ReactJS Vs React Native: Which One to Choose and Why?

Blog Summary: In this blog, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of React and React Native, including their respective business benefits, limitations, key differences, and industry use cases.

We will delve into -

• What is ReactJS?
• Business benefits of using ReactJS
• What is React Native?
• Business benefits of using React Native
• React Native Vs ReactJS: How do they work?
• Understanding the limitations of React Native and ReactJS
• Difference between React and React Native
• Drawbacks of React and React Native
• When to use React and React Native
  
  

ReactJS and React Native are two of the most widely adopted technologies in the app development industry. Despite sharing similar names and concepts, the main difference between ReactJS and React Native is the environment they are used in.

Primarily ReactJS is a web development framework, used for building web applications, while React Native is a mobile app development framework, used for building mobile applications.

In this blog, we are going to discuss all you need to know about ReactJS vs React Native - two of the most popular JavaScript frameworks in detail.

What’s React?

React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. React allows developers to build reusable UI components and manage the state of their applications in an efficient and organized way.

React uses a virtual DOM (Document Object Model) which optimizes updates by only re-rendering the components that have changed. This improves the performance of the application and makes it faster for the end-user.

It follows a component-based architecture, where a component is a self-contained unit that represents a piece of the UI. These components can be easily reused throughout the application and can be nested to create complex UI structures.

React also allows developers to use JSX, a syntax extension for JavaScript and comes with a powerful developer tool called “React Developer Tools”, which makes it easier to write and understand the component structure.

React is widely adopted by companies like Facebook, Netflix, Airbnb, and many more. It is also a popular choice among developers due to its flexibility, performance, and strong community support.

What Is ReactJS?

Often referred to as React or Reactjs is one of the most popular JavaScript library frameworks today. It is used by startups and large corporations to build single-page applications and mobile apps.

React JS is used by Facebook and Instagram for their mobile apps. Reactjs is a JavaScript library specifically designed for developing the view layer of web and mobile apps. It uses reusable components to create a stronger structure for its applications.

Facebook made the library publicly available in 2011. Since then, its popularity has grown by leaps and bounds.

Read More: Outsourcing ReactJS Development Services - Learn How To Do It Right

Hire a React.js developer today and elevate your web development journey. Let's build something amazing together! Connect with us now.

Business Benefits of Using ReactJS

The business benefits of ReatJS are unlimited such as a simple learning curve, high reusability, faster development, and delivery, to name a few. Here's more in detail.

1. Faster Development With Reusable Components

One of the most prominent Reactjs’ advantages is its ability to reuse components. With reusable codes, developers don’t need to write different codes for similar app components. This facilitates faster development with lower costs.

Moreover, the component-based architecture in Reactjs eliminates the need for frequent debugging. If you edit one part of the app, it doesn’t affect other parts. Thus, Reactjs saves a lot of testing and debugging time as well.

2. Virtual DOM = Superfast Speed

You need something more than just HTML when you receive only data from the server. Reactjs uses JavaScript to generate HTML. The advantages of this approach are way stronger than its disadvantages.

With Reactjs' features for front-end development, developers can use JavaScript to write HTML. Reactjs uses the tree reconciliation process to render HTML virtually.

This process makes the web application function faster as there is no need to update the entries of the whole DOM time and again.

3. Code Stability With Unidirectional Data Flow

Reactjs uses one-way data binding to ensure that the changes made in the child components do not have any impact on the parent components. In this way each component becomes self-contained. Changes in smaller parts only require updates in the data model, not the entire state.

This leaves a huge part of the app unchanged whenever a new edit is introduced. As a result, Reactjs applications are much easier to maintain as their code is highly stable.

4. SEO Boost to the Web Pages

Reactjs makes web apps SEO-friendly. It facilitates faster rendering of the web pages because of which the page loading time in the Reactjs app is quite low. As a result, the bounce rate of Reactjs web pages is lower too. These factors have a significant bearing on the SEP performance of a web application.

Moreover, developers can use tools like React Helmet and React Router to develop SEO-friendly websites easily.

What Is React Native?

React Native or React Native JS is an open-source framework developed by Facebook to meet its growing mobile needs. React Native is super useful to develop native mobile applications with reusable components that can run on different platforms such as Windows, Android, iOS in JavaScript.

Notably, React Native or React JS native uses Reactjs for base abstraction, only the library components are different.

Read More: React Native Cross-Platform App Development: When and When Not to Use it?

