The mobile app development market has enormous potential for growth, as seen in the increasing utilization of the React Native (also known as RN) framework. Appbrain statistics show that the mobile app development industry is not only active but booming, with more than 34 thousand apps using the framework elements and more than 42 billion downloads worldwide. This is a significant achievement for the React Native mobile app development framework.
A survey indicates that this cross-platform development tool may be the future of app design. If you are looking to benefit from the growing mobile app development market, you may want to consider using React Native for your upcoming projects.
Let’s look at some statistics about React Native app development:
1. Top organizations prefer to go with React Native.
According to the percentage, we have found that 27% of industries of Information Technology and Services are using this framework and on the other hand, 17% of IT companies are using this for overall app development work.
2. Top Countries Utilizing React Native for their app development.
49% of React Native clients exist in the USA as well as in India, the UK, and Canada this percentage is 9%, 7%, and 5%.
What is React Native?
React Native is an open-source mobile app development framework developed by Facebook in 2015 that uses an informative programming concept and the JavaScript library to develop native mobile apps. It provides a smooth and responsive user interface and significantly reduces loading time. Developing apps with React Native is cheaper and faster than native apps while still providing high-quality functionality.
As we all know, in the modern world, the top giant companies are using the components of React Native for Android and iOS mobile application development because it is one of the favorite frameworks for developers. With this framework, they don’t need to waste time deploying applications by using various codes or teams of developers; they can design an app, and the developer code runs on both platforms simultaneously with few line code changes.
React Native lets app developers create applications with JavaScript. It is not an HTML5 or a mobile web application, but a mobile app like those developed with Objective-C / Swift or Java / Kotlin. It provides basic UI building blocks similar to iOS and Android applications, so you need to assemble them to perform any task.
React Native has become one of the most sought-after solutions for efficient mobile development within a few years of its launch. Nowadays, many of the top-grossing mobile applications such as Facebook, Instagram, and Skype are built with React Native.
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Reasons Behind the Success of React Native
React Native is a successful framework in the modern world for various reasons, some of which are given below:
- It supports live and hot reloading, meaning developers can see the changes in their code instantly without recompiling the app. This feature enhances the productivity and efficiency of the developers, as they can create the best and most powerful mobile applications with a front-end solution that React Native offers.
- It allows developers to write code only once and use it to power both their iOS and Android apps with minor platform-specific changes. This means that it is cost-effective and time-saving for app development.
- It is based on JavaScript, which is a popular and widely used programming language in the world. This is another reason behind its success.
- It gives a native look and feel to the apps, as it uses native components that render natively on each platform.
The Benefits of Using React Native for Mobile Application Development
React Native framework combines the best features of native development with the flexibility and efficiency of JavaScript.
Develop Complex Advanced Mobile Applications
The React Native framework is beneficial for developers who want to launch intricate and advanced mobile app solutions. Its framework uses a component-based interface, which allows developers to easily plug and play with the interface elements and create superior apps. The framework also helps to simplify complex algorithms and convert them into easy formats, which makes it easier for the developers.
Moreover, React Native supports agile development; it helps companies quickly adjust their application to market changes on two platforms at the same time.
React Native is Open Source
React Native is an open-source framework, and the developer can utilize its library and framework, which is free. React Native comes under MIT license. Being open source means that anyone can access, modify, and improve the code of React Native. It also means developers can benefit from the existing libraries and tools compatible with React Native framework.
Hot Reloading Feature
Hot reloading is a feature of React Native that allows developers to see the changes they make to the code in real-time on the device or simulator. It works by injecting the updated code into the running app without restarting it or losing its state.
Hot reloading is useful for tweaking the UI elements and styles of the app without having to rebuild it every time. React Native allows developers to run applications while they update the edited files. So, if you make any changes to the user interface, you will not lose any data.
Enriched User Interface
With this framework, you can write the code that manages the execution and it is possible because it uses declarative syntax. The frontend UI library is made of pre-built declarative elements that make the interface intuitive and simple.
Large organizations like Instagram, Facebook, and Microsoft Office use React Native to design adaptable products for their customers.
Reusable Code
With the React Native framework, developers don’t need to write different codes for iOS and Android platforms. It uses JavaScript, which is compatible with both platforms. This unique feature of code reuse can improve efficiency and make the app development process faster and easier. It can also help reduce costs. Moreover, its user interface and open-source libraries can enhance the app development process. Also, if an organization already has a web app built on React, that code can be reused to create a new mobile app.
Cheaper compared to Native Development
When you are using the React Native framework, you only have to design an application once in JavaScript. However, if you follow native techniques, you may need to create two separate applications for Android and iOS from scratch. Therefore, using React Native allows you to reuse the code and avoid hiring two different teams of developers. This can save twice the costs for its users.
