Languages for front-end development are always changing. Startups must deal with new advanced trends and changes on a daily basis. To maintain growth and development, business owners must cope with the effects of new technologies as they progress. With new libraries and expanded functionality appearing over time, JavaScript has evolved significantly.
React has provided startups with consistency and a safe haven. To assist startups and established business owners in determining which framework to use, we’ve written a comprehensive essay that answers all of your questions regarding React.
In this blog, you will find out about how awesome React is and why we suggest React for Startups as well as major companies.
What is React?
As mentioned in the official website of React (also known as React.js or ReactJS), it is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Which means React is a JavaScript library that builds user interfaces for single-page applications by dividing UI into composable components. Since it requires only a minimal understanding of HTML and JavaScript, React has risen in popularity as a front-end web development tool.
Jordan Walke from Facebook built the React framework in 2011 and was first deployed on Facebook’s News Feed in 2011.
The goal was to create a toolkit that would aid in the development of extremely dynamic and responsive web pages.
Instagram, which is a Facebook subsidiary, began using it in 2012.
The React JS project became open source in 2013, and since then, leading mobile app development organizations around the world have adopted it due to its versatility.
Business owners may use React JS to create web apps, mobile apps(react native), to create fast, modern, progressive web applications.
Why Cliffex Suggests React to Business Owners?
React is used by more than 100,000 websites and applications, according to Buitlwith.com. React is expected to be the next significant JavaScript library, thanks to strong developer support and maintenance.
So, why should you choose React to develop your mobile or web app project?
Excellent user experience
React has excellent features that allows the creation of apps with excellent user experience. React uses virtual DOM and server-side rendering to create high performance and fast apps.
Cross-platform Mobile Apps (React Native)
React Native comes as a bonus when you use React.js in your project. Yes, you can use React Native to create cross-platform apps for Android and iOS.
Consider the case where you’ve created a website for your bakery. After some time, you may additionally support it with a mobile app built with React Native. Of course, you or your developer won’t be able to reuse the web code. Even better, you’ll be able to design the mobile app using the same architecture and technique. Doesn’t it sound cool?
High performance (and fast) applications
It’s simple to build high-performance web apps with React.js. React.js uses Virtual DOM instead of real Document Object Models, or DOMs (the standard system browsers use to render web pages). Virtual DOM renders only the bits of a web page that have changed, rather than the complete page. Developers don’t have to waste time optimizing programmes before they’re ready to use; the apps just work.
React.js is also useful for creating web pages that appear to be “fast” to users (which is not at all the same thing as a website being fast for a server). Data can be compressed using tools like Next.js for Server Side Rendering, and then “rehydrated” once the React.js runtime is loaded. All these attributes lead to high performance applications.
Popularity of React
React is one of the most popular JavaScript front-end frameworks in 2019.
According to StackOverflow’s 2018 surveys, React ranks #3 in most popular.
React ranks 2nd among the developers that loved it:
It ranks #1 on the list of most wanted tools:
Per the stateofjs.com survey for 2018, React ranks highly on the amount of users that have used it and would use it again.
- 64.8% used it and would use it again
- Only 6.7% of users would not use it again
Also, on GitHub stars (Stars may not be the best ranking factor. Clicking the star doesn’t always correlate to using in real life), React ranks second behind Vue for stars on JavaScript libraries/frameworks.
- React: 119,425 Stars
- Vue: 124,544 Stars
- Angular: 44,175 Stars
When to use ReactJS?
Sites that rely extensively on user interaction with the elements will be the obvious choice. This is especially true if the status of components changes regularly – navigation arrives and disappears, users log in, content or, for example, buttons alter as a result of user interaction. React will be able to quickly manage each of these shifting states and dynamically deliver the content to end users thanks to Virtual DOM.
React is also a good solution if a website has a complicated structure that would be difficult to manage with a traditional, imperative approach. As the app grows, React will make it easier to keep track of all the interactions.
Technical Advantages of React
1. Reusable components
React JS uses a component-based structure that enables you to start with small components and progress to large components. For instance, you can start with small components like dropdown, button, or checkbox and then use them to create large wrapper components. You progress from one level of wrapper component to a higher level until you achieve one root component. The root component is your mobile application. Each component on React JS has a unique internal logic that determines how the component is rendered.
The major advantage of components on this JavaScript library is that you can re-use them on any platform. Consequently, your app or website will have the same outlook on all platforms. Reusable components simplify the app development process. Also, reusable codes enable you to grow and maintain your codebase fast.
2. Great tool set for developers
When choosing a development platform, it is important to consider the available tools. You also need to consider their compatibility or usability with different browsers. One of the reasons why React JS is popular among front-end developers is its toolset. You need to differentiate between two toolsets when using React Js. The first toolset is React Developer Tools while the second is Redux Developer Tools.
You can install both toolsets as Chrome extensions, but their functionalities are different. You can use React Developer Tools to inspect components in their hierarchy and observe their states and current props. Redux Developer Tools, on the other hand, are great for observing dispatched actions and current states and changes on stores. You can modify stores and dispatch actions and view the changes instantly when using the Redux library.
All changes made with the Redux Developer tools are stored within the extension. Hence, you can move your application to any previous state for debugging purposes. One thing to note about the toolsets is that they are Chrome extensions. This means that they may not function in the same way when using other browsers. You may have to install Chrome on your device to enjoy the functionality of the developer tools.
3. Fast rendering with virtual DOM
One of the top considerations when choosing a programming framework is performance. The consideration is important if you are developing a mobile application that will involve high user interactions and constant updates. Many JavaScript libraries can create complex applications, but their DOM (Document Object Model) manipulations are slow. Webmasters can overcome the challenge of updating DOM by choosing React JS.
