Cross-platform app development is the need of the day. Previously, app developers had to create apps using technology for those specific platforms. Namely, there are two major platforms that we all know: Android and iOS. The developers needed to have a special skill set for each and had to focus on two separate projects to create the apps.
The mobile market has users divided between different brands and devices that are built using specific technologies. Creating an app compatible to function on multiple platforms was difficult and creating apps separately for each would increase the development cost. Things needed to be changed and that is where React Native comes in. React Native is a cross-platform framework that has made it possible for top mobile app developers to write the code once and use it to develop mobile apps for various operating systems.
In this blog, we are going to discuss why React native is best for hybrid app development and the benefits it offers which make the top brands choose it for their businesses.
Table of Contents
What is React Native?
React Native is a framework that is used to develop apps on multiple platforms such as iOS, Android, and others. It is an open-source JavaScript-based framework. It allows developers to reuse the code across different platforms while allowing them to create native apps. It ensures that code does not compromise the user experience in any way.
It uses the Bridge concept which enables asynchronous transfer between JavaScript and Native elements of the OS. In other words, React Native allows Java and Native elements to communicate with each other despite being different in technologies.
Top Features of React Native
Native and Core Components
In Android, developers use Kotlin or Java to code, whereas in iOS, it is done using Swift or Objective-C to create an app. When they use React Native, it can make code compatible using JavaScript. It has various components that can be used to work with, like control for activity indicators. It also comes with numerous native components which can be used to build the app.
Rendered Native Code
React Native app development services ensure that the app has a native feel to it no matter what platform the code is being shared on. It is written in JavaScript and rendered to the Native UI of the platform desired to be created. This helps provide users with the same native platform UI and experience that they desire.
Custom Components
It has custom components like properties that enable you to customize the React components. Besides the core components, it also allows you to prepare the components to render other components and fabricate new ones in the process.
Specific Folders
It allows developers to reuse the code while creating a cross-platform app. Developers may be required to code specifically for certain scenarios. So keeping in mind React Native provides developers with platform modules and specific file extensions that enable them to code for that particular platform and save the progress in it.
Live Reloading
React Native is known to provide the best experience to developers due to this particular feature. Live reloading allows developers to introduce new features while the app is still running. It allows the developers to not lose any time and implement the changes simultaneously.
Flux and Redux Architecture
Flux architecture is a component used to input unidirectional data flow which helps enhance the performance while preventing any complexity with the application. Redux, on the other hand, is a predictable container for JavaScript-based apps which allows it to manage and store while maintaining data flow.
Block-Based UI Components
React Native lets developers create UI components such as layout, spacing, and typography. It does so by gathering different styles with a block. These components can then help in promoting reusability.
Performance-Oriented Approach
It uses a JavaScript transpiler, Bable, to transpile React syntax and create code that can be used in a JavaScript environment. This means that the developers can create new features in JavaScrip and run them smoothly on Android and iOS platforms. More so, it functions at 60 frames per second which offers a smooth user experience that feels premium.
Modular and Intuitive Architecture Approach
React Native follows a modular approach while writing code which makes life easier for developers. The modular approach makes it easy for the application interface to manage on Android and iOS platforms.
NPM Libraries Support
The only limit to react native is that it is limited to core components. It supports Node Package Manager which you can install from the npm registry. With its help, developers can integrate specific functionalities into the app.
Also Read: Why Do Businesses Prefer Flutter for Mobile App Development?
Benefits of React Native
1. Cross-Platform Ease
React Native provides developers the ability to use the same code for hybrid mobile app development. It does so with the help of the declarative UI paradigm approach and JavaScript. It also allows developers to share code across platforms that they can review. It is sort of a new pattern of app development that native developers can use. In simple words, iOS developers can review and work on Android and vice-versa.
2. Faster App Development
React components allow iOS and Android to be viewed through the JavaScript codebase. It creates platform-specific versions of components that let the developers use single code across different platforms. Its technology lets a single team of developers create and manage two different platforms at the same time. This cuts the development time in half and makes the process more efficient. It also eases the testing and maintenance part.
3. Saves Cost and Time
React Native makes code reusing possible which allows a single JavaScript codebase to provide app solutions for any platform. This has allowed the developers to create and test mobile apps for iOS and Android with great ease boosting the process and reducing the time while maintaining efficiency and quality. Along with reduced cost, React Native is free, easily available, and easy to learn even for beginners. Thus making it one of the best platforms for hybrid app development services.
