React and React Native for app and web development
Building websites and apps has changed completely in recent years. Brthrs’ developers were only too happy to welcome the new technologies that made these advances possible.
Examples include integrating generative AI such as ChatGPT into business processes or using innovative JavaScript frameworks in website and app development.
In this article, we will explore the benefits of two JavaScript frameworks: React and React Native. We explain exactly what these frameworks are, what the difference is and why we love using them when building websites and apps.
What is React?
Both React and React Native are JavaScript frameworks used for developing online products. Developers can use components from this online library to build a website or app faster.
The difference between these two frameworks is in the end product. React is used to develop websites and web apps, React Native for mobile applications.
The framework React was published by Facebook in 2011. The company, known today as Meta, made this library of JavaScript code publicly available to developers from around the world. Since then, React has become one of the most popular frameworks for building websites and web apps.
Uber Eats’ app was developed via React Native
What is React Native?
React Native, like React, was developed by Facebook. Since 2015, React Native has been used worldwide to create mobile applications faster. React Native uses the React framework for this purpose.
The big advantage of React Native for app development, is that it makes it easier to build apps for multiple operating systems. React Native can be used as a framework to develop hybrid apps that feel like native apps.
This way, an app can be developed for multiple mobile platforms from one set of source code. This saves developers time and thus reduces the investment required for the client.
The benefits of using React and React Native
Deploying the JavaScript frameworks React and React Native offers many advantages when building websites and apps. Below, we explain the main benefits of React and React Native.
1. Code reusability.
Both React and React Native use component-based architecture. This means you can create different components and reuse them in different parts of your app or website. As a result, as a developer, you have less code to write. This in turn benefits the maintainability of a website or app.
Of course, Facebook’s app is also built via React Native
2. Cross-platform development
When building an app, there is a choice between a hybrid and a native app. Native apps are built specifically for an operating system (such as iOS), while hybrid apps are created for multiple platforms.
React Native helps developers build hybrid apps. From a single codebase, both the iOS and Android versions of the app are built. This saves time and resources because you don’t need separate teams to develop apps for both platforms.
3. Build apps and websites faster
One of the main reasons for using JavaScript frameworks such as React and React Native is the speed at which apps and websites can be created. This speed is not only in the ability to build cross-platform apps and reuse code.
In fact, React, as a framework, uses a virtual DOM (Document Object Model). This allows it to update only the changes to the user interface (UI), rather than the entire page. This makes development faster and ensures a smooth user experience.
In addition, it is also possible to use traditional programming languages within React Native, allowing your application to be fully custom optimized. This also allows developers to build apps and websites faster.
4. Easily add additional features
A website or app is never quite finished. Being live online products, they are constantly updated and expanded. As a framework, React Native makes it very easy to add additional features to an app.
Pinterest’s app is also based on the React Native Framework
5. Code sharing between web and mobile
Did you know that React and React Native are also mutually reinforcing? The great advantage of combining these two frameworks is that parts of the source code can be shared between platforms.
In this way, a developer can use parts of the user interface as components for both Web apps and mobile applications. This eliminates the need for developers to recreate them for each platform, reducing development time.
6. Large community
This benefit is reciprocal. Because of the many pluses of React and React native, the frameworks are loved by developers worldwide. Because they are used so much, there is a large and active community of React developers all over the world. These developers share documentation, tutorials and answer technical questions. This helps other React developers build apps and websites.
In addition, React and React Native were developed by Facebook (Meta), which has great advantages for framework development. Meta gives a lot of space and budget to developers to further develop React Native.
The frameworks are not completely dependent on Meta. In fact, React Native is an open source framework. Should Meta ever discontinue React Native, this will not be a problem for developers and built apps.
Airbnb’s app was also built via React Native.
Have a website or app created
After reading this article, it is probably clear why Brthrs developers are so excited about React and React Native. Deploying these frameworks has a huge impact on website and app development. We’d love to tell you more about it. Contact us to learn more about a React Native app or a React website.
