What is React Native?

The app market is booming. That's why many companies are wondering whether it's worth investing in app development. To do so, advanced knowledge of programming languages is mainly required. In this post, we'll talk about one of them: React Native.

What is React Native?

Also known as RN, React Native is a JavaScript-based framework that enables the creation of mobile applications rendered for both smartphone platforms: iOS and Android. Through it, you can build applications using the same codebase.

Launched in 2015 by Facebook (now Meta) with an open-source approach, it underwent accelerated growth and, in just a few years, became one of the leading development solutions, being used by brands such as Tesla and Discord.

What is the architecture of RN?

The architecture of React Native can be grouped into 4 groups:

1. React code

Where the developer writes the application's code.

2. JavaScript

React Native uses JavaScriptCore, an open-source JavaScript engine for WebKit.

3. The Bridge

This is a way of communicating the JavaScript code with the native part.

4. The native side

Where it is developed with Java/Kotlin in the case of Android, or Objective-C/Swift if it's iOS.

A React Native app structure is typically organized as follows:

• assets: Folder to store all images, fonts, etc.;
• src: this folder is the main container for all the code within your application, that is, this means that this folder holds all the code;
• components: Folder to store any common component you use in your application. Example: a button, header, card, etc.;
• constants: Folder to store any type of constant you have;
• routes.js: file to store the routes of the app's screens;
• context: This folder contains all your Context API. That is, it is used for authentication, storing form data, theme settings, or other functionalities. Don't know how it works? Take a look at what Global states and the differences between Redux and Context API are;
• screens: Folder that contains all the screens/resources of your application;
• services: API controller or external services. To learn more about APIs, take a look at React Native: REST APIs with JSON server;
• utils: Folder to store any common function, such as a date formatter, time calculation;
• App.js: main component that starts your entire application;
• index.js: Entry point of your application according to React Native standards. In Expo, this file is not necessary.

This structure may undergo changes and updates over time, but this is a base structure used in many React models. It is important to always be attentive to the best practices of each programming language, keeping your code optimized.

Main Features

Use of native resources

Through it, you can create applications that work on both operating systems. It is also possible to use native resources during the development phase, enabling the integration of native programming tools into React's hybrid development.

Component-based programming

Programming with React Native is almost entirely component-based. This makes it easier to modularize code and abstract complex functions. In addition, it also allows code reuse in other applications and functionalities.

Cross-platform Development

It is the practice of building software compatible with more than one platform.

Thus, one of the biggest advantages of developing with RN is that you can build a single codebase for Android and iOS at the same time, making the entire production and updating process more agile and faster.

We hope this post has helped you understand a little more about this programming language, React.

<