What is react js and react native

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In this tutorial, we will discuss what is react js and react native? First, we will understand what is react js, and then we will learn what is react native?

What is react js and react native?

Now, let us see what is react js and react native.

What is react js?

Now, let us try to understand what is react js.

  • Reactjs is an open-source JavaScript library that was developed by Facebook. Companies use react js to work with the View layer.
  • React js is popular in developing single-page applications apart from websites and web apps.
  • In an MVC framework, react is responsible only for rendering the UI components. Basically, react js is a library for building the user interface (UI).
  • React js also uses an XML style syntax known as JSX.
  • Rather than writing a complex UI, React focuses on components that are small and isolated pieces of code blocks. Then we can easily reuse these components.
  • Another advantage of React js is the concept of virtual DOM. If any update happens then the virtual DOM got modified and according to that, the matched real DOM got modified. That’s why it is faster and you will not have a full page refresh rather the part of the page will be refreshed.

What is react native?

Now, let us understand what is react native.

  • React Native is a JavaScript framework, using which we can build applications that will render in both iOS and Android OS. And also it can support any other platforms in the future.
  • In simple words, by using the react native framework, we can build native applications using JavaScript.
  • We can build a user interface using react native, but React native targets the mobile platforms, not browsers.
  • By using react native, you can easily develop apps simultaneously for both Android and iOS.
  • React native uses JSX (JavaScript and XML based markup).
  • From the react-native apps, you will be able to access phone camera and other features through JavaScript interfaces.
  • In the classical approach, when you are developing applications using Cordova or ionic, it will render using webviews with after combining JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. But when you will develop an application using react native, then it will translate your markup to real native elements.
  • Another advantage of using react native, when you will develop an application using react native framework, it provides high performance as React works separately from the main UI thread.
  • Also, like react, when props or state change, react native re-renders the views.

If you are a developer and using react native, you will get a few more advantages.

  • Since, react native uses JavaScript, as a developer you don’t need to rebuild the application to see the changes, rather you can just press Command+R to see the updates.
  • As a developer, you do not need to use the iOS editor Xcode or Android studio, any editor you can use for JavaScript editing. Apart from this, you can also get intelligence support and a Google Chrome developer tool.
  • With react native, you can also shrink resources to build mobile applications. Also, you can share most of the codes which you will write. Not all code will be cross-platform but you can use lots of react native code between various applications.

Conclusion

React.js is a library that you can use for building UI (user interface). While React Native is a framework to build cross-platform applications that will render in both iOS and Android.

By using react, you can develop a responsive, dynamic interface for the web (browser) while we can use react native to build apps for your mobile devices.

Apart from this react is popular because of the virtual DOM while react native uses its native APIs to render.

In this tutorial, we learned what is react js and react native. Also, we saw, what is the difference between react js and react native.

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