Your Application?

  • Post published:28 February 2024

In today’s dynamic & ever revolving landscape of both the web as well as mobile development technologies, both ReactJS vs React Native are emerging as the two most prominent frameworks, catering to the precise requirements of developers worldwide. React Native is serving as the extension for mobile application development, sharing the most common foundation while at the same time serving distinctive purposes. On the other hand, React JS was being developed by social media giant Facebook, has already become a go-to choice for the creation of the most dynamic and interactive user interfaces on the World Wide Web.

Which one is right platform? ReactJS & React Native

In the technological world of today, people tend to be confused between the two terms ReactJS & React Native. In the majority of cases, people who have no coding knowledge while hearing the terms react JS and react native & will assume that the former is the extension of the React-based technology.

Even the nascent developers who are in the field of development will be considering the same. So what are these things? Why do many people tend to be confused? If you are unsure about whether to choose ReactJS & React Native, and want to know which one is better and most preferred, then let’s get all the answers to your questions by reading this comprehensive blog, explaining about the difference between React Native Vs ReactJs, their unique advantages as well as limitations.

 

Introduction: ReactJS vs React Native frameworks

Both React JS & React Native a developed by the social media giant Facebook & have already acquired huge cognition within a short duration of time. ReactJS or React is a JavaScript library for creating single-page web applications. Apart from that, both the React Native as well as the React JS-based frameworks are being utilized for designing mobile applications. However, through the utilization of reusable components, the developer also gets a chance to create native mobile applications.

After the basic introduction, let’s dive deeper to understand the actual applications, key benefits, drawbacks as well as the distinctions between React JS & React Native to find out which is better for your unique project

What is React JS?

The React JS acts as an open source as well as the JavaScript library. And this framework is extensively utilized in single-page application development solutions. It is among the most popular of the libraries for creating UI, and front end for both the web as well as mobile applications. The React JS facilitates the developers for creating fast, adaptive as well as most intuitive mobile and web applications.

What is React Native?

while talking about the React Native framework, it is acting as an open source, and JavaScript-based framework developed by the Facebook company to meet the ever-increasing demand of mobile application development needs. The react native serves as the hybrid mobile application framework. And it is allowing developers worldwide to create mobile applications by using a single codebase.

ReactJS Vs React Native – What are differences between the two?

As we already know both React JS & React Native might have common functionalities as well as features, but you will also agree that there are considerable differences between the two along with similarities. The same theory is applicable to both the synonyms of technologies- React JS & React Native.

Let’s find out the differences between the two frameworks:

ReactJS vs React Native: Installation procedure

For React JS, being a JavaScript library you are required to integrate the same in the HTML page using the <script> tag.

<script src=”https://unpkg.com/react@16/umd/react.development.js”<crossorigin></script>

and it’s all done!!

 

At the same time, the developer will be in a condition to craft the first react component for integrating into their HTML website!

In order to work with your large project, there can also be utilization of a bundler. For instance, you will be using the tools like Next. JS, Gatsby framework, webpack, as and when these are already configured to the bundler that you are having. So, the bundlers will be combining all code-enabled files integrating everything into a single large file.

React Native

For developing an application by using this framework, the developer must have the developmental environment for example Android Studio for Android-based applications and Xcode for iOS applications. However there will be the requirement of the installation of other tools for example; Node, React Native CLI, and several others. Once the installation process is over you will be able to craft a new project in the interface of the react native command line, while executing the same on the mobile emulator for all your unique devices.

ReactJS vs react native: Efficiency

whenever you are looking forward to creating an amazing user interface for a unique project, then React JS is the best library for you. Some of the amazing features of this framework is that it has the capability of executing on the client side while at the same time getting rendered on the server side.

React Native

The react native is implementing a completely distinctive approach for maximizing the efficiency of the developmental process. The components that you will be using in both iOS as well as Android have counterparts of similarity in aesthetics and feel of the React JS. All the components will be directly integrated into native code.

ReactJS vs react native: Technology Base

React JS Technology Base

React JS focuses on creating the most intuitive UIs for the web through the utilization of JavaScript. React JS acts as a JavaScript library. Thus, developers need to gain expertise at React JS JavaScript library. Once you get the proper knowledge about the documentation, you will become an expert React JS developer within a short time.

React Native

The React Native is another framework which is utilizing the react JS for crafting mobile user interfaces. Since React Native is imbibing the functionalities and features of React JS as well as providing several advantages while utilizing the declarative components of the same.

React Native Vs ReactJS: Feasibility Feature

Since React JS relies upon JavaScript, while React Native is based upon the objective- C/ Java, this significantly impacts the performance while the native code is much faster in comparison to the interpreted code. Apart from that, React JS is utilizing the virtual DOM, and thus, it can be quite slow in comparison to the actual DOM API. Despite of that, this limitation is worth off due to the increased flexibility of the virtual DOM.