Business Benefits of React Native

1. Inherently Cross-Platform With Platform-Specific Code

One of the best things about using React Native for building mobile apps is that you can easily make your app work on multiple platforms. The cherry on the cake? React Native’s ability to generate platform-specific code. Thus, if you are building your MVP with React Native, you can save a lot of development time.

Unlike other frameworks that are specifically built for a single mobile platform, React Native is known to take advantage of one core API, flex-box (based on a CSS concept), to provide the same API for both iOS and Android.

2. Hot Reload = Faster Development

React Native combines all the advantages that React.js brings including the Hot Reload feature and better UI. Thanks to these features, the developers have the flexibility to reload a mobile app without any manual intervention thereby saving precious developer time and accelerating the development process.

3. Extensive Community Support

React Native is one of the most loved technology according to developers who root for

root for its usability. It is blessed with a rich community to bank on when the internet is full of queries and their solutions are provided by the large React Native developer community.

Since the community is so large, the developers can stay updated to the changing trends through React Native’s official channels. If developers face any challenge during the development process, it can be easily solved with the help of the global developer community.

4. JavaScript as the Scripting Language

Javascript is one of the most commonly used scripting languages. Therefore, even if the developers have an issue while working with it, they can switch to the large developer community for further guidance.

Because of the advanced Javascript V8 Engine, the developers don’t have to work on compiling the code to the browser. Since Javascript is a simple scripting language its learning curve is a lot steeper and it is easy to work with as well.

5. Ready-to-Use UI Library Support for Flawless UI Experience

Having a good UI is one of the most important features of your app. By using React Native’s ready-to-use libraries, your app can promise a smooth UI experience for its users. You also save tons of time and can allocate that extra time focussing on innovative ideas.

For example, libraries such as ShareJS,  Shoutem, and Expo save a huge amount of time required to build apps from scratch.

React Native vs ReactJS: How Do They Work?

ReactJS vs React Native is a highly discussed topic among developers, and to assess them in the right way, you need to know how they actually work.

ReactJS

✅A JavaScript library that is used for building user interfaces for web applications.

✅It allows developers to build reusable UI components and manage the state of their applications in an efficient and organized way.

✅Uses a virtual DOM (Document Object Model) which optimizes updates by only re-rendering the components that have changed.

✅Follows a component-based architecture, where a component is a self-contained unit that represents a piece of the UI.

✅Easily reusable components throughout the application and can be nested to create complex UI structures.

React Native

✅React Native is a framework that allows developers to build mobile applications using React.

✅Uses the same concepts and syntax as ReactJS, but it renders native mobile components instead of web components.

✅Improves performance and provides a seamless user experience by rendering native views instead of web views.

✅Has additional features such as Hot Reloading and access to native mobile features not available in ReactJS using native modules.

ReactJS Vs React Native: Key Differences in How They Work

✅ReactJS is used for web applications while React Native is used for mobile applications.

✅ReactJS uses web components, while React Native uses native mobile components.

✅ReactJS runs on web browsers, while React Native runs on mobile devices.

✅React Native has additional features such as Hot Reloading and access to native mobile features not available in ReactJS.

React Vs React Native: Key Highlights In a Glimpse

Understanding the Limitations of ReactJs

Now that we’ve seen React Vs React Native advantages, let's take a look at both their disadvantages.

1. Steep learning curve

If the pace of development is high, it has its own sets of benefits and shortcomings. As far as the disadvantages are concerned, the changes take place at a rapid rate which is why some developers might not find it easier to relearn newer ways of doing things regularly.

They might find it rather difficult to adapt to all the changes taking place and might not be able to update their skills as per the changing requirements.

2. Dependence on External Libraries

Although external libraries can enable the developers to use both CSS and HTML to the core and build it into JSX, it has its own set of complexities.

Despite Reactjs supporting a plethora of third-party libraries or external libraries, native libraries for Reactjs are numbered. It becomes very difficult to understand the complexities of CSS and HTML because the learning curve for Reactjs is more.

3. Weaker Documentation

Due to the high pace of development, there is less time to make proper documentation of the updates done in Reactjs. Thus, developers are forced to create their own documentation which eventually results in poor execution.

4. Increased Overhead Costs & Time

One of the major shortcomings of Reactjs is that it often becomes necessary to download other react-enabled libraries which shoots up the cost and the time overheads.

For example, the developer has to download Carbon components with React in order to use the Carbon framework for UI experience.

Read More: Hiring A Reactjs Developer? Consider These Things First

Understanding the Limitations of React Native

1. Haphazard Abstraction Layer

The framework in which programmers can find stylesheets like CSS and tags like HTML along with code from JavaScript are pretty loosely held. While this gives freedom to developers, it poses challenges like it doesn’t enforce any rules or parameters, unlike Java and Swift Languages.

