Create React App vs React Native: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the key differences between Create React App and React Native. Both Create React App and React Native are popular frameworks used in web and mobile development, respectively. While both frameworks are based on React, they have some key differences that set them apart.

1. Compilation and Packaging: Create React App is mainly used for developing web applications and is based on React and JavaScript. It uses Webpack as a build tool to compile and bundle the code into a single JavaScript file that can be served by a web server. On the other hand, React Native is used for developing mobile applications and uses a different compilation and packaging process. It translates the React components into native components for each platform (like iOS or Android) during the build process.

2. Platform-Specific Components: Create React App uses React's web-specific components like div, span, and HTML tags to render the user interface. It relies on the browser's rendering engine to display the components. React Native, on the other hand, utilizes platform-specific components like View, Text, and other native UI elements provided by iOS and Android. This allows React Native apps to have a more native look and feel on each platform.

3. Styling: Styling in Create React App is mostly done using CSS, which is applied using classes, inline styles, or CSS-in-JS libraries like Styled Components. It utilizes the browser's CSS engine to render the styles. In React Native, styling is done using JavaScript. It provides a StyleSheet API that is similar to CSS, but with some differences. React Native uses its own layout engine to interpret the styles and apply them to the native components.

4. Development Workflow: Create React App offers a fast and efficient development workflow that allows for real-time updates in the browser during development. It provides features like hot module replacement and error overlays that help developers in quickly iterating and fixing issues. React Native, on the other hand, relies on the development environment provided by the platform-specific SDKs (Xcode for iOS and Android Studio for Android). This means that during development, the code needs to be compiled and deployed to emulators or physical devices for testing.

5. Access to Native APIs: Create React App is primarily focused on web development and does not provide direct access to native APIs or device features. It relies on browser APIs and JavaScript libraries for most interactions. React Native, on the other hand, aims to provide access to the native APIs of the underlying platform. This allows developers to use features like camera, GPS, accelerometer, and other device-specific capabilities in their apps.

6. Deployment: Create React App generates a static build that can be hosted on any web server. It produces optimized and minified JavaScript, HTML, and CSS files that can be easily deployed to a hosting provider or a content delivery network (CDN). React Native, however, requires a different deployment process. The app needs to be bundled and packaged for each target platform separately. This involves signing the app and submitting it to the respective app stores for distribution.

In summary, Create React App is mainly used for web development, utilizes web-specific components and styling techniques, has a fast development workflow, and can be easily deployed to a web server. React Native, on the other hand, is focused on mobile development, uses platform-specific components and styling approaches, requires a more complex development workflow with platform-specific tooling, and needs separate packaging and distribution for each target platform.