Why ReactJS is Most Sought Front-end Framework Than Its Competitors?

JavaScript is the numero uno programming language for front-end development with almost 97.1% websites using it (as on 15 March 2021). Its rich collection of frameworks and libraries such as React, Angular, Vue, Ember and Backbone have elevated web development to higher levels.

Among these, ReactJS holds great significance due to the fact that it is used in the websites of the world’s most admired brands and has also won the likes of the developer community.

Now, the question is — what makes React highly popular over its competitors? In this article, we will explore the merits of ReactJS as a leading front-end technology and find out why it is an ideal choice for web projects.

ReactJS — The Undisputed Leader in Front-end Development

ReactJS is an open-source JavaScript library that builds highly dynamic web user interfaces and single page applications. Launched in 2013 by Facebook and created by software engineer, Jordan Walke, React leverages the speed of JavaScript to quickly render web pages, thereby providing an engaging user experience.

Compared to its contemporaries like AngularJS and VueJS, React has some great core features that gives it a unique identity in the web development landscape.

Usage of JSX Syntax

React utilizes the power of JSX, a unique JavaScript syntax extension that combines JS and HTML for creating UI components and viewing them in real-time.

Presence of a Virtual DOM

An important feature of React is that it has a Virtual DOM (Document Object Model) — a lightweight version of the Real DOM. This means that whenever changes or modifications happen to the elements in a website, the updated virtual DOM helps React to decide which all elements require re-rendering in the Real DOM. 

One-way Data Binding

The flow of data in ReactJS is unidirectional — in the downward direction. In such a data binding structure, the parent data remains unaffected when changes occur in the child elements. Thus, the stability of the code is assured.

Component Reusability

ReactJS code components, once created, can be reused across different parts of a project, because each component is independent of one another and performs a unique set of functions. So, the code can be efficiently maintained and chances of code duplicity is also prevented.

Why Do Developers Prefer ReactJS?

ReactJS is known for its flexibility, simplicity and lightweight nature; which is why it is the top choice of developers around the world. According to the State of JavaScript in 2020 Survey conducted among 23,765 developers from 137 countries, React emerged as the most used front-end frameworks (80% voted in its favor), compared to AngularJS and VueJS.

Developers don’t have to sweat it out to the extreme while working on complex ReactJS projects, thanks to the myriad reusable components that can be built once and used anywhere in a project. This greatly saves time and leads to faster development.

React also has the reputation of having a low learning curve. That means, developers can easily grasp it, even if they have limited knowledge of JavaScript. Moreover, the vast library of tools, including React Hooks, and a vibrant developer community makes it an all-time favorite.

How Businesses Benefit From ReactJS

The fact that React JS is a breeze for developers and advantageous for businesses and startups. The usage of reusable components makes it possible for businesses to have consistent platforms, making it easy for users to navigate. Since the codes are already tried and tested, they don’t even have to waste with that when adding new features. 

If you are using any JS framework, transitioning to React is simple and easy. There is no need to go through a full-fledged transition, but just access the library to complete project requirements. The abundance of ReactJS developers also makes it advantageous for businesses, especially if they want to scale in the future. 

Big names like AirBnB, Dropbox, Flipboard, Netflix, Tesla, Facebook rely on ReactJs to build intuitive apps and highly responsive websites. The credibility of the framework makes it possible for quick resolving of user interface related issues. Startups are also preferring ReactJS components for their applications, thanks to its code reusability and code stability features. If a startup plans to build a mobile application, they can choose React Native, as it can seamlessly migrate all React components and build simple and cross-platform apps. 

ReactJs is perfect for front end tools for SaaS projects, thanks to its perfectly workable combination of SEO integration, comparatively shorter tearing curve, easy migration, and the most noted advantage – avoiding frequent re-rendering of the web pages. React JS’s unique feature known as DOM or Document Object Model makes it possible for the framework to detect changes as and when they occur, and it will be reflected in the virtual memory. The reduced re-rendering frequency also increases the speed of the website.

Conclusion

The above mentioned reasons make it obvious that ReactJS is a worthy  competitor among all the frameworks when the requirement is to build front-end and mobile apps. 

Additionally, VDOM enhances the performance of the platform, and enables developers to build enterprise apps. Startups can also enjoy a number of benefits when they use the framework, making it an ideal choice for all.