4. Large Community Support
React Native was launched in 2015 by Facebook and has large community support. React Native has a huge number of contributors from large platforms. It has thousands of contributors on big platforms such as Google, Microsoft, Github, Intel, etc. A large community is necessary for any technology. It helps learn new features and resolve queries that a developer might have during the project. The members of its community provide support and updates on new features and manage to stay in touch to share their knowledge and experience.
5. Real-Time Changes
React Native allows smooth iteration with the help of JavaScript. It also helps make the changes visible on the app immediately. This means that you won’t have to wait for the modifications to update like in native app development. The live reload feature that React Native has made real-time updates possible. The developers can see the changes happening in real time as the coding is being done. This allows the developers to figure out whether the changes are being implemented properly or require any changes.
6. Third-Party Integration
React Native doesn’t only allow you to create apps for multiple platforms, but it also allows developers to include third-party services like Cameras, Gallery, GPS, etc. It has many third-party libraries that can be used to get access to the services. It also offers a lot of data and modules through a third-party plug-in as it is open-source. It reduces the workload for developers hugely and the React Native app development company. The programmers can take a sigh of breath as they don’t have to code for external applications.
7. No Compromise
In React Native, the app uses the same Native APIs that other apps use. Thus, it provides all benefits of Native apps and shatters the limits of hybrid mobile app development. React Native has core native components like Text, Image, and View. These core components are the UI building blocks for native app development which allows it to provide a native-like UI experience.
Why Top Brands Prefer React Native
Numerous top-tier brands use React Native for their app development. Here are some examples and reasons they use it.
- Facebook has been using it for the development of important features like Facebook Analytics, Ads, and the mobile application. These cross-platform apps are flawless in each way while maintaining a standard UI.
- Instagram is largely popular among people of all ages and has turned into a profession for some. It was acquired by Facebook a while back and has been switched to React Native. This has allowed developers to use the life reload feature and keep the app updated at all times.
- Skype is popular around the world for official meetings, interviews, and general video conversations. It uses React Native as well. Microsoft, the parent company of Skype, uses React Native and contributes to it immensely as well. The framework has made it possible to have similar features on Desktop and mobile versions.
- Pinterest is another big brand that people love to use for posting and pinning images, ideas, and other stuff. The reason that Pinterest prefers React Native is to reduce the coding efforts while offering great features on iOS and Android.
- Walmart is probably one of the biggest brands in the US. Their web view implementations were not so great and lacked the native vibe that users search for. This made the shift to React Native app development.
- Bloomberg is a reputed brand in business and financial analytics and insights. Their application is based on React Native which allows them to offer features like personalized content, videos, feeds, etc.
Challenges of Hybrid App Development
As discussed above, even the top brands had to switch to React Native, and here are the challenges of hybrid app development that make it necessary to use React Native for app development.
User Experience
As new technologies keep emerging and updating day by day, people are becoming used to the mobile world. Consumers look for two things in an app, the first one being systematic UI and ease of use. It is no longer a crowd of people who will learn to use what you create but ask for features that ease their experience. And if your app doesn’t live up to their expectations, the ratings and reviews are going to be harsh. Hybrid apps alone cannot provide the desired results and that is where React Native comes in.
User Interface
Consumers have become aware of the products and the competition in the market. They look for the best among all the options which makes it difficult for the developers to design that everyone would appreciate. There are a few factors that need to be taken into consideration. From images to graphics, the background color, and other such things need to be appealing.
Performance and Efficiency
The General Hybrid app’s performance is always questionable. Poor offline support, app crashes, low navigation speed, and improper network conditions are points that come to mind. All of these lead to low performance and make the app less user-friendly. React Native helps balance the performance and efficiency of the apps while making sure they function seamlessly with regular updates.
React Native Over Hybrid Apps
As we said, there are numerous challenges in creating a hybrid app, but React Native helps overcome them. Probably the most difficult task of all is the web view. It runs apps natively and does not restrict web UI elements making the user experience pleasant. It also provides a single codebase with UI elements that are not available in hybrid apps. The UI element makes front-end development smooth.
Conclusion
Reactive Native is a framework that offers great features and makes hybrid app development easy. It makes the whole process smooth for the company and the react native developer as it helps overcome the challenges. Many big companies and brands use it to create the best UI/UX experience for their consumers. It is safe to assume that hybrid apps are the future and React Native will grow further while driving change and adapting to the new demands of consumers.
If you are looking to create a cross-platform app, our React Native app developers can help you plan and deliver unmatched results for your business needs. Contact us now! Our team of expert React Native developers can provide you with top-notch performing apps across all platforms that you desire.
