We’ll be frank — to compare React JS with React Native is to compare apples and oranges.
The core difference between these two technologies makes it nearly impossible to set them side by side simply because one creates mobile apps and the other creates web apps. In other words, they’re vastly different tools that make vastly different things.
But if you already know that and you’re here reading this article anyway, you’re probably seeking different answers. In what ways are these cousin technologies similar and different? What else can React Native and React JS do? What benefits do they offer? And — perhaps the most crucial question — are they any good for business?
In this article, not only will we be tackling the difference between React JS vs React Native; we’ll also dive into the business-specific applications they can develop. Once you have a clear understanding of the capacities of both, you’ll be one step closer to your goals.
The Difference Between React JS vs React Native
But first, let’s settle the primary question. What is the difference between React JS vs React Native? You know, besides React JS being a web development tool and React Native being a mobile app development tool?
Let’s begin with the things these technologies can influence. Because React JS is a view library, its main concern is the user interface (UI) of a web application or website. This means it can’t do things like fetch data or manipulate back-end development independently.
On the other hand, React Native is a framework for mobile app development, meaning its capabilities go beyond UI design. While React JS promises quick-rendering web pages, React Native’s selling point is its ability to “write mobile applications that look and feel truly ‘native’” across mobile operating systems, and more notably iOS and Android.
This is a key difference between React JS vs React Native — the former has limited control over development, and the latter has tools to build a full-fledged app from start to finish.
React Native can also be responsible for a mobile application’s front-end, so we can compare these technologies on that front. How do their rendering methods differ?
In terms of how they render, React JS and React Native pretty much have the same approach. Both technologies use the virtual document object model (virtual DOM) to provide a more efficient way of updating the view layer of an application.
Their difference lies in what they render. According to our expert React developer, React JS renders the HTML tags or commands that make up a website or web application. React Native, on the other hand, renders the native elements of a mobile device or operating system.
But Are Both Good for Business?
That being said, are these technologies any good for business? Just because the virtual DOM enhances user experience through quick loading times, are React JS and React Native automatically ideal technologies for your goals?
We will have to defer to the age-old answer for this — it depends on your business objectives. Here’s a real-life example. One of NarraSoft’s clients needed to outsource React developers because their mobile application was already using the library.
In another scenario, you could be looking into React JS and React Native because of the types of applications they can build. React JS is known for helping developers and business owners customize user-friendly UI for eCommerce sites and more. And React Native is great for cross-platform mobile app development.
Let’s dig a bit deeper into the kind of output you can expect from both.
React JS vs React Native: The Types of Applications They Can Develop for Your Business
An excellent way to see if either of these technologies is a good fit for you is to know what you can get out of them. Like we said earlier, React JS builds web applications, and React Native builds mobile applications. But specifically what types of web apps and mobile apps?
Examples of Web Apps React JS Can Build
eCommerce sites: Because React JS is SEO-friendly, eCommerce businesses will reap a ton of benefits from this library. An eCommerce site with an SEO-friendly build can increase its chances of getting found on search engines, thereby increasing its chances of converting new buyers, too.
Social media sites: React JS stems from Facebook’s need to create dynamic single-page applications (SPAs) that easily update when introduced to new data. Today, SPAs are the type of applications social media platforms employ to make users stay on the app longer and remain one of React JS’s core strengths.
News sites: Apart from SEO-friendliness, React JS is equally capable of processing large volumes of data. With multimedia and digital journalism on the rise, news organizations will need their online platforms to adapt to the demands of data-heavy elements such as video and images. Enter React JS, a user-friendly, SEO-friendly, and data-friendly technology efficient at accommodating the growing needs of news outlets. Just ask The New York Times!
Data visualization apps: Presenting big data in a visually appealing format is also one of React JS’s strengths. With this JavaScript library, you can tinker with the UI elements of your big data web app until you arrive at a design you’re pleased with the most. Plus, React JS has data visualization tools, making web development much faster and more seamless.
Examples Mobile Apps React Native Can Build
Social media apps: Like React JS, React Native was built with social media in mind. Except, instead of merely UI development, React Native’s original purpose was to build a full-blown mobile version of Facebook that feels native across mobile operating systems. Until today, this is what React Native achieves, and Facebook, Instagram, and Skype are only a few examples of social media apps that benefit from this framework.
Booking apps: Everyone these days has some need for booking apps. So to reach as many people as possible in a short amount of time, have your booking app developed with the help of React Native experts. UberEATS is a great example of React Native development at work.
Messaging apps: Just like booking apps, messaging apps have an unsurprisingly large population of users you don’t want to miss out on. Statista reports 3.09 billion mobile phone users have accessed messaging apps this year. This type of mobile application is better off with cross-platform development as it’s simple and has a demand covering over a third of the global population.
Productivity apps: Speaking of simple and stable mobile development, React Native is excellent for productivity and utility apps. With this framework, you can easily have mobile applications built for smartphone users who want to stay on top of tasks, set daily reminders, or even check the weather across the globe. And you can deploy them all at once to iOS and Android users, allowing you to widen your reach in a short amount of time.
A Universal Need for React Native
According to one of our expert developers, nothing beats native development. But what if you need to test out your mobile app fast?
React Native’s robust cross-platform capabilities are perfect for developers looking to test their work across mobile operating systems quickly.
It’s a superb rapid prototyping tool that makes development a productive and economic investment for any business.
In Summary
React JS and React Native differ primarily in terms of the type of output they create, their level of influence on development, and the UI elements they render.
The former builds web applications, and the latter makes mobile applications. Additionally, React JS is a view library, affecting only the view layer or UI of a web application. On the other hand, React Native is a full-fledged framework capable of cross-platform development.
And lastly, our React developer says React JS renders the HTML tags or commands of a web application, while React Native renders the native elements of a mobile device.
Experience Seamless Web App Development with NarraSoft’s React Developers
Find seasoned React developers here at NarraSoft. Not only are our devs well-versed in React JS and React Native development, but they’re also equipped to build software using other technologies like Python, PHP, and .NET.
Don’t hesitate to send us a message if you have any questions. Reach out to us via email at sales@narrasoft.com or message us using our chat box below or contact form.