Native and hybrid apps
Native apps are developed in the language like Java, Objective C, Swift, etc. what the platform needs. The code is not shared between the platforms and therefore there is a big difference between its behaviors on different platforms. The app can access all the features of the platform directly without any restrictions.
By contrast, hybrid apps are websites integrated into mobile apps via WebView. These are powered by HTML 5, CSS, and JavaScript and run the same code on different platforms. They can use the native features of the device with the help of tools like PhoneGap and Cordova.
Before answering the question, do they react ionic or native? Let’s take a look at these frameworks individually.
Ionic
The Ionic framework was developed in 2015 by software provider Drifty Co. for Apache Cordova. The main goal of this framework was to develop hybrid software whose performance was close to native solutions. Ionic is built on software like -SaSS, CSS, HTML, and Angular 1.x. The Ionic framework can boast an extremely advanced GUI and CLI, which can launch a variety of features.
Developers using this framework do not need to employ third party solutions as it is seamlessly integrated with the software. It helps developers to create default mobile app UI functionalities in an easy way. The ionic framework is perfect for the write once, run everywhere statement. With ionic, you may not have to worry about platform-specific issues.
A hybrid app can run the same code, regardless of platform. This is what Ionic can do. You can tailor some of its behaviors depending on the platform. For example, if you use tabs, they will be displayed at the top of the screen on Android and at the bottom of the screen on iOS.
Ionic is based on Angular, which is a JavaScript framework and uses HTML for web views. Since views and logic are clearly separated, it’s in line with the MVC pattern. You will be more familiar with Ionic as it uses classic HTML and CSS.
Ionic allows developers to preview the app in the browser and on mobile devices instantly. As you make changes to the app, the results can be seen simply by refreshing the screen.
reactnative
Facebook’s React Native has caused quite a sensation in the mobile app development industry. It is a complete JS framework that allows developers to create cross-platform software that is similar to native applications. The best thing about the React Native framework is that it uses native components for the front-end and does not require the use of any browser, which affects the performance of the application in a positive way.
It is managed by a strong community of developers, who help beginners speed up the development process. Any issues with React Native can be resolved quickly, when discussed with many developers in the community. Developing a mobile app in the React Native framework is done using JavaScript, and therefore you can share the code across different platforms. However, React Native will use native components, which means that the user experience will be closer to that of other native apps, resulting in better performance.
React native wants developers to use components that follow the native behavior of the platform. For example, you can’t use the same toolbar for Android and iOS. With react native, you can provide a seamless experience to your users.
React Native is based on the JavaScript framework known as React and uses code that resembles HTML. However, it is called JSX, since the display logic is mixed with the business logic. Although most developers are comfortable with JSX, the main problem arises when you work with a team of designers. Editing templates and writing CSS is not easy, as the JSX rules are slightly different. Developers should learn how to create the interfaces using JSX components as it is completely new.
React Native allows developers to see modifications as soon as they are made without the need to recompile or rebuild. You will get the instant feedback without much effort.
React Native or Ionic: Which is better?
Mobile app developers often face problems when it comes to choosing the right framework for developing mobile apps. Well, it depends on a number of factors like: user requirements, project, developer skills and many more. These two frameworks do different things and work just as well. It’s hard to say which framework is better than the other. Both frameworks are compatible with Android and iOS. Both Ionic and React Native have a healthy ecosystem, as they inherit the community on which they are based.
If I have to give my personal opinion, I would recommend – React Native. The reason behind this is that React Native apps are extremely fast and responsive. Although Ionic is easier to learn than React Native, we must say that React Native provides an excellent programming environment that is closer to native app development.
If we look at it from a developer’s perspective, React Native provides a better solution and speeds up the app development process without compromising the quality of your mobile app.
Choosing the best of the two frameworks depends on your requirements. You cannot declare one frame the winner over the other. Please evaluate Ionic and React Native according to your personal criteria with the help of the comparison above, before coming to a conclusion. There are also other cross-platform application development frameworks, such as NativeScript, PhoneGap, Xamarin, etc. My advice is to try both frameworks, pick one, and build the best app using it.