React Native and Flutter are both one of the best mobile app development frameworks. Many interactive Android and iOS applications have been made by using these technologies. With the number of mobile app users increasing rapidly, the demand for specific apps such as lifestyle and communication has also increased. In this article, you will get to know about React Native and Flutter and get a better understanding of both these platforms.
What is Flutter?
Flutter is developed by Google and it is an open-source framework for creating native applications for iOS and Android. The important features of Flutter include ease of development, visual consistency, and using a single codebase for developing cross-platform applications. Flutter apps are intuitive and easier to navigate and very popular among developer communities and big organizations.
Popular applications developed with Flutter include
1. Alibaba.com
2. Google Ads
3. eBay
4. Yandex
5. Cryptograph
6. Postmuse
Working on Flutter: The flutter framework helps in creating the user interface by combining widgets that are included in the Flutter with the flutter engine and foundation library. The developers need to keep in mind the type of UI before starting the flutter app development because of declarative UI writing. Flutter also provides custom widgets and several software packages for increasing the user experience and application capabilities.
What is React Native?
React Native is a cross-platform framework developed by Meta Platforms and uses Java script for developing applications for both iOS and Android. It requires the same codebase for developing applications and provides time and resource-saving advantages.
Many popular mobile applications developed with React Native include.
1. Facebook
2. Instagram
3. Pinterest
4. Walmart
5. Uber Eats
6. Tesla
Working on React Native: React Native is based on native components and views rather than web views on its code. It works with both Javascript and JXL and can communicate with both Javascript-based threads and native app threads. React Native bridges the native and Java script threads and ensures bi-directional communication.
Here are some of the factors that can be used to differentiate between the two frameworks –
1. Mobile performance – In React Native bridging is required for translating JS code to the native programming language to easily allow the communication and data exchange between javascript code and the device’s native environment. This bridge requires additional time and resources as it is an additional agent. On the other hand, Flutter requires fewer resources and time for executing the code. It includes a C++ graphic rendering engine and compiles to X86 and ARM native libraries that make the animation quicker and smoother. It makes Flutter more effective in mobile performance than React Native.
2. Language – React Native uses JavaScript as a programming language. JavaScript is one of the most used programming languages for developing applications. Flutter uses Dart as the programming language
3. User Interface – React Native includes an extensive collection of external UI Kits for creating beautiful and interactive user interfaces for developing applications. Flutter uses interactive visuals and proprietary visuals which are built-in UI components for creating user interfaces.
4. Community Support – React Native is backed up by a big community that provides ready-to-use packages and libraries. It is one of the popular frameworks for Stack overflow. You can find many third-party libraries and tools that help you to build more efficient apps fastly. Flutter is comparatively a new framework with a smaller community. It is evolving rapidly and has been adopted by many developers. It has some popular libraries like material design and firebase.
5. Graphic Features – React Native uses native visual elements and appearance for providing a personalized user experience. Flutter also has great graphic features and implements a standard neutral style and makes the apps look similar, in case of any change in the OS version and device model.
6. Reliability – React Native depends on native elements for system updates, which is essential for the native app experience. Flutter is comparatively simple and not dependent on operating system updates.
7. Documentation – React Native includes general documentation that depends extensively on external development kits. This documentation is not as straightforward and streamlined as flutter. Flutter provides easy-to-read documentation that is detailed and streamlined.
8. Mapping and geolocation – Flutter provide a positive experience for tracking features in the applications with the help of plugins. React Native has some issues in tracking features which can be solved with the help of the native programming language writing part.
9. Compatibility – React Native supports more devices compared to Flutter such as iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows as well. On the other hand, Flutter works on iOS and Android devices now.
React Native
Pros:
1. Single code base – Developer can simultaneously develop an app for multiple devices, other than making specific code for specific devices.
2. Reduced development time as compared to traditional app development frameworks.
3. Includes extensive packages
4. Increase engagement by utilizing rich animation capabilities.
5. Backed by an active and vast community
Cons:
1. Debugging issues and poor performance as compared to Flutter
2. Fragile UI
3. Abandoned packages and libraries.
4. Numerous continuous advancement in recent times makes it tough for developers to adapt to the changes.
Flutter
Pros:
1. Hot Reload Feature in Flutter allows the developers to see the code changes that they implemented in real-time. It helps in saving time and effort which helps increase efficiency. It makes the bug resolution and breaking the code execution simple which helps in continuing the programming without any interruption.
2. It includes a wide range of widgets that are highly customizable and based on google architecture. It helps to fulfill various functions that help in increasing the performance and code quality also.
3. Layered architecture helps in increasing customization and control.
4. Flutter helps in developing an interactive and captivating user interface for providing a great experience to the user.
5. Intuitive Development makes it easy to develop applications without learning about SDKs and libraries.
6. Cross-Platform compatibility
Cons :
1. Flutter apps are large in file sizes and take up a lot of space which may result in a lack of performance.
2. The programming language for Flutter Dart sometimes is not able to resolve some programming problems and challenges and May required the use of other programming languages such as C++ and Java.
3. Additional skill requirements for learning Dart may increase the cost and time of application development.
4. Libraries and support are not as productive.
Conclusion –
Both React Native and Flutter have their features and are used for different purposes. React Native will help to build complex mobile apps with various features and capabilities. Flutter develops cross–platform mobile apps fastly with a native-like experience. You should consult a cross–platform mobile app Development Company for developing apps in React Native and Flutter.