React vs React Native: Decoding the Difference Between React and Cross-Platform Mobile App Development

If you're stepping into modern web development, you've likely encountered both ReactJS and React Native. While they share a name and a fundamental javascript and react philosophy, they serve distinct purposes. ReactJS is the powerhouse for building interactive web app interfaces, while React Native is the revolutionary framework that allows developers to build native mobile apps using their existing javascript and react skills. This article will thoroughly explore the difference between react and react native, guiding you on when to use react for web applications and when to use react native for truly native mobile experiences on iOS and Android. Understanding this distinction is key to choosing the right technology for your web and mobile projects and advancing your skills from a react developer to a full-stack expert.

Article Outline: The React vs React Native Showdown

• What is the fundamental difference between react and react native, and why do they share a name?

• How does ReactJS function to use react code in the web browser?

• How does React Native enable the development of truly native apps for android and ios and android platforms?

• What are the core similarities between react and react native that allow for code sharing?

• Why can't the same reactjs native components be used directly in react native and vice-versa?

• What react concepts are transferable across react and react native development?

• When should a web developer use react to build a web app versus choosing react native?

• How does the rendering process in react native differ from a react application?

• Why is React Native often preferred for cross-platform native mobile applications compared to traditional native development?

• Is react native for web a viable option, and how does it integrate with reactjs?

What is the fundamental difference between react and react native, and why do they share a name?

The fundamental difference between react and react native lies in their output and target environment. ReactJS is a javascript library primarily used for web development. Its output is HTML, which runs inside a web browser to create dynamic web interfaces. ReactJS is designed for building web applications that run perfectly across different browsers.

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React Native is a framework designed to build native mobile apps for platforms like iOS and Android. Whereas react native does not produce HTML; instead, it outputs true native ui components. While both are built with react and using javascript and react logic, React Native's primary goal is to produce a native app that offers the look, feel, and performance expected of an application built with react using traditional native development tools. The shared name exists because React Native uses React as its core programming model.

How does ReactJS function to use react code in the web browser?

ReactJS is an open-source javascript library that is used to build web applications by managing the view layer. When you use react to build a web app, the react code works with the Virtual DOM (Document Object Model). The Virtual DOM is a lightweight copy of the actual DOM, which reactjs uses to efficiently update only the necessary UI elements in the web browser.

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When a change occurs in a react application, reactjs calculates the quickest way to update the real DOM and the visible web app. ReactJS provides a rich ecosystem for web development, offering robust solutions for state management, routing, and component reusability. React is designed for building complex web interfaces that require frequent data updates and a highly responsive user experience. The key here is that react uses HTML and CSS to render its output.

How does React Native enable the development of truly native apps for android and ios and android platforms?

React Native enables the development of truly native apps by translating javascript and react code into the actual native code of the operating system. React Native doesn't render web interfaces; it bridges javascript and native capabilities. React Native gives the developer access to native ui components like <View> or <Text>, which correspond directly to the platform's standard UI building blocks (e.g., UIView on iOS or android.view on android).

When you use react native to build a mobile app, the react native compiler takes the declarative react code and translates it into the real native ui components provided by the android or iOS and Android operating system. The application then runs its core logic in a JavaScript thread while interacting with the native components on the UI thread. This approach results in a true native mobile experience, eliminating the slow, clunky feel often associated with hybrid web and mobile wrappers.

What are the core similarities between react and react native that allow for code sharing?

The core similarities between react and react native are centered on their programming model and state management. React native uses react concepts such as components, state, props, and lifecycle methods as its foundation. A react developer already understands the core concepts of building a component-based application structure.

React and react native share the same architectural principles. The declarative component-based approach where the UI is a function of the state is fundamental across react and react native. This means that the business logic—the non-visual part of the code—can often be shared and reused between a react application and a react native application. This shared model makes it incredibly efficient for a team to maintain both a web app and a native app using a single codebase for logic.

Why can't the same reactjs native components be used directly in react native and vice-versa?

The same reactjs native components cannot be used directly in react native and vice-versa because they target fundamentally different rendering environments. ReactJS's core components are things like react's <div>, <span>, and <img> tags, which are all HTML ui elements that rely on the web browser's DOM API for rendering.