The library uses virtual DOM, which is a DOM kept in memory. All view changes first reflected in the virtual DOM. An efficient difference algorithm will then consider the changes in the virtual DOM and pick the best method to implement the changes. The best approach, in this case, has the lowest amount of updates. The changes are applied to the DOM to minimize the write or read time.
The main advantage of the virtual DOM is the optimized performance and excellent results on the browser. However, the benefits go beyond the high performance. For instance, you can build your application on React JS and then render the components to other engines.
4. Testability
When you use React JS to develop mobile applications, you can easily test the functions of the applications. The simplicity of testing apps makes React JS more popular than Angular. One of the reasons why it is easy to test apps with React is that its views can be treated as functions of a specific state. Hence, you can manipulate all the states that you pass through React View.
You can then view the output and all the functions, actions and events to determine if the app is working as it should. React also comes with a list of test utilities to help you test its components. The tutorial explains in detail how to use each of the test utilities on your website or app.
Top Companies Using ReactJS to its full Potential
When it comes to its immense appeal, Facebook requires no introduction. A user base of more than 2.2 billion! Who doesn’t have a Facebook account?
Yes, even Facebook, the creator of the ReactJS library, uses React — albeit this is self-evident. They have a webpage that is built with React and the script is integrated into the app code. Their mobile app was built with React Native, which is a step up in the React family and is responsible for displaying native Android and iOS components rather than DOM components.
React Fiber, a completely redesigned ReactJS version, was released by Facebook around the year 2017. This version has proven to be an essential component of every feature development project.
Instagram is a popular social media platform for displaying videos, photographs, and information, and it is widely utilized by both the young and the business world. The Instagram app has demonstrated the use of a variety of new features, and its API has performed admirably.
Instagram was built entirely with the ReactJS toolkit, allowing developers to benefit from its benefits. The ReactJS family was used exclusively in the development of the single-page web app. The Instagram site has fast performance and is quick to respond to different user-driven events thanks to React.
Geolocations, Google Maps, progressive loading, image/video delivery, and other features are available on the Instagram website.
When Twitter updated their entire website using current web technologies, they began using React. They are using React in their progressive web apps, which provide a wide range of capabilities such as an application, push notifications, and offline support.
ReactJS, Redux, and NodeJS are among the technologies used to create these progressive web apps.
Who hasn’t heard of or used WhatsApp? Everyone is addicted to the app next door. React JS is used in this popular app because of its robust and safe performance. It develops user interfaces from Facebook using ReactJS as its primary engine. React is also used in the WhatsApp Web version for a better web experience.
Dropbox
Dropbox is one of the most popular file storage services that uses the cloud computing architecture. It has a large user base all over the world. With the help of file synchronization, users can save and share an unlimited number of files or folders.
Dropbox has just adopted ReactJS for their development activities. Dropbox engineers have noticed the many benefits that come with ReactJS — virtual DOM, smaller file sizes, and strong community support — and these are the reasons that Dropbox has chosen ReactJS as their preferred technology.
For Dropbox’s hud, ReactJS was important in establishing the cloud-based online backup solution and different storage level offerings.
Atlassian
Atlassian is a well-known product development company with a slew of well-known products, including Jira, Confluence, HipChat, and others. Atlassian has used ReactJS and the ReactJS family in both internal and external applications. ReactJS is used in almost all of their single-page apps. Key characteristics of React, such as its reusable libraries and ease of deployment to all devices — desktop, online, and mobile — have impressed Atlassian developers.
HipChat has received a lot of positive feedback as a popular team communication tool around the world. While revamping its web edition, this team adopted ReactJS. HipChat’s engineers chose React over others among their peers, describing it as a declarative, confident, and traditional framework. ReactJS has been used to revamp Jira’s Dynamic Forms and the extension module for the Jira service desk.
Reddit is a famous online platform in the United States that provides a unified means for users to discuss, comment on, and post their own content/opinions. The portal is used by around 300 million people.
Reddit has been employing various components of ReactJS in the development of its framework, and their team has been praising the numerous features of React that have proven to be beneficial to them.
GitHub
GitHub is the world’s most popular software development platform, bringing together a large community of developers to create higher-quality software. It includes everything from open source chances to business-specific features; GitHub is capable of managing projects on its outskirts.
GitHub, being a vital and prominent platform, wanted to use ReactJS in its own development framework. GitHub developers have fully trusted ReactJS’s quality and have fully realized its potential.
Zendesk
Zendesk is a software development firm that provides a SaaS-based suite with features such as issue recording and monitoring, help desk management, and customer care support, all aimed at making customer interactions pleasurable, easy, and successful.
Many Zendesk components have been built using the ReactJS framework and libraries. Zendesk has a Garden design system that uses React components and utilities to provide aesthetics, translations, and keyboard navigation.
There are many more organizations/applications benefiting from this amazing technology – ReactJS — than those listed here.
Conclusion
The list could go on and on, but the reasons behind ReactJS’s popularity in the tech world are summarized in the preceding list. This fantastic technology is now being used by a growing number of enterprises.
The number of well-known companies that have adopted React demonstrates how far the technology has progressed.
The enormous potential of ReactJS to handle every form of web development is being extensively scrutinized, and it’s no surprise that many well-known IT organizations are investing heavily in it.
As you can see from the headline, these digital behemoths grew even bigger by incorporating the benefits of react into their apps and websites.
ReactJS is a great complement to any project that requires component reuse, stunning user interactions, or insane animations. It is, nevertheless, a strong UI library for developing projects for small, medium, and even large-scale enterprises. That’s why so many businesses rely on React to achieve their long-term objectives.
Hope your doubts about this popular yet easy tool has been cleared by this article.