There are high chances of occurrence of a clash of logic situation which will not be the case with either Java or Swift.

2. Compatibility Issues

React Native is still in its beta version despite being used by top tech players. The developers might come across various debugging and compatibility issues.

Therefore, if the developers are not skilled enough in working with React Native, it can hamper the overall development process as much time will get wasted in troubleshooting.

3. Patenting and Licensing

One should always keep in mind that Facebook controls React Native. So if there are any issues related to patenting or licensing, they aren’t getting resolved soon.

Although React Native now has version 2 with a grant from Facebook for patent rights, in 2017, when Facebook updated its open-source licensing for React Native it stated that if Facebook doesn’t like your method, it has the right to stop the developer from working on the platform.

4. Limited Native Libraries

Since React Native has limited native libraries, it might be difficult to run the app in case of heavy functionalities. For making more complex calculations simultaneously, Java, Objective-C, and Swift are preferred over React Native.

Read More: React Native app development- Apps you should and should not build

Difference Between React and React Native

React Native vs ReactJS are two frameworks creating fireworks in the tech realm. And to utilize their potential in the best possible way, you must understand their differences better. So, here you go!

Source

1. Platform Dependency

One of the key differences between React and React Native is that Reactjs can be executed on all platforms while React Native is not platform-independent. The developer typically has to put in more efforts in order to execute React Native on all platforms.

                                                            Source

2. Purpose

👉React is primarily used for building web applications, allowing developers to create reusable UI components and manage the state of their application in an efficient way.

👉React Native, on the other hand, is used for building mobile applications, providing developers with the ability to create native mobile apps for iOS and Android platforms.

3. Execution Environment

👉React is executed on web browsers, using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

👉React Native, on the other hand, is executed on mobile devices, using native mobile components.

4. Components

👉React uses web components, which are rendered by the browser.  

👉React Native uses native mobile components, which are rendered by the mobile operating system.

5. DOM

👉React uses a virtual DOM (Document Object Model) which optimizes updates by only re-rendering the components that have changed.

👉React Native, also uses virtual DOM but it renders native views instead of web views.

6. Development Tools

👉React provides a powerful developer tool called “React Developer Tools”, that allows developers to inspect and debug the component tree, state, and props of the application.

👉React Native also provides similar developer tools, but also includes additional features such as Hot Reloading, which allows developers to see the changes they make in real-time, and the ability to use native modules, which allows developers to access native mobile features not available in React.

7. Flexibility

👉With Reactjs, the developer has the flexibility to create a high performing and engaging UI layer as it is a JavaScript library in itself.

👉On the other hand, the entire framework of React Native is built for cross-platform apps be it iOS, Android or the web.

8. Security

👉Reactjs provides higher levels of security. The security standards are low in React Native. High levels of animations are possible in Reactjs by using CSS just like the developers do in web development.

👉On the other side, you have to use an API in React Native for animation.

Read More: 5 Most Inspiring Apps Built with React Native in the Mobile App Development Front

The Drawbacks: ReactJs vs React Native

It is crucial to understand the drawbacks of ReactJS vs React Native to ensure the best practices. Let’s have a look.

React Js

👉React Js can be difficult to debug and troubleshoot. As the application scales, it can become harder to trace the flow of state and props, making it more challenging to identify and fix bugs.

👉It can be difficult to maintain and update an application as the codebase grows. This is because of the complex structure of the virtual DOM, which can make it difficult to understand how changes will affect the overall application.

👉React Js also has a steep learning curve, especially for developers who are new to the concept of a virtual DOM and component-based architecture. This can make it difficult for developers to quickly get up to speed and start building applications.

React Native

👉React Native can be difficult to maintain and update an application as the codebase grows. This is because React Native uses native mobile components, which can be difficult to understand and work with.

👉It can be difficult to debug and troubleshoot. As the application scales, it can become harder to trace the flow of state and props, making it more challenging to identify and fix bugs.

👉React Native also has a steep learning curve, especially for developers who are new to the concept of a virtual DOM and component-based architecture. This can make it difficult for developers to quickly get up to speed and start building applications.

React Vs React Native: When to Choose What?

After reading this blog, you should have a better idea of the difference between React and React Native, and a clear insight into React Native vs ReactJS advantages and disadvantages.