It Provides Enhanced Flexibility
React Native allows its developers to access other developers’ code and quickly resume working from where they left off. This enhances the team’s productivity and makes it easier for developers to modify and update smartphone apps.
Ease of Adapt this Framework
The UI library of this Framework is built on JavaScript and React. So, if you are familiar with these two, you can learn this framework quickly. According to a programming language survey, JavaScript is currently the most popular and in-demand programming language. More than 47% of recruiters worldwide are looking for programmers with strong Java, JavaScript, or Python skills.
Minimal Resources Needed
React Native is a framework allowing developers to create apps faster and more efficiently. It already has many components and can be used for different features and functions. This reduces the amount of work and time needed to develop an app. Another advantage of React Native is that it can create apps on multiple platforms, such as iOS and Android.
This feature allows developers only to write one codebase for both platforms, and users can access the same app on different devices. This makes the app more consistent and easier to operate and market.
Powerful User Interface
It supports mobile application development with its scalable and reliable UI interface. It is easy to use, even for beginners who do not need any training. Furthermore, it also simplifies the layout of the user interface with its tool. It creates a bridge between the UI components and the native Java code.
Modular Architecture
The best attribute of this tool is it permits developers to design modules of various features. The modules are the sections of code that can be utilized and easily reused in all various kinds of apps where the user wants the same features.
Create Fast, Robust Applications
With the advent of 5G internet, mobile apps need to be fast and responsive to meet users’ expectations. React Native not only allows its developers to create cross-platform mobile apps, but it has some advantages over other alternatives. The performance of the apps built with React Native is better than other frameworks you can find on the internet.
The mobile apps created with this framework are developed using the APIs that connect to the native components of the operating system. This enhances the performance of the app.
Minimum Workforce Requirement
A single app can work on various platforms with React Native framework. This feature makes things easier for organizations because they don’t need to hire two separate teams for different platforms. They only need one team to develop the backend of the apps.
However, a different team may still be needed for some platform-specific features or adjustments. But overall, the workforce requirement is reduced by using React Native. Managing fewer people is quite easy, and the features that can be added to the app are similar to the native features.
Third-Party Library Support
React Native is a framework that allows developers to create mobile apps using JavaScript. However, building an app from scratch can be expensive and time-consuming for customers. To make the development process easier and faster, React Native offers many third-party libraries that can be used to add features and functions to the app.
Some libraries are written in JavaScript, while others are native modules that run directly on the device. These libraries help to avoid using web view components that can slow down the app’s performance and functionality.
Combine it with Native Code
The React Native framework allows developers to create mobile apps that can integrate with existing native code and libraries. This way, they can leverage the benefits of native development while using JavaScript. Many organizations use this framework to enhance their user experience with faster and smoother apps that support 120hz display rate for more fluid animations and interactions.
Exceptional Community Support
One of the major reasons to choose the React Native framework is the extensive community support. The platform is becoming popular, and it can help you solve any problems that may arise during your mobile app development journey.
For instance, if you are designing an Instagram clone and you are taking the attributes from the primary application. There is a possibility that you may not understand how to apply the API or plugin, so at that time, the developer community can support you a lot to overcome the issue. Except, you will get lots of open-source contributors who can support you in a better way with your app development.
Future Possibilities of React Native Framework
React Native is right now working with an energetic large-scale project also known as Fabric. The target behind it is to make React Native more improbable as Fabric will support RN framework combined with hybrid JavaScript-based architecture.
With the Fabric feature, the developers can get the three most essential modifications that can boost the future growth of React Native. These changes are given below:
Async Rendering Capabilities
React Native will have async rendering capabilities that will help make handling asynchronous data easier and allow different rendering priorities.
New Threading Model
Fabric will permit its developers to call synchronously into JavaScript on any thread instead of permitting every UI update to work on three threads. It can overcome the stress on the main thread without compromising sensitivity.
Simplified Bridge
Developers who are considering creating a simplified bridge to build direct communication between native and JavaScript. Additionally, it will further make it simpler to utilize various debugging tools.
Additionally, Its exclusive benefits always keep the React Native framework one step ahead of the competitors and make the future look promising.
Final Thoughts
React Native has become a trendy and hot favorite for the developers of the mobile app development industry within a few years of its launching. It is a well-organized framework for the developers, a lucrative technology for businesses, and a satisfactory solution for end-users. So, if you want to design your cross-platform mobile application, then you can definitely go with react Native mobile app development.
About the Writer
Bhagavati is a technical content writer working at Groovyweb.co, writing about SaaS, marketing, MVP, web development and cloud solutions. When not working, you can find him with his adorable dog or with his friends.
Disclaimer: The author is completely responsible for the content of this article. The opinions expressed are their own and do not represent IEEE’s position nor that of the Computer Society nor its Leadership.