React Native is a revolutionary cross-platform app development framework. The use of React Native is steadily increasing as cross-platform app development becomes increasingly popular.
This blog will explain what React Native is and why you should use it for your mobile app development. Let us begin!
What is React Native?
React Native is an open-source UI software framework created by Facebook, Inc. It allows you to build native mobile apps using JavaScript. React native, also known as RN, you can develop mobile applications using JavaScript, and it is used to develop applications for Android, iOS, macOS, tvOS, Web, etc…
Facts to consider when developing a React Native app
One of the most popular cross-platform app development frameworks has some truly amazing facts. This is key information that will help you understand fully the nuances of React Native.
- Mobile application development with React Native is done by using the same fundamental blocks. These UI blocks are the same for both Android and iOS. Therefore, the developers don’t need to build blocks in Java, Swift, or Kotlin separately
- The widgets in React Native are analogous to the ones in Flutter
React Native App Development Benefits
React Native remains one of the best technologies for building mobile apps in 2021.
Reusable Code
One of the most important grounds that factor React Native’s popularity is its code reusability function. It helps you develop cross-platforms seamlessly without exhausting your budget. Developers get the ease of reusing native components which leads to the eradication of expenses for app development.
Moreover, if a company already has a web application on React, some of this code can be reused to create a mobile application.
Larger Developer community
Since React Native has the backing of Facebook, it is bound to have a larger developers’ community. Moreover, as it is an open-source platform, the technology is available for free for everyone. One of the greatest advantages of React Native mobile app development is that it is based on community-driven technology.
Moreover, an open-source platform also helps in recognition for writing codes. The developers can use the platform to create their portfolios, share their experiences, etc. This engagement will inspire them to write better codes with time.
Third-Party Plugin Support
React Native is still evolving, so components that would meet some specific business needs may be missing. React Native supports 2 types of third-party plugins: JavaScript-based and native modules.
Hot Reload
This is a very special feature of React Native. It allows the developer to refresh the app instantly while developing. It can boost up development time by reloading applications automatically when code changes. Hot reload helps in live tracking of all the recent changes made by a developer.
It Saves You Money
Cross-platform technology means you write one code that works as two or more apps. You can upload it to Google Play and the App Store.
But what truly makes React Native a cost-effective solution is its web technology. And web development usually costs less than mobile app development. As a result, you will spend half as much developing with React as you would using Swift, Kotlin, Java, and other native technologies.
React Native’s Downsides
Very difficult to debug
React Native mobile applications are very hard to debug. As they are built using Java, C/C++, JavaScript, etc. the process of debugging becomes very tedious. Thus, the developers should have knowledge of the Native language of the platform.
Because React Native constantly goes to and fro between the thread of JavaScript and Native environment.
To overcome this issue, the developers have enabled the integration with Flipper. It has a set of tools that can help in the debugging process.
Lack of Support for iOS & Android Features
React Native does not support all features for these platforms. Some modules are missing that require custom development. Other features may be incomplete or outdated, so developers need to build them from scratch.
Lack of Power for Complex UI
React Native isn’t a smart choice if you need a lot of animations, integrations, and background operations in your project.
In terms of screens with complex gestures, developers may have some difficulty, because the Android and iOS touch subsystems are too different to use a unified API.
Why Choose React Native for Mobile App Development?
If you need to develop an app for both iOS and Android, React Native is the best tool out there. It can reduce the codebase by about 95%, saving you time and money. On top of that, React Native has a number of open-source libraries of pre-built components which can help you further speed up the development process.
Examples of Apps That Use React Native:
- Uber Eats
- Skype
- Walmart
- Discord
- Bloomberg
Wrapping it up
React Native is a developer-and business-friendly framework for building cross-platform mobile apps. If you are looking to develop platform-independent mobile app development, then React Native is the answer.
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