Build Native Mobile Apps with React
React Native lets you build mobile applications using JavaScript and React while rendering with native platform components. Created by Meta in 2015, it combines the best parts of native development with React's declarative UI paradigm. Unlike hybrid frameworks that wrap web content in a WebView, React Native compiles to truly native UI elements, giving your apps authentic platform look, feel, and performance. Today, React Native powers some of the world's most popular apps, serving billions of users across iOS and Android with a single, shared codebase.
React Native bridges the gap between web and mobile development. It's a framework that lets you write mobile applications using JavaScript and React, but instead of rendering to a browser DOM, it renders actual native mobile UI components. Your JavaScript code runs in a separate thread and communicates with native code through a serializable, asynchronous bridge.
The magic happens at runtime: when you write View, React Native creates a real iOS UIView or Android ViewGroup. When you write Text, you get a native TextView or UILabel. This means your app isn't just "mobile-friendly"βit IS a mobile app, with all the performance, animations, and native features users expect from platform-specific applications.
Build with actual native UI elements like UIView and TextView, not web wrappers. Your app looks and feels genuinely native on each platform.
Make changes and see them instantly in your running app. Fast Refresh preserves component state while you edit for lightning-fast iteration.
Write in JavaScript or TypeScript using modern ES6+ features. Access the entire npm ecosystem for any functionality you need.
One codebase runs on iOS, Android, and even web. Platform-specific code only when you need it, shared logic everywhere else.
Thousands of open-source libraries, active forums, and constant updates. Find solutions, packages, and help for any challenge.
Drop down to native Swift, Kotlin, or Objective-C when needed. Full access to platform APIs and custom native modules.
Optimized JavaScript bundler built for React Native. Fast builds, efficient caching, and seamless hot reloading out of the box.
Optimized JavaScript engine reducing app size and improving startup time. Better memory usage and faster performance on Android.
Write your app once and deploy to iOS and Android simultaneously. No need to maintain two separate codebases in different languages.
Get from idea to working prototype faster than ever. Hot reload lets you experiment and iterate in real-time without slow build cycles.
Not a hybrid or webview app. Uses real platform components for authentic native performance and user experience every time.
Modern tooling, debugging with Chrome DevTools, extensive documentation, and helpful error messages make development enjoyable.
One team building for multiple platforms means lower development costs. Faster releases and easier maintenance reduce ongoing expenses.
Already know React? You're 80% there. Familiar concepts like components, props, hooks, and JSX transfer directly to mobile.
Deploy JavaScript changes without app store approval using CodePush or Expo Updates. Fix bugs and ship features instantly.
Battle-tested by Facebook, Instagram, and thousands of production apps serving billions of users worldwide every single day.
Create messaging platforms with real-time chat, video calls, stories, feed algorithms, notifications, and social graphs connecting millions.
Build complete shopping experiences with product browsing, secure checkout, payment processing, inventory management, and order tracking.
Develop streaming platforms, audio players, video apps, gaming interfaces, and content discovery systems with offline downloads.
Create task management tools, CRM systems, project trackers, document editors, team collaboration apps, and workflow automation.
Build fitness tracking apps, meditation guides, nutrition planners, mental health tools, sleep trackers, and medical appointment systems.
Develop secure banking apps, investment platforms, budget trackers, cryptocurrency exchanges, payment solutions, and expense managers.
Build restaurant apps, food ordering platforms, delivery tracking, meal planning, recipe databases, and restaurant discovery tools.
Create flight booking apps, hotel reservations, travel planning tools, itinerary managers, travel guides, and navigation systems.
import React, { useState } from 'react';
import { View, Text, TouchableOpacity, StyleSheet } from 'react-native';
export default function CounterApp() {
const [count, setCount] = useState(0);
return (
<View style={styles.container}>
<Text style={styles.title}>React Native Counter</Text>
<View style={styles.counterBox}>
<Text style={styles.countText}>{count}</Text>
</View>
<View style={styles.buttonRow}>
<TouchableOpacity
style={styles.button}
onPress={() => setCount(count - 1)}
>
<Text style={styles.buttonText}>-</Text>
</TouchableOpacity>
<TouchableOpacity
style={[styles.button, styles.resetButton]}
onPress={() => setCount(0)}
>
<Text style={styles.buttonText}>Reset</Text>
</TouchableOpacity>
<TouchableOpacity
style={styles.button}
onPress={() => setCount(count + 1)}
>
<Text style={styles.buttonText}>+</Text>
</TouchableOpacity>
</View>
</View>
);
}
const styles = StyleSheet.create({
container: {
flex: 1,
backgroundColor: '#f5f5f5',
alignItems: 'center',
justifyContent: 'center',
},
title: {
fontSize: 28,
fontWeight: 'bold',
marginBottom: 30,
},
counterBox: {
backgroundColor: 'white',
padding: 40,
borderRadius: 20,
marginBottom: 30,
},
countText: {
fontSize: 60,
fontWeight: 'bold',
color: '#2563eb',
},
buttonRow: {
flexDirection: 'row',
gap: 15,
},
button: {
backgroundColor: '#2563eb',
paddingVertical: 15,
paddingHorizontal: 30,
borderRadius: 10,
},
resetButton: {
backgroundColor: '#ef4444',
},
buttonText: {
color: 'white',
fontSize: 18,
fontWeight: 'bold',
},
});Industry standard navigation
Predictable state container
Data fetching & caching
Smooth 60fps animations
Material Design UI kit
Cross-platform components
React Native powers applications used by billions of people worldwide. Major tech companies and startups alike choose React Native for its performance, developer productivity, and ability to maintain a single codebase across iOS and Android platforms without sacrificing quality.
Meta: Powers multiple features across Facebook's flagship app reaching billions
Instagram: Rebuilt entire app with React Native for faster feature development
Discord: Migrated to React Native, reducing codebase complexity by 30%
Shopify: Point of Sale app serves thousands of merchants globally
Install Node.js, npm, and choose between React Native CLI or Expo
node --versionInitialize your first React Native mobile application
npx react-native@latest init MyAppnpx create-expo-app MyAppLaunch on iOS simulator, Android emulator, or physical device
npm run iosnpm run androidCatch bugs during development with static type checking and better IDE support
Use React.memo, useMemo, and useCallback to prevent unnecessary re-renders
Implement FlatList for large datasets with proper keyExtractor and getItemLayout
Use Platform.select() or .ios.js/.android.js extensions for platform differences
Catch JavaScript errors anywhere in component tree with error boundaries
Use React Navigation with proper stack, tab, and drawer navigation patterns
Write tests with Jest and React Native Testing Library for reliability
Use appropriate formats, sizes, and caching strategies for mobile assets