Definition
React Native is an open-source framework created by Meta (formerly Facebook) for building mobile applications using JavaScript and React. It allows developers to write code once and deploy apps across iOS and Android platforms while delivering near-native performance. React Native uses native components rather than web views, making applications feel and perform more like traditional native apps.
For example, a developer can build a shopping app in React Native and deploy it simultaneously on both iOS and Android with a shared codebase.
Advanced
React Native bridges JavaScript code with native APIs, enabling developers to access device functions such as the camera, GPS, and push notifications. Its architecture uses a JavaScript thread that communicates with native modules, ensuring flexibility and high performance. Developers can also integrate third-party native modules for advanced functionality or performance enhancements.
Advanced practices include integrating React Native with TypeScript for type safety, optimising rendering with memoisation and virtualised lists, and managing state with Redux or Recoil. Developers often combine React Native with CI/CD pipelines for automated testing and deployment. While React Native covers most use cases, some apps may require custom native code for specific performance or hardware features.
Why it matters
- Reduces development costs by allowing one codebase for multiple platforms.
- Provides faster time to market compared to building separate native apps.
- Offers near-native performance and access to device features.
- Benefits from strong community support and ecosystem growth.
Use cases
- Developing cross-platform mobile apps with shared codebases.
- Creating MVPs for startups that need rapid deployment.
- Building apps with integrated device features such as cameras and sensors.
- Updating apps quickly with unified release cycles for iOS and Android.
Metrics
- Code reuse percentage between iOS and Android.
- App performance benchmarks such as load time and responsiveness.
- Number of bugs detected in cross-platform testing.
- User adoption and satisfaction across both platforms.
Issues
- Performance may lag behind fully native apps for complex tasks.
- Dependence on third-party libraries that may not be well maintained.
- Challenges when integrating with platform-specific features.
- Potential increase in app size compared to native development.
Example
A fintech company uses React Native to build its mobile banking app. By sharing most of the code between iOS and Android, the team reduces development costs while still delivering native-like performance. This allows the company to launch faster and scale efficiently.