Introduction:
The Article "Flutter vs React Native: Which One is The Best Tool in 2023" is all about the differences between the two main cross-platform tools of mobile development.
Flutter
and React Native both are popular cross-platform mobile app development
frameworks. Both technologies are free, convenient to use, and have great developer
communities in GitHub and Stack Overflow.
One
may wonder that are the native development tools (Java or Kotlin for Android
and Objective-C or Swift for iOS) use less? Native
is always more mature and stable than any other frameworks and tools. Yet
Native development requires more time and cost for development. As iOS
developers and Android Developers use different programming languages and expertise
to build purely native apps.
Here
come cross-platform tools to fill the gap of App Development for small or mid-level
businesses. These businesses can not afford the expenses and time required for
native development. Although nowadays, big tech companies such as Facebook, Instagram, Skype, etc. use cross-platform tools for app development.
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Flutter vs React Native |
What is Mobile Development?
Mobile
Development is a Computer Technical term used for the process of creating a Mobile
Application. Mobile Development refers to the development of mobile apps. This
process includes full-stack mobile app development which includes, User
Interfaces and API integration.
Why one should use APIs in Mobile Applications?
In
Web Development server response comes in form of a complete HTML and JavaScript
page that renders on the Browser. While in Mobile Development, Static UIs or
Screens are downloaded with App and for dynamic information, APIs (Application
Programmable Interfaces) are used to get data from Server.
What is Native Development?
Native
Development refers to platform-dependent Mobile Application Development. As the
word ‘Native’ means original, Native Apps are built for specific OS.
Android native
apps are built on android studio with either Java or Kotlin as logical language
and XML as Front Screen UI Development markup language.
While on iOS,
Native development refers to the development of iOS apps in XCode with either
Objective-C or Swift as a programming language.
Native
developments are faster compared to non-natives because they are designed as per the architecture of the devices, and they are mature development environments.
What is Hybrid Development?
One technology for both iOS and Android platforms or even Web Development is the basic concept behind Hybrid Development. There are a number of hybrid technologies available for mobile development. The most famous ones are Flutter and React Native.
What is Flutter?
Flutter
is made by Google in 2017. It uses DART language to create logic and designs. Flutter
is used to Develop Mobile Applications for both Android and iOS Platforms.
Flutter code runs on a C/C++ Engine which directly interacts with native
machines instead of creating bridges with native languages as in React native.
This makes Flutter apps faster.
Flutter’s
DART language manages the states with its own plugins and can integrate APIs
without using 3rd party code snippets.
What is React Native?
React
Native was made by Meta and was first released to the public in 2015. It is a
cross-platform framework used for creating Mobile Applications for both iOS and
Android. It uses native components to create layouts or designs.
The JSX code creates
a thread that interacts with the Main Thread of the Native language through a
JavaScript Bridge. This is the reason behind the slowness of React Applications.
React uses useState
and other hooks for State Management in functional component programming. It
also uses Classes for State Management in Object Oriented JavaScript
Programming.
Also Read: MERN Stack
Differences between Flutter and React Native - Flutter vs React Native:
Speed:
Flutter:
Flutter
is Faster in terms of performance because it communicates directly with the native machine
instead of bridging with native code to interact with the machine.
React Native:
React
Native in terms of speed and performance is slower as compared to Flutter
because it creates a JavaScript bridge between the JSX thread and the native code’s
main thread.
Ease of Code:
Flutter:
Dart
is all in one solution for the complete development of cross-platform Flutter
Applications. Dart is also used to create Flutter Web Applications. It is
easier for developers with C++ or Java as Background because it has a very
familiar Syntax with these languages.
React Native:
While
JSX syntax is similar to JavaScript and HTML therefore developers who are
already familiar with JavaScript or coming from Web Development as their
background can go with it to quickly become Mobile Developers.
Also Read: Artificial Intelligence
Ease of reference:
Flutter:
To
Code in Flutter is easy and straightforward as its documentation Is well
maintained and provides a complete guide for specific features.
React Native:
While
React Native documentation is not complete as it depends on 3rd
party codes. This makes the ease of reference a bit lower.
Size of Application:
Flutter:
Flutter
application build sizes are slightly bigger as compared to its main competitive
React Native CLI applications. While as compared to the expo the Flutter app size is
lower.
React Native:
Guard-Pro is a feature that compresses the size of React Native Application size. The React
Native Expo Apps are easy to build but their size is bigger than both React
Native CLI and Flutter Applications
Layout:
Flutter:
Flutter
uses material graphics widgets and does not use native components that why its designs
seem constant on both platforms. It provides flexibility in terms of
animations and designs as it is independent of native design elements.
React Native:
React
Native uses native design elements which is the reason behind a non-consistent
design across different platforms i.e., iOS and Android. Design flexibility is
lesser in React Native as developers are bound to use only given React
components that correspond to the Native Design Elements.
Programming Language:
Flutter:
Flutter
uses ‘DART’ which is a curly bracket programming language similar to JAVA and C++
and JavaScript. Dart is used for both design and logic in Flutter apps.
React Native:
React
Native uses JSX, a JavaScript Extension Programming Language, for designs and
logic building.
Popularity:
Flutter:
Flutter
is getting more popular day by day because of its one-language solution for all platforms.
38pc of cross-platform developer uses it as their choice.
React Native:
React
Native is two years older than Flutter, hence it is the most popular cross-platform.
42pc of cross-platform developer uses it as their choice.
Developer Ecosystem:
Flutter:
Flutter
is maintained by Google’s Developer and its ecosystem is more straightforward. It also allows third-party plugins but most of the main features come from
Google.
React Native:
React Native
heavily depends on 3rd party libraries, making it ecosystem risky for companies, businesses, etc.
Device Compatibility:
Flutter:
Flutter
Supports some older versions of Operating Systems. As the new update comes
with the elimination of older SDK, therefor the minimum SDK supports varies.
React Native:
To use the latest updated version of React Native, the minimum SDK required is higher than those of Flutter.
Also Read: Artificial Intelligence
Conclusion:
To
conclude the article 'Flutter vs React Native: Which One is The Best Tool in 2023', both Flutter and React
Native are very useful and target different sections of mobile developers.
Flutter is easier to start and it has fewer confusing turns. While React
Native is best for Web Developers but if one is new to React architecture, he or
she will get difficulties in making React Native Development.
After
all, choose one from the is personal preference
on basis of conveyance and technical background.