React Usage: Top 6 Reasons Why Use React for Web Development?

There are several JavaScript libraries used to develop cross-platform applications. One of the best is React - a hybrid library and framework that helps developers build superior quality apps for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and Web.

The family of React JavaScript solutions is exceptionally diverse. So – why use React for web development, you ask? The answer is not as simple as you'd think.

React usage is becoming more popular with professional web developers. Many apps built on the React Native framework produce a level of diversity seldom found in other frameworks.

They are dependable, lightning-fast, stable, and highly secure. The same performance standards are common with React.js, which creates dynamic UI features on the front end for users to interact with.

If you've ever pondered the question; what is React used for or when to use React, this blog will provide clear answers.

In the information below, we'll explain why React usage is becoming more common with professional programmers. We'll provide a few examples of when to use React, why to use React JS, and how the team at GoldFish Code uses this outstanding JavaScript library.

What is React?

This question can sometimes be confusing, but we'll try simplifying it. React is a family of JavaScript libraries that make up a framework used to build applications.

There are two primary 'products.' React.js is a top-level API. It’s an open-source library used to construct a high-performance UI or user interface. React Native is a complete platform or framework that allows developers to build cross-platform mobile applications.

So, when a developer often refers to React by itself, it's typically the JavaScript library variant – vs. React Native – which is the framework mainly used for mobile app development or web app development projects.

React was developed by React as a framework for building applications using JavaScript. Within React Native lives React.js. It's a very easy-to-learn solution that offers a broad scope of solutions.

React.js was developed and launched in 2011 by Jordan Walke, a Facebook developer who designed the library to meet the evolving need to render pages quicker and with improved UI.

After fine-tuning the library for four years, they launched React Native – which provided web developers with a complete framework to build powerful cross-platform applications.

What is React Used For?

Now that we've clarified the difference between React Native and React.js, let's explain what React.js is used for. In general, most expert developers choose React JS for building single-page applications, websites that depend on user interaction, and applications with highly complex structures.

React can save developers a lot of time, reduces cost, and is easier to use when applied correctly.

Here are three specific situations when developers often use React.

Use #1 - High User Interaction

Facebook initially created this JavaScript library. As you know, Facebook is a social media platform that depends on user interaction and draws a ton of volume.

React is commonly used to code interactive elements quickly and efficiently. It helps create a rich UI that will operate quickly, even when the website or the app has a lot of user traffic.

Use #2 – To Ensure Fast Loading

Since React is designed for efficiency, it's optimal for building websites or high-loading applications with complete UI functions. It utilizes a Virtual DOM feature that permits developers to test all changes made to code and calculate the potential risks with each modification.

This helps to ensure that any changes will not have performance issues. And since most users depend on fast load times with interactive features, using React.js simply makes sense.

Use #3 – Improving SEO

Search Engine Optimization combines high-quality content, optimized keywords, strategic link building, and website performance. A website that is not built for speed, quick-load times, or an enhanced mobile experience will not benefit from SEO techniques used to help improve search engine ranking.

Using React.js to optimize UI helps improve the user experience, accelerates site performance, and improves SEO.

Why Use React.js for Web Development in 2024: 6 Reasons for React Usage

Ultimately, most developers select React.js mainly to optimize user interactive features. However, beyond the optimization attributes, there are several other reasons why choosing this JavaScript library for web development makes sense.

Reason #1 – It's Easy to Learn

When using JavaScript libraries, simple and lightweight will always trump robust and complex. When a developer has learned the basics of JavaScript, it's easier to embrace the skillset to integrate the React library into web development.

Plus, there is a lot of excellent documentation, a vast community of fellow developers, and several other resources. The learning curve for React is easier than Vue, Angular, and other JavaScript frameworks.

Reason #2 - Reusable React Components

React has multiple data flow reusable components available, such as checkboxes, buttons, dropdowns, and more. Since it's a component-based structure, developers can use and reuse these components to build larger functions and features.