React Native replaces those web interfaces components with its own set of react native components that translate to the host platform's native ui elements. For example, in React Native, you use react native's <View> and <Text> instead of <div> and <span>. Since a web browser doesn't understand the native ui components of android or iOS, and an android device doesn't understand HTML <div> tags, the rendering components are distinct.

What react concepts are transferable across react and react native development?

Almost all foundational react concepts are transferable across react and react native development, making it easy for a react developer to learn react native. The core principles of component structure, state management (using Hooks like react's useState and useEffect), and data flow (props) are identical. The concept of writing reusable functional components remains the same in both.

Furthermore, many third-party libraries that handle non-UI concerns can be used directly in react native. State management tools, data fetching libraries, and validation libraries are often written in javascript and react logic and do not depend on the specific rendering environment, be it a web app or a native app. The biggest difference a react developer faces when they react to react native is simply learning the new set of native ui elements and platform-specific APIs.

When should a web developer use react to build a web app versus choosing react native?

A web developer should use react to build a web app when the product is primarily accessed via a web browser, requires complex web interfaces, or needs to utilize the vast ecosystem of web development tools. If the product's core functionality is tied to desktop or web browser features, reactjs is the right choice.

You should use react native when the goal is to deliver a dedicated, high-performance mobile app experience to users on iOS or Android. React native is the best choice for a product that needs access to native mobile features like the camera, GPS, or push notifications, or when the user requires an offline-capable mobile app. The primary decision comes down to whether the target environment is the web browser or the native app store.

How does the rendering process in react native differ from a react application?

The rendering process in react native is fundamentally different from that of a standard react application because of the bridge concept. In a react application, reactjs manipulates the Virtual DOM, and the web browser handles the final rendering to the screen using HTML and CSS. The JavaScript runs entirely within the web browser's execution environment.

React native renders by having the JavaScript run in a separate thread. When react native needs to render a component, it sends messages across react and react native's javascript and native bridge. The native mobile side receives the instructions and creates the corresponding native ui components (like actual iOS or android buttons). This process ensures that the UI rendering is handled by the native development platform itself, guaranteeing truly native app performance.

Why is React Native often preferred for cross-platform native mobile applications compared to traditional native development?

React Native is often preferred for cross-platform native mobile applications compared to traditional native development (like writing one app in Swift/Kotlin and another in Java/Kotlin) primarily due to speed and code reuse. With React Native, react developers can write a single codebase, using javascript and react, to target both ios and android, saving significant time and resources.

React native lets you build and deploy features faster, especially when migrating react code from an existing web app. While traditional native development provides maximum optimization potential, react native offers near-native app performance while drastically reducing development time and complexity. This efficiency react native is the best solution for companies aiming for simultaneous launch on both android and iOS.

Is react native for web a viable option, and how does it integrate with reactjs?

Yes, react native for web is a viable and increasingly popular option, though it integrates with reactjs by essentially bridging back to web interfaces. The react native for web project allows react developers to use the same react native components (like <View> and <Text>) to render HTML and CSS in a web browser.

This allows teams to share their component code not just between iOS or Android, but also with the web app. The shared core react code maximizes code reuse across react and react native platforms. While reactjs is still the traditional way to use react for web development, react native for web is an excellent choice for teams whose main priority is cross-platform consistency across their web and mobile apps using a single UI library.

Key Takeaways: Your Guide to React and React Native

• React vs React Native is a choice between environments: ReactJS builds web applications that run in the web browser, while React Native build native mobile apps for android and iOS.

• React and react native share the same core react concepts, reactjs component model, and state management principles, making working with react native easy for a react developer.

• React Native does not use HTML; it translates javascript and react code into true native ui components (like buttons and views) via a bridge to the native code.

• React Native is preferred for native mobile applications as it allows one codebase to target both iOS and Android, drastically reducing the development time compared to traditional native development.

• When you use react you utilize the Virtual DOM; whereas react native uses native ui components for rendering.

• The non-visual business logic (core react code) can often be shared between a react application and a react native app, promoting efficiency for web and mobile apps.