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Building Applications with React Native

What is React Native?

Explore the fundamentals of React Native to understand how it enables cross-platform application development using JavaScript and native UI components. This lesson helps you grasp the differences between React Native and ReactJS, benefits like code reusability and community support, and key limitations to consider when choosing this technology for app building.

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React Native is a tool that helps us build apps compatible with Android, iOS, and the web. It helps us use a React-style UI framework along with different JavaScript libraries without having to learn Java and Objective-C.

At run time, it uses the actual native components for Android and iOS, making the experience seamless. We can also write platform-specific code if we want different looks in Android and iOS.

Why should you use React Native?

Here are some of its benefits:

Easier for React developers to learn

React Native is an easier technology to learn for developers familiar with React and JavaScript. Companies with JavaScript developers don’t have to invest in more teams for app development.

Vast community support

The large open-source community behind the technology is also an advantage. In 2018, React Native had the second highest number of contributors for any repository in GitHub.

Code reusability

React Native follows the principle of “Learn once, write anywhere.” By using React Native, the cost of creating two different development teams for both platforms is reduced.

How is it different from React?

ReactJS is a framework for developing web applications. In React Native, developers use core native components such as View and ScrollView, instead of divs in React.

Limitations of React Native

Just like every other technology, there are a few use cases where React Native is limited:

  • Lower performance than native apps: React Native’s engines, like Hermes, have improved performance, but lack competition to Native applications.

  • Native modules: Not all native modules are supported by React Native. The lack of support for certain native modules in React Native may make it unsuitable for applications that heavily depend on such modules as a crucial component.