What is React Native & How to Develop React Native App in 2024

Pros of React Native App Development 

• Cross-Platform Compatibility  

One of the biggest advantages of React Native app development is cross-platform compatibility. React Native allows developers to build both Android and iOS using a single code base. They can use up to 80% of the code base for both platforms, which eliminates the need to maintain two separate code bases. This will reduce the development cost and allow developers to build the app quickly and make it market-ready.  

• Native-Like Performance  

While many cross-platform frameworks compromise on performance compared to native apps, React Native shines with its seamless integration of native components. By leveraging the underlying native APIs, React Native ensures your app delivers a smooth and responsive experience that rivals native apps in terms of speed and user interaction. This allows users to enjoy a familiar and engaging experience regardless of their device choice.  

• Hot Reloading  

React Native’s hot reload feature is a game changer when it comes to app development speed. This feature allows you to see changes made to your code reflected instantly on the emulator or device without requiring a full app restart. This eliminates the tedious cycle of rebuilding and re-running the app, significantly accelerating your development workflow and enabling you to iterate and test features much faster.  

• Cost-Effectiveness  

By eliminating the need for separate native development teams for iOS and Android, React Native drastically reduces development costs. This makes it an ideal choice for startups and budget-conscious businesses, allowing them to develop high-quality cross-platform applications without breaking the bank.  

• Faster to Market  

React Native enables you to launch your app to market significantly faster than traditional native development methods. The single codebase and hot reload feature streamline the development process, allowing you to quickly iterate, test, and deploy your app to both iOS and Android platforms simultaneously. This accelerated timeline helps you gain a competitive edge and reach your target audience sooner, maximizing your potential for success.  

Cons of React Native App Development 

• Limited Access to Native Features  

Even though React Native offers native-like performance, but it still lacks some native features. React Native provides access to the most common features and APIs, but it may not be able to leverage all of the platform-specific features available on Android and iOS. This can be a limitation for apps that require access to unique hardware or software capabilities.   

• Upgrading Issues  

Upgrading libraries and dependencies can be a difficult task and may result in unexpected behavior. Therefore, planning and testing the upgrade process thoroughly is crucial to ensure it runs smoothly. Additionally, maintaining compatibility with various versions of React Native and native platforms can be complicated, particularly when dealing with older versions.  

• Lack of Custom Modules  

React Native has limited native functionalities. Although it provides most of the essential native functionalities, additional native code development may be necessary for some features. This limits the cross-platform advantage to some extent. Moreover, accessing certain device functionalities or integrating with platform-specific APIs may require external libraries or third-party solutions. This can add complexity and lead to potential compatibility issues.  

• Are you targeting both iOS and Android users with your app?  

The first question every business should ask is which platform they are targeting. If they want to expand their reach and target a wide range of audience, they should go with both Android and iOS platforms. Businesses should go with React Native in this scenario. When businesses hire dedicated React native developers, it allows them to build two applications with a single codebase.

• Do you have a limited budget and need to launch your app quickly?  

Building mobile apps requires an extensive budget and a longer period. React Native is the best solution in this case. Even with a limited budget and time, React Native developers can build two mobile applications at the same time. It will reduce the development cost and time, which will allow companies to launch their application and gain a competitive advantage.  

• Is your current web application built with React?  

If your existing web application is already built with React, adopting React Native for mobile development can offer significant advantages. Leveraging your team’s existing knowledge and skills in React can significantly reduce the learning curve and accelerate development. React Native’s code reusability allows you to share a considerable portion of the codebase between your web and mobile app, further enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This makes React Native a highly attractive option for businesses looking to expand their existing React web application to mobile platforms.  

• How important is data privacy for your app users?   

Data privacy and security are important, especially if you are offering services in finance or other sectors where data breaches often occur. Keeping user data private is crucial for any app development project. React Native offers a secure way to protect sensitive user data from unauthorized access. React Native achieves this by using native platform encryption libraries and secure storage solutions. Moreover, the framework complies with strict platform security standards, which reduces the risk of vulnerabilities compared to custom-built solutions.  

• Do you anticipate significant growth in your user base?  

If you expect your user base to grow significantly, then it’s important to consider React Native’s ability to scale. React Native’s design allows it to handle a large number of users without affecting performance. By using code reusability and modularity, React Native makes app development and maintenance more efficient. This helps to ensure that your app can grow in tandem with your user base. React Native is a good choice for creating apps that can easily handle a growing user base, making it future-proof.  

1. Plan Your App  

To develop a successful, React Native app, careful planning is essential. Start by defining the app’s purpose to solve a specific problem and deliver value to users. Understanding your target audience is critical for guiding design and functionality choices. Clearly outline the core features that address your audience’s needs. Progress to detailed user stories and flows for a comprehensive user experience. Establishing realistic development timeframes and budgets is important, accurately estimating resources for design, development, testing, and deployment. Thorough planning ensures your app aligns with user needs, providing an engaging experience. Invest time and effort upfront to build a successful React Native app, and you’ll be sure to please your users.  

