React Native and ReactJS are both popular technologies developed by Facebook, but they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics. Here are the key differences between React Native and ReactJS:
Purpose and Platform
ReactJS: Primarily used for building user interfaces for web applications. It is a JavaScript library that allows developers to create complex web UIs and single-page applications that run in web browsers[1][3][5].
React Native: A framework used for building native mobile applications for iOS and Android. It allows developers to write code in JavaScript and compile it to native code, providing a near-native performance and user experience[1][3][5].
User Interface Components
ReactJS: Utilizes standard HTML elements like <div>, <span>, and <img> for building web interfaces. It also uses CSS for styling and layout[2][4][5].
React Native: Uses native components like <View>, <Text>, and <Image> that map to native UI elements on the target platform. Styling in React Native is done using a subset of CSS, primarily through JavaScript objects and Flexbox layout[2][4][5].
Rendering and Performance
ReactJS: Renders components using the virtual DOM, which allows for efficient updates and interactions with the actual DOM elements in the browser[6][9].
React Native: Renders components using native APIs, which means the components are compiled into native code. This allows React Native apps to utilize native platform capabilities and achieve performance close to that of native apps[6][9].
Navigation and Routing
ReactJS: Uses URL-based navigation, typically managed by libraries like React Router[2][5].
React Native: Uses navigation libraries like React Navigation, which are designed for mobile app navigation and do not rely on URLs[2][5].
Development and Debugging
ReactJS: Development and debugging are straightforward, often done directly in the browser using tools like Chrome DevTools[6][12].
React Native: Requires additional setup for development, including simulators and SDKs for iOS and Android. Debugging can be more complex due to the integration with native code, and tools like Expo and Flipper are often used[6][12].
