Which is Better? React Native or Real Native for Mobile app Development

So, you want to develop the mobile apps that work on both Android and iOS… Would you learn the native language for each app or would you learn JavaScript framework that helps to develop applications in both the language with the single code base?

Although in mobile app development ecosystem, before you start developing any apps, you need to choose tools, platforms, frameworks to build the apps. In selecting the right toolset, several factors are considered by mobile app developers i.e.:

• Nature of the product
• Target audience
• Cost of the project
• Existing code skills
• Purpose of the app
• Longevity of the product

Yet, knowing the goals, developers are perplexed by the choice of platform, frameworks or tools. But, the key selection they have to precisely make is about the platform – React Native or Native…

But what is Native applications and React Native all about?

Native applications are developed particularly for a specific platform with the tools specific to a programming language. For instance:  Android, developers need to code in Java using Android studio as the environment, while iOS apps are developed in Objective –C or Swift using Xcode as IDE. Development environments for both are different which means, you will need a team of developers for Android and iOS to develop two different applications.

On the contrary, React Native is a framework created by Facebook which is intended to develop applications for iOS and Android both. Hence, it refrains the need of two different applications; only single code is enough for both Android and iOS platform.

Let’s dive in deeper…..

• Which is the best? React Native or Native

Well, it all depends on nature, size and target audience of the project.

But, it is said that after the arrival of React Native, there are many improvisations in the UI of mobile app; graphic elements improved to match the standards of platform. Moreover, it is developed by JavaScript which is a simple programming language and can be learned easily. It lessens up the time of app development and the cost as single team of developers can develop one app for two platform.

When it comes to Native apps i.e. Objective C or Swift; it is difficult to cope up with but errors can be caught at early stage of compilation. Moreover, Objective C and Java are getting upgraded to stand at par with modern language.

• Third-party libraries

In Native app development, for adding functionality, you get full support from API or third party library and third-party library wouldn’t require any further integration. The community is small but there are lot of resources available to available to carry out the app development.

When it comes to React Native, although community is big, it doesn’t support APIs. To use third-party libraries of native apps, these incorporations must be written in Native modules i.e. you need to code for Android and iOS both which is very daunting task.

• Web app development

When it comes to web app development, React Native stands on leading position. As web development is simple, comprehensive knowledge of web app development will prove beneficial as debugging flows and toolset architecture becomes easier. Moreover, developers can refrain from doing web programming if there are any React.js developers supporting the project.

When we talk about Native application, it has nothing to do with web app development.

• Community Size

React Native was developed by Facebook which one of the high-performing social media platform. Hence, the number is enough to describe the number on the React Native community which is almost close to 32k. Moreover, React Native is an open source by nature and hence, reusable components can be used in applications.

When it comes to native applications, it doesn’t hold the support of large community and support from peer engineers.

• App Performance

When Native applications and React Native are compared, both out-performs. With React Native, developing simple apps becomes much easier but if implemented with AR/VR, Blockchain, it may create problems.

Read also : Blockchain : Why it is the Future of Technology

When developing apps with native applications, developers find it easier to develop apps by incorporating the techniques.

• Reloading

In Native apps, making minor change is pain as it requires you to rebuild everything from scratch. You need to wait for the app to launch again to verify the changes which results into much tedious process. If the file contains number of files, then multiple runs add fuel to the fire and you have to spend much of the time in waiting.

React Native apps are equipped with JS bundle that holds the application code and other assets. Reload process is very quick and you don’t have to rebuild the app ever again as the content of the bundle are cached on the device.

• Localization

In native apps, developers have to manage the separate files for localizing the strings. Although there are the frameworks that provide easier approach, it lacked standard ways to keep all translations in one place.

React-Native localization - one of the very popular module in React native apps uses single file of translation for strings all over project. This means, developers have to build only JSON file which holds translations for all language. React Native can understand the locale on user’s device and can apply translations accordingly.

So, who wins the battlefield?

By checking out the above-mentioned scenarios, in some ways React Native is standing in front and in some aspects Native proved better. Hence, the app developers need to develop the project on the language that works best according to the requirements.

React Native is the best suited if one is looking to develop app similar to Facebook or Instagram which has large community and reusable components. Native apps are better if one is looking to develop an app that has features of AR or if planning to use third party libraries or APIs.

It is always best to hire React app developers in Toronto to develop the application that can give you an edge to the business.

Wrapping it up

Both Native apps and React Native has its own pros and cons; however, it is up to the mobile app developers to decide which the best one is.

iQlance being the best mobile app development company in Toronto can help to develop the solution that can leverage your business. Our mobile app developers are well versed in developing React Native and Native apps and can build the apps that can cater your requirements.