The Tool Desk
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What is the difference between React and React Native?
React is the library and programming model for building interfaces from components. In a web application, React DOM connects that model to the browser DOM. React Native uses React concepts to build interfaces from native platform UI primitives instead.
| Decision point | React for the web (React DOM) | React Native |
|---|---|---|
| Rendering target | Browser DOM in a web application. | Native platform UI. |
| Typical UI vocabulary | Browser HTML and SVG elements, such as div, plus DOM-specific APIs. See React DOM components. |
Core components such as View, Text, Image, TextInput, and Pressable. See React Native components and APIs. |
| Platform behavior | Browser capabilities and web APIs. | iOS and Android differences may require platform-aware code; the platform-specific guide documents Platform and filename conventions. |
| Navigation | Usually handled by browser-oriented routing. React DOM itself is a rendering package, not a routing system. | Usually handled by a navigator library. The official guide points to React Navigation for common stack and tab patterns. |
| Performance considerations | Depends on the application, browser, and implementation. | Work can involve both JavaScript and native UI threads; JavaScript-thread bottlenecks are possible. |
The React Native project summarizes its cross-platform approach as “Learn once, write anywhere.” That means React knowledge can transfer; it does not mean every interface or code file works unchanged everywhere.
What transfers—and what does not?
Concepts and some non-UI code can transfer
Both use React’s component-based, declarative approach. Depending on how an application is structured, business logic and other code that does not depend on a particular rendering environment may be shared.
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Presentation and platform APIs are different
A web component containing div elements and browser DOM APIs does not automatically become a native screen. React DOM APIs target browser DOM environments and are not supported for React Native. React Native has its own host components and platform APIs. Plan shared logic separately from presentation and device integration.
When a project needs different implementations for web and native, React Native documents the Platform module and platform-specific filenames such as .ios. and .android.. Its guide also describes .native.js as one option for sharing code between web or Node and native where appropriate: Platform-specific code.
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Can you use React Native for a website?
React Native’s core rendering target is native platform UI, not the browser DOM. A React Native project can be used alongside web or shared code where the project architecture supports that, but web presentation still needs a web rendering target and appropriate components. Do not assume that a React Native screen can be deployed as a website unchanged.
Which should you choose?
Choose React with React DOM for a browser experience
- The product is a website or browser application.
- It relies on web standards, browser DOM behavior, or web deployment.
- The interface is intended to be experienced in a browser rather than as native mobile UI.
Choose React Native for native mobile UI
- The target is iOS, Android, or both, and native platform components and APIs matter.
- The team is prepared to account for platform differences and implement platform-specific behavior where needed.
- The product’s navigation and device integration needs fit a native application. The navigation guide describes common mobile patterns and points new projects to React Navigation.
Compare target devices, interface expectations, device integration, platform-specific behavior, navigation needs, reusable code, and team experience. React Native can also be integrated into existing Android or iOS apps; adopting it does not always mean replacing an entire native application.
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Is React Native faster than React?
There is no universal winner established by the official guidance cited here. React Native’s performance guide explains that JavaScript-thread work can cause dropped frames, while scrolling and some native navigation transitions can continue on the native UI thread. It also notes that development mode affects JavaScript-thread performance and advises measuring release builds.
Those implementation notes are not a head-to-head benchmark against a React web application. Performance depends on the application, workload, browser or device, and implementation. If speed matters to your decision, measure the actual application on representative target platforms in release builds, and state the workload and conditions when reporting results.
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Screenshot an interface for documentation or review
If you need screenshots of a web interface while documenting or reviewing a project, ScreenshotNeo is an alternative to try first: it removes cookie banners, popups, and chat widgets before capture, and only clean shots are billed. Its screenshot API and MCP server are aimed at developers and AI agents.
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