2. Choose Tech Stack  

When choosing the technology, you’ll use to build your mobile app, consider React Native as a starting point. React Native lets you write code once and use it across different platforms using JavaScript and native components. To make sure your code is compatible, stick with JavaScript as your primary programming language. For creating the user interface and managing components, use React, a powerful JavaScript library. Based on your app’s specific needs, you can add additional tools and libraries like Redux for managing state, Navigation for easy navigation control, and Expo for a simplified development environment. By customizing your toolkit, you can ensure that your app is built to meet your requirements.  

3. Set up a Development Environment 

Setting up the environment is one of the most crucial points in every app development. There are two ways we can build a React Native app, by using React Native CLI and Expo. However, apart from this, there are also third-party tools like Create React Native App (CRNA), Ignite, and Razzle. We can also use a hybrid approach for React Native mobile apps where we combine other technologies. For example, we can build app UI with React Native and features with Native code. For this, we will explain the React Native CLI environment setup.  

• Install Node.js and NPM  

Node.js is the runtime environment used by React Native. NPM is a package manager that allows you to install and manage JavaScript libraries and dependencies easily. To get started, visit the Node.js website and download your operating system’s official long-term support (LTS) version. Once you have Node.js installed, NPM will be automatically included.  

• Install React Native CLI  

Open a terminal window and run the following command,  

“npm install -g react-native-cli”

This command installs the React Native CLI globally, allowing you to run React Native commands from any directory.  

• Install Android Studio or Xcode  

To create Android apps, you’ll need to install Android Studio. Make sure to download and install the version that’s compatible with your operating system from the official website. On the other hand, for iOS app development, Xcode is the way to go. You can easily download and install the latest version from the App Store on your Mac.  

• Configure Development Environment  

To set up Android Studio, follow these steps 

1. Open Android Studio and go to Preferences > Appearance & Behavior > System Settings > Android SDK.

2. Click on SDK Location and set the path to the downloaded Android SDK directory.

3. Click on SDK Platforms and make sure that the target Android platform you want to develop for is selected.

4. Click on Apply and then OK to save the changes.

To set up Xcode, follow these steps 

1. Open Xcode and go to Preferences > Locations.

2. Under Command Line Tools, select the latest version of Xcode Command Line Tools.

3. Click on Download and follow the installation instructions.

React Native Development Process for React Native CLI and Expo

4. Design  

The mobile app designing phase is the most critical, as users will judge the app based on the user interface and overall design. The React Native development agency will thoroughly research the targeted audience and find more information about their needs, behaviors, and pain points. Based on this, they will build low-fidelity wireframes to visualize the app’s layout and navigation. Wireframes focus on functionality and user flow without delving into visual details.   

Once the app architecture is complete and approved, they will work on UI design. They used tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD to create high-fidelity mockups that represent the final visual design. After that, they will develop interactive prototyping to test the user flow and potential issues. Once the design is finalized, create design assets and style guides for developers, and they will build the design.  

5. Development  

To create a user interface, make use of React components and native components provided by React Native. These components provide a simple and easy-to-use way of building the UI. React Native also provides a range of libraries and frameworks that can be leveraged to add additional functionality to the application.   

By using JavaScript and JSX, you can write code that can be easily understood and modified. The use of JSX allows you to write HTML-like syntax, making it easier to create components. When making API calls, use libraries such as Axios or Fetch, process API responses, and update the UI with the obtained data.  

6. Testing  

Use unit testing libraries such as Jest for testing individual components and functions. Perform functional testing to ensure the app’s overall functionality and user flow. Use debugging tools provided by the development environment to identify and fix bugs.  

7. Deployment  

To make apps for Expo, use Expo CLI to build standalone apps for iOS and Android. For React Native CLI apps, create native app bundles for iOS (Xcode) and Android (Android Studio). After that, submit the app bundles to the respective app stores (App Store and Google Play Store).  

8. Post-Launch Maintenace and Support  

Once your React Native app is launched, continuous maintenance and support are crucial for its long-term success. This involves monitoring performance and user feedback, addressing bugs and crashes, implementing new features and updates, and ensuring security and data protection. By providing ongoing support, you can enhance user experience, maintain user engagement, and keep your app competitive in the market.  

What is the difference between React and React Native?  

React is a library for creating user interfaces with JavaScript. It allows developers to make reusable components for their apps. React focuses on the view layer and does not interact with the device hardware. React Native is a framework that builds on top of React, letting developers make mobile apps for iOS and Android. It uses the same JavaScript code as React but offers access to native UI components and APIs. This allows developers to create apps that look and feel like native apps.  

What programming language is used in React Native?  

JavaScript is the primary programming language used in React Native. This makes it easy for developers with experience in web development to learn and use React Native. However, React Native also offers support for other languages, such as Java and Kotlin for Android development and Swift and Objective-C for iOS development.  

Why use React Native for app development?  

One of the biggest advantages of using React Native for mobile app development is cost-effectiveness and faster development. Businesses can build two mobile apps at once with a shared code base and deploy them to compete in the market. It offers better performance and an aesthetically pleasing user interface design even with the reduced cost.  

Does React Native have a future?  

Due to the exponential demand for React Native app development, they keep updating and evolving. Shortly, React Native will improve the app’s performance and make it a strong contender against native apps. The React Native community is constantly growing, which means in the future, more developers will choose to go with it and create better applications.