What is React Native?
React Native is Meta's (Facebook) open-source framework for building mobile apps using JavaScript and React. Unlike hybrid apps (webviews), React Native compiles to truly native UI components, delivering native performance and feel while letting you use a single codebase for both iOS and Android.
Used by Facebook, Instagram, Shopify, Discord, Airbnb, Walmart, and thousands of successful apps with billions of users combined.
React Native Advantages:
- Cost Efficiency: 40-50% lower cost than separate native apps
- Faster Development: Single codebase means faster feature development
- Native Performance: Renders to native components, not webview
- Hot Reload: See changes instantly during development
- Code Sharing: Share 80-90% of code between iOS/Android
- Large Ecosystem: Thousands of libraries and components
- Easy Hiring: Millions of React developers available
- OTA Updates: Push updates without app store approval