What is React Native and Should I Use It?

Over the past 10 years, mobile apps have significantly changed multiple aspects of everyday life. People use apps for banking, shopping, communication, entertainment, and more. There is an app for almost anything these days, with new types of apps being released at an amazing rate. Mobile app use is so widespread that it has led to the creation of a new framework for use by app developers everywhere.

What is React Native?

React Native is a major step forward in the world of app development; it is an open-source JavaScript framework that was created by Facebook in 2015. React Native allows app developers to build cross-platform apps much more efficiently by enabling the developer to share the same code between iOS and Android, instead of having to write (and maintain) two different codebases.

Before React Native, app developers had to write two versions of each app if they wanted their app to work on both major operating systems – one version written in  Java (for Android) and another written in Swift/Obj-C (for iOS). When using React Native, more than 90% of the app’s code can be reused on both operating systems.

Should I Use React Native?

There are many benefits to using React Native over more traditional methods, but it is not appropriate for every app. Consulting with a React Native development company can help you decide if this framework is right for you.

The main benefits of using React Native include a considerably faster development time and a much lower cost. For most app development, using React Native can reduce the needed codebase for an app by as much as 95%. This significantly reduces both the development time and the overall cost of app development.

React Native also includes an open-source JavaScript library that contains pre-built components and a community of users that collaborates to improve the components available. Because React Native is an open-source platform, all information related to the technology is available and free for use by anyone in the React Native community. In addition, developers can share their experiences and get feedback from other members of the community, leading to the development of better and more effective code.

React Native is not right for every app; it is still relatively new and in some cases, that immaturity can lead to unpredictable results. However, updates are released weekly and community collaboration can often help to resolve any issues. In addition, there are many ready-made solutions and third-party plug-ins to help fill any gaps.

React Native is not always the best choice for an app with a complex user interface that includes multiple interactions, animations, screen transitions, or complex gestures, but these capabilities are improving with each update. In addition, partnering with an experienced React Native development company (along with the React Native community) can help avoid any difficulties.

In Conclusion

While not meant for every project, React Native is an exciting new app-building framework that can be used to develop high-quality and scalable mobile apps by utilizing reusable code, a large library of existing code and a community of React Native users who can advise and assist with any snags encountered along the way.