React VS React -Native

React And React Native are among the most popular technologies used to create various applications. React and react native are developed by same company Facebook. Yet React and react Native looks similar but they are different from each other. This blog is intended to explain the key differences between React and React Native.

 

What is React?

·        React is a java script library used for creating user interface for web applications.

·        It was developed by an engineer Jordan walk from Facebook.

·        It was used by Facebook in 2011 for its newsfeed section. but it was released in 2013 may.

·        Now it is the most commonly used frontend library for web applications.

·        React is used din the development of Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Netflix, dropbox,etc..

·        It is the most popular JavaScript frontend library and used by most of the community.

·        Since react is a frontend Library not a full framework, it only deals with view components of modal view controller.

 

How it works?

In React everything is a component , components are the building blocks of an application. Each component has a logic and controls.React applications usually consists multiple components they placed inside the main component. These components are reusable. It reduces the development time. 

React uses Virtual DOM, thereby creating web applications faster. Virtual DOM compares the components’ previous states and updates only the items in the Real DOM that were changed, instead of updating all of the components again, as conventional web applications do. 

 

Features of React:

JSX:

JSX stands for JavaScript XML

It is a JavaScript syntax extension. Its an XML or HTML like syntax used by ReactJS. This syntax is processed into JavaScript calls of React Framework. It extends the ES6 so that HTML like text can co-exist with JavaScript react code.

 

Virtual DOM:

A virtual DOM object is a representation of the original DOM object. It works like a one-way data binding. Whenever any modifications happen in the web application, the entire UI is re-rendered in virtual DOM representation. Then it checks the difference between the previous DOM representation and new DOM. Once it has done, the real DOM will update only the things that have actually changed. This makes the application faster, and there is no wastage of memory.

 

One –Way Data Binding:

One-way data binding, the name itself says that it is a one-direction flow. The data in react flows only in one direction i.e. the data is transferred from top to bottom i.e. from parent components to child components. The properties (props) in the child component cannot return the data to its parent component but it can have communication with the parent components to modify the states according to the provided inputs.

 

Performance: 

As we discussed earlier, react uses virtual DOM and updates only the modified parts. So this makes the DOM to run faster. DOM executes in memory so we can create separate components which makes the DOM run faster.

 

What Is React Native?

React Native is Cross Platform Mobile Application Development Framework. It is Also Created by Facebook. It uses JavaScript As the Base language. React Native Architecture Heavily relies on JavaScript. Facebook released the first version of React Native in March 2015. It uses only JavaScript to build a mobile application. It is like React, which uses native component rather than using web components as building blocks.

 

Features of React Native:

Cross-Platform Usage:

Provide facility of "Learn once write everywhere", it works for both platform Android as well iOS devices. the code written in React Native Supported by all mobile platforms.

JavaScript:

 React Native uses the JavaScript language to build native mobile apps. JavaScript is a most popular web development Language. For any Developer it is a must have skill is very easy to learn and implement.

Community: 

The large community of React and React Native around helps us to find any answer we require.

Hot Reloading:

 Making a few changes in the code of your app will be immediately visible during development. If business logic is changed, its reflection is live reloaded on screen.

Plugins:

When you make use of react native you have the great advantage of adding third party packages that you want to use in your application.

 

Key Differences between React and React native.

1.Application Type:

React- it is used for creating web application user interfaces.(example: Facebook, Netfilx).

React Native – It is used For creating mobile applications. (Example: Facebook, Instagram).

 

2.Setup & Bundling:

React- It is Just a JavaScript library so it require multiple tools for setup and bundling.

React Native- it is a JavaScript Framework, it comes with all the necessary tools for setup and development.

3.Live Reload:

It is a feature that allows you to write the code and see the modifications simultaneously.

React- it does not support live reloading

React-Native- It support Live reload

4.Learning Curve:

React- React is not very difficult to learn but you need to learn coding the components.

React Native- it is easy to Learn cause everything is Readily available.

 

5.Syntax:

React- React uses JavaScript for Coding and renders HTML elements like <div>, <p>,<h1>.

React-Native- React native also using JavaScript for coding and renders Native elements like <View>, <Text> . it does not  support Html elements.

 

6.Styling:

React- It uses CSS for styling the components.

React Native- it uses Built-in functions For styling look similar to CSS, But it does not support CSS styling.

7.Animations:

React-In react Animations are possible by using CSS .

React Native- It uses animated API’s for using animations in components.

 

Conclusion:

The comparison between React and React native is done, the answer for which one is better among them is based on the type of project, if you are developing  UI’s for web applications you should go with React . if You are creating a mobile application you should go with React Native.