Are you still confused about ReactJS vs React Native, or which framework is the best? While both these frameworks have a lot to offer one must first understand the fact that both Reactjs and React Native are significant focal points for web and app development. Moreover, due to their flexible functionalities, both platforms are gaining momentum with each passing day.

Top Use Cases of React

1. Building Web Applications

React is a powerful tool for building dynamic web applications. Its component-based architecture and virtual DOM make it easy to create reusable components, manage the state of the application, and optimize updates.

Companies such as Facebook, Netflix, Airbnb, and many more have adopted React for building their web applications, showcasing their capabilities and reliability.

2. Building Progressive Web Applications (PWAs)

Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) are web applications that can be installed on a user's device and work offline. React is a great choice for building PWAs because of its performance, flexibility, and ability to work offline.

React's virtual DOM and component-based architecture make it easy to create a fast and responsive PWA that can work offline and provide a seamless user experience.

3. Building Single Page Applications (SPAs)

Single Page Applications (SPAs) are web applications that load a single HTML page and dynamically update the content as the user interacts with the application. React is a great choice for building SPAs because of its ability to handle updates and its component-based architecture.

React's virtual DOM and component-based architecture make it easy to create a responsive and dynamic SPA that can provide a seamless user experience.

4. Building Complex UI

React's component-based architecture and virtual DOM make it easy to create complex UI structures. This makes it a great choice for building applications with complex UI requirements.

React's ability to handle updates and its component-based architecture make it easy to create a responsive and dynamic UI that can provide a seamless user experience.

Top Use Cases of React Native

1. Building Mobile Applications

React Native is a powerful tool for building mobile applications. Its component-based architecture and virtual DOM make it easy to create reusable components, manage the state of the application, and optimize updates.

Companies such as Facebook, Instagram, Airbnb, and many more have adopted React Native for building their mobile applications, showcasing its capabilities and reliability.

2. Building Cross-platform Applications

React Native allows developers to build mobile applications that run on both iOS and Android platforms. This makes it a great choice for building cross-platform applications that need to run on multiple mobile operating systems.

React Native's ability to use native mobile components and access native mobile features make it easy to create a native look and feel for both iOS and Android platforms.

3. Building High-Performance Applications

React Native uses native mobile components, which improves the performance of the application and provides a seamless user experience.

React Native's virtual DOM and component-based architecture make it easy to create a responsive and dynamic application that can provide a seamless user experience.

4. Building Real-time Applications

React Native's ability to handle updates and its component-based architecture make it easy to create real-time applications.

React Native's ability to access native mobile features such as push notifications and web sockets make it easy to create real-time applications that can provide a seamless user experience.


That being said, both these tools are a force to reckon with and leaders in their respective genres. Thus, it is advisable for the business to do thorough research and map the pros and cons of the framework they are willing to use in the future. Once they know what they can expect from the framework, they can set their priorities accordingly.

React is suitable for web development use cases like -

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Netflix
• Airbnb
• Yahoo Mail
• WhatsApp

to name a few.

React Native, on the other hand, is suitable for the apps like -

• Bloomberg
• Uber Eats
• Discord
• Instagram
• Skype
• Pinterest
• Salesforce
• Baidu
• Walmart
• Facebook
• Wix
• Shopify
• Words with Friends
• Vogue
• NerdWallet

to name a few.

Be it ReactJS or React Native, to ensure high-quality product development, you need market-leading expertise. Third Rock Techkno is of its kind of product development company that is equipped with industry-grade React Native and ReactJS product development solutions. Check out our portfolio and contact us to get started!

More on React js and React Native

Why Choose Reactjs For Your Next Project: Features and Benefits

Pros and Cons of ReactJS Web App Development

Is React Native the Right Choice for Your Business?

React Native App development- How does it differ from Native development?

Mistakes to Avoid When Developing React Native Apps

FAQs

1. What are the differences between React and React Native?

React is a famous open-source JS library that is used extensively for building competitive UIs for web applications. React Native, on the other hand, is used to develop rich mobile UI using only JavaScript.

2. Which is better, React or React Native?

React and React Native both have their own sets of pros and cons. React is famous for its reusable components and high speed, while React Native is popular for being platform-agnostic and for its native look and feel.

3. When to use React Native?

React Native is suitable for building mobile apps and when it's required to reduce the load time. Also, for highly responsive UI development, it's useful.

4. When to use React?

React is required to develop frontend UIs with high user interaction or when you need time binding for several business logics.

Krunal Shah

Krunal Shah is the CTO and Co-founder at Third Rock Techkno. With extensive experience gained over a decade, Krunal helps his clients build software solutions that stand out in the industry and are lighter on the pocket.

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