React Native vs ReactJS: Compatibility Characteristics

React JS acts as a JavaScript library and it is utilized for creating user interfaces that have compatibility with an array of browsers. Apart from that, React Native Framework is utilized for crafting native mobile applications, having compatibility with two of the main mobile platforms Android and iOS.

ReactJS Vs React Native: Storage Capabilities

React JS is quite a decent choice for all the projects which are needing high-performance storage in the case of dynamic web applications. It is also a good choice for the storage of large volume of data. However, the limitation is that the react JS has difficulty scaling up. So it is not a very good choice when you are required to work on large projects. On the other hand, React Native is the best choice for big-sized projects that require the capability of scaling up. It has better support for both offline storage as well as cross-platform compatibility.

React Native vs ReactJS: Search engine friendliness

React JS is more search engine friendly in comparison to React Native. It is owing to several of the reasons like the fact that react JS is utilizing the standard HTML tags convenient for indexing by search engines. On the contrary, React JS coding is organized in a better way and it is convenient to read in comparison to the coding of the react native. And this makes it convenient for search engines for crawling and indexing.

Benefits of React Native vs ReactJS

ReactJS advantages

Convenient learning curve

The components utilized in React JS are reusable all throughout the application development process enhancing both the efficiency as well as the quickness of the process.

The Virtual DOM feature is improving the overall performance. This is through the update of the lightweight copy of DOM( real), improving efficiency and usability.

React native advantages

Convenient to learn as well as implement

Code reusability across different platforms like Android, and iOS. This streamlined development process reduces duplication efforts.

The application based on react native needs less debugging as well as optimization while being deployed on different platforms. This causes the emergence of the least errors while smoothening the developmental process.

Limitations or Drawbacks of React Native vs React JS

React JS limitations

JSX challenge

Few of the developers will find JSX a bit challenging to learn while preferring conventional HTML.

Frequent libraries updates

There are frequent React JS library updates. this can lead to the destruction of the app development in terms of speed. But at the same time, it is improving the robustness of code.

Limited native modules

The limited native modules are necessitating the reliance on the use of third-party integration potentially. As it may lead to the complexity of code bases.

 React Native Limitations

Custom Module Shortage

There can be a hindrance to the speed of application development owing to the lack of native modules.

Frequent updates

Although the frequent updates improve the performance of react native. However, it requires adjustments in terms of the code bases, hampering the developmental timelines.

Load timing

There can be a delay in the JavaScript thread, consequently, it can lead to extended application load time. And it can overall impact the user experience as well as engagement.

 Conclusion

As far as react JS vs react native, the two most common frameworks are concerned, both play very important roles in web and mobile application development. This is owing to their most adaptable features as well as the growing library ecosystems, which are responsible for their popularity and widespread utilization. 

While React JS acts as a JavaScript library and react native operates as a comprehensive framework, both are interconnected to one another. As the react JS is acting as a foundation of the other framework while at the same time, both are complementing the functionalities of one another. 

React JS is excelling in devising applications that have advanced functionality features along with intricate calculations. On the other hand, React Native is preferred in order to impart the native experience in mobile applications. At the same time just like any other tool, both React JS and React native have some limitations as well. Therefore before putting any of these frameworks to use, it is advisable to access strengths and weaknesses of every technology in order to make the most informed decision on all the specific priorities and the expected outcome for your unique project! If you want to hire reactJS developers, our company has dedicated team of developers.

 Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

  • React JS vs React Native: what is the difference between two?

React JS serves as a library for the creation of web applications. On the other hand, react native is acting as a Framework for crafting native mobile applications. While both share sharing same syntax, along with the developmental concepts, React Native is facilitating the creation of mobile applications that are capable of accessing device-specific functionalities with optimal performance in comparison to web applications.

  • Is it possible to use react native code in react JS or vice versa?

Although there are similarities between the two frameworks, both

React JS & React Native possess distinct components as well as APIs and

thus, the code which is written on one cannot be utilized on the other without

any modification.

  • React Native vs React JS: which one is better?

Although similarities exist between two frameworks, React JS & React Native possess distinct components as well as APIs and thus, code which is written on one cannot be utilized without carrying any alteration.

  • Can I utilize both React JS & React Native while working on the same project?

Although it is possible technically, however, it is not recommended to possess the different components as well as APIs. Otherwise, it will lead to confusion and complicate the developmental process.

  • How much it cost to create react native application?

The developmental cost of an application based on React Native varies. It relies upon several factors like application complexity, features, the number of platforms the app will be deployed upon as well as the expertise level of the developer.