The Fabric architecture in React Native is a significant update designed to enhance the performance, reliability, and interoperability of React Native applications. Here’s a detailed explanation of how it works:
Overview of Fabric Architecture
Fabric is the new rendering system in React Native, introduced to address the limitations of the legacy architecture. It aims to unify more render logic in C++, improve interoperability with host platforms, and unlock new capabilities for React Native applications[2][5].
Key Components of Fabric Architecture
New Threading Model:
Separation of Threads: Fabric introduces a new threading model that separates the UI thread from the JavaScript thread. This allows the UI to be updated independently of the JavaScript thread, improving the app's performance and responsiveness[1].
Synchronous and Asynchronous Operations: The new architecture supports both synchronous and asynchronous operations, allowing for more efficient handling of user interactions and reducing latency[8].
Layout Engine (Yoga):
Efficient Layout Calculation: Fabric uses Yoga, a cross-platform layout engine, to calculate the layout of UI components. Yoga is designed to be fast and flexible, using a declarative layout syntax that simplifies the definition of UI component layouts[1][3].
Optimized Algorithm: The layout engine in Fabric uses a more optimized algorithm for calculating the layout, which improves performance and reduces memory usage[3][4].
Rendering Pipeline:
Declarative Model: The new rendering pipeline is based on a declarative model, which allows React Native to optimize the rendering process and reduce unnecessary updates. This model defines the UI as a set of declarative components, making the rendering process more efficient and reliable[1][4].
Synchronous Rendering: Fabric enables synchronous rendering of React surfaces, which helps in avoiding layout "jumps" and ensures a smoother user experience[2][5].
Interoperability and Integration:
Improved Interoperability: The new architecture improves interoperability between React Native and host platforms by using a shared C++ core. This allows for better integration with platform-specific APIs and tools[2][5].
Support for Concurrent Features: Fabric supports React Concurrent Features and React Suspense, enabling more intuitive data fetching and better handling of complex interactions[2][5].
Benefits of Fabric Architecture
Performance Improvements: The new architecture provides significant performance improvements by optimizing layout calculations, reducing memory usage, and enabling synchronous rendering[1][3][5].
