The most important factor for a mobile app is to be able to run smoothly and have a uniform use experience across all the devices. Targeting the rising needs of uniformity and compatibility, tech giants Facebook (now known as Meta) launched an open source framework back in 2015. This framework allowed developers to use essentially the same backend and front end for apps on different operating systems.
The concept sounds very intriguing. Has Facebook pulled it off with the execution? In a lot of ways, yes they have. Perhaps the biggest challenge they had to face to maintain uniformity was the contrasting natures of both Android & iOS as operating systems. Let us expand upon how exactly they manage to allow developers to use the same syntax for an open source OS like Android and a device specific OS like the iOS.
What exactly is React Native?
React is a JavaScript library that is most commonly known for building user interfaces. Since most iOS & android app development use JavaScrip in the programming, React can be used in developing new features to existing apps as well. It is this flexibility because of which it remains the most popular choice among developers for a cross platform framework over the last few years.
Cross-platform mobile frameworks used by software developers worldwide from 2019 to 2021
The reason why it is called React Native is because you can use the same native framework for both iOS & Android versions of your app. The coding library remains the same for both versions as the user interface differs. The difference between React vs React Native is fairly simple. While React is a library of code written in JavaScript that can be used for a variety of purposes like web, app and software development, React Native uses a custom UI builder and fetches its backend coding from the React library.
Benefits of Using React Native
There are some absolute leaders in the world of tech that advocate using Meta’s app development framework. React Native already boasts on having a clientele that includes all of Meta’s apps like Facebook, Microsoft’s Office Tools, eCommerce tools like Shopify and retail giants Wallmart. Here are some key reasons why some of the top companies in the world use React Native.
All in One
React Native uses the same codes for functions across apps from different platforms. Core coding components like View, Text & Image that respond to custom UI building blocks remain constant across platforms. This helps developers build apps on both Android & iOS. Being an all in one framework, you can reuse most of its core codes and functionalities across different apps on different platforms.
Seamless Compatibility
One of React Native’s greatest attributes is its compatibility. Developers can use a set of codes from one app for a similar functionality on another app. This works across Android & iOS too. Apart from cross platform app development services, developers can also offer refurbishing of existing apps based on another framework using React’s codes since most of the app development frameworks support codes on JavaScripts.
Time Saving
Since the codes for all the core functionalities are the same across different platforms, it saves you a great amount of time when you are developing a project for multiple platforms. Interestingly, developers at any mobile app development agency can easily borrow codes from web applications as well for their apps. This level of compatibility negates the need to have dedicated coding for all the different platforms.
Cost Saving
It is commonly known that the charges you pay for getting your apps or websites developed are on hourly basis. Since a lot of codes for any app built with react native application development can be borrowed from other apps or other platforms, it saves a lot of time and time defines the actual costs of a project. Developers can actually build iOS and Android versions of the same app at the same time. The compatibility makes the development much more convenient and easy which eventually leads to time and cost saving.
Faster Previews
React Native saves all your changes in real time. This is more commonly known as “live reloading” or “hot reloading” among the community members. This essentially allows developers to see the reflection of the changes they made on another window while they are making those changes. There is no need for developers to wait for the native builds to finish before their changes reflect. The live previews ease the overall development and result in higher productivity and creativity.
The Verdict
There are very few frameworks that offer the kind of compatibility and flexibility that React Native has to offer. With Meta’s advanced tech support and an already grown community, any budding developer can be rest assured about addressing some queries. The biggest driving factors in the world of tech today are time and cost. With the levels of compatibility that React offers, it hits hard on both time and cost. The sheer convenience too makes it a popular choice among developers. It is a safe choice for companies as much of the troubleshooting is also done within no time and simultaneously across different platforms. All these factors have carved a successful past trajectory, a strong present and a promising future for React Native.
Pinal is a React Native Developer working with Gtech Web Infotech Pvt. Ltd., a leading mobile app development company in India. Being capable of building cross-platform applications that are highly proficient and offer intuitive user experience is her forte.