This allows you to build websites with a consistent look, feel, and functionality – with little effort. The reusability is one of the best

Reason #3 – You Can Build Rich UI

Did you know that Netflix depends on React to create its user interface? This lets users watch a trailer preview and access additional information about the show simply by hovering over a static image.

This creates fantastic user engagement without requiring a tremendous amount of bandwidth. Since React.js is exceptionally clean and lean, developers can integrate rich UI throughout their web development projects.

Reason #4 – Create Custom Components

While many large corporations and smaller businesses gather ideas from competitor websites and applications, it's important to inject some creativity to stand apart. Developers accomplish this by writing custom components. This task is simplified with React.js.

Once a developer grasps the concepts and best practices of React.js, they can manipulate many UI functions' behavior, appearance, and function. This is made possible due to the JSX extension that is included with React. JSX is compatible with all browsers and supports HTML scripts.

Reason #5 – Speed – Glorious – Speed

Everybody loves speed – especially with the Internet of Things. Before React came into existence, a glaring problem with websites was slow loading times – especially when there were complex or dynamic visual enhancements.

This created a negative user interaction simply because there was a corresponding refresh period each time a user clicked. The main culprit was due to DOM or Document Object Model. If one element on the entire website was changed, the entire site had to reload.

React.js solves this problem by integrating a Virtual DOM. This separates the objects that are changing from those that don't need to update, which allows changes to render quicker – and thus creates a rich user experience. It also expedites testing and debugging.

Reason #6 – Sets Up Developers for React Native Development

React.js is mainly used on front end development projects. When a developer becomes comfortable with using this JavaScript code, transitioning to React Native becomes seamless and painless.

React Native is a robust framework that can be used for complete mobile application development on multiple networks – or what's commonly referred to as cross-platform.

When to Use React.js – 3 Project Types & Examples

So far, we've touched on what ReactJS is and how the top JavaScript developers use React.js for their codebase. Now let's turn our attention to explaining when using React JS is advantageous.

Noted below are three project examples where using React.js is beneficial for the developer, the client, and the user.

Project #1 – Dashboards and Data Visualization Tools

Data drives decision-making. Whether it's in a professional office or a consumer shopping for a car, the more information an individual can access, an easy to retain and quick to load platform results in a superior user experience. Dashboards and Data Visualization Tools are ideally suited for the use of React.js.

There are three specific benefits to using React for developing these projects.

1. Improved Organization: Using React gives developers the power to build dashboards that are organized from the beginning.
2. Virtual DOM Permits UI to Update Quickly: A dashboard constantly receives input and needs to update to allow users to track data in real-time. Thanks to Virtual DOM, the re-rendering of comparative data is streamlined, providing an improved user experience.
3. Isomorphic JavaScript Improves Page Rendering: A dashboard is typically designed as a client-side Single Page Application or SPAs. When using React, you can take advantage of Isomorphic JavaScript, which uses the same code to load SPAs on the server-side and client-side.

Project #2 – Social Networks

Facebook created Reactjs to help improve the UI on their dynamic and extremely busy website. When it first launched, Facebook was a straightforward dynamic website.

As they introduced React, the page became a single-page foundation that was quick to load, robust, and filled with interactive user features. Since React was made for a social network, it's perfect to use for smaller or large-scale social projects.

Here are a few reasons why developers prefer React for social network projects.

• They are Robust SPAs: At their source, a social networking website or app is a single-page application or SPA. React allows individual elements to reload as the user clicks without reloading the entire site.
• Improved Social Sharing: By using React SSR or Server Side Rendering, a webpage can be displayed on a social media post from the client-side.
• Elevated SEO: As we touched on above when a website is quick loading, the user experience is elevated, and more credibility is given to the site – for improved search engine optimization.

Project #3 – Cross-Platform Mobile Apps

When you've perfected the use of ReactJS, building cross-platform mobile apps becomes easier. The React Native framework is the perfect tool to develop multiple customized tools and resources such as push notifications, real-time updates, social feeds, chat integration, forms & data collection, product libraries, and more.

React Native can be used for developing Android or iOS – and even offers platform-specific frameworks for these two devices.

Beyond these three, React can be used for several other web applications and projects, including:

• Business Websites
• Forums
• Rating Websites
• e-Learning Modules
• Job Boards
• Donation Platforms
• Knowledge Bases
• And Media Websites

How React is Used by the Goldfish Code Team

React is an extremely diverse and robust JavaScript library and framework. In fact, it's so versatile that our team of expert developers can use it for multiple projects where the clients' website includes multiple UI inclusions.

At our software development agency, we also use React Native - and several subsystems including those frameworks for iOS and Android devices for developing robust mobile apps. The main takeaway is that our team does not use React.js for a specific reason - that's how diverse this library is.

Final Points on Why React.js is Worth Using for Web Development in 2024

Web design and development can be challenging for both the client and the programmers. While each side will offer an opinion on which technologies are best to use, they both agree that the website should be dynamic, quick loading, and with an elevated user interface.

So, why use React for web development? React.js helps developers accomplish this task quickly, safely, and more affordably.

If you're a client looking to have a web development project completed, or a designer looking for an expert React developer, Goldfish Code has the experience you need.

Goldfish Code sets the standard for designing and developing React Native applications and web development projects using React.js. We also simplify the development process by clearly communicating with clients from start to finish.

The team at Goldfish Code will openly communicate with each client, collect their thoughts, answer their questions, and develop a plan ensuring the timely delivery of React-developed projects. Our team is thoroughly trained and vetted to meet our standards for quality assurance.

We have a strong and transparent ecosystem at Goldfish Code. We strive to exceed the expectations of each client we serve. Contact our team today if you have questions about developing a website or cross-channel apps via React.js or React Native.

FAQs

What companies use React?

React was initially created to improve the UI of Facebook. Since those early days, many of today's leading online platforms such as Instagram, Skype, Pinterest, Salesforce, Uber Eats, and more have chosen the React Native framework. Other companies, including Netflix, Yahoo!, Airbnb, and The New York Times, also use it.

Why is React better than HTML?

React.js is a JavaScript library that allows developers to create smaller, compact, and more efficient code files. Many developers perceive it as being faster than HTML.

And in many aspects, this is true. But it's not definitively better than HTML alone. React uses a virtual DOM, allowing individual page elements to refresh vs. the entire page. This is the main advantage of using it vs standard HTML, as it improves UI.

Does React replace CSS and HTML?

No, it doesn't replace HTML. React permits developers to use a similar syntax as HTML to build an interface and add dynamic features to them via JavaScript on the client-side. The same thing applies to CSS. React basically allows you to write code that will generate HTML and then apply CSS to it.

Is React only for the front end?

Yes and NO. React.js, the JavaScript library, is designed as a front-end or client-side development tool. React Native – the framework capable of development on both the front-end and back-end or server-side.

What are the limitations of React?

React is an exceptionally diverse and robust JavaScript library and framework. However, if there are some limitations, it mainly focuses on the learning curve.

Another minor limitation is SEO, primarily due to the fact that not all pages are pre-rendered. However, an experienced React developer, already has eclipsed these issues and found creative workarounds.  

Is React a library or framework?

Both. ReactJS is the JavaScript library – while React Native is the framework. Most developers use React.js for web development projects on the client-side. The React framework is mainly intended to build cross-platform mobile applications.

Should I use React for small projects?

React is mainly used for robust interactive applications for web, mobile, and additional platforms. Many programmers opt to use React for multiple projects – small and large, as it's easy to learn, filled with powerful tools, and easy to scale.

What percentage of websites use React?

According to multiple websites and sources, it's estimated that almost three percent of all websites use React. However, while that number might seem low, what really matters is who uses React. Some of the most visited websites on the planet such as Netflix, Facebook, and Reddit are powered by this JavaScript library.