React Native Development Guide
Welcome to the comprehensive React Native development guide! This documentation is designed for developers with React and TypeScript experience who are transitioning to mobile development with React Native and Expo.
Prerequisites
Before diving into React Native development, you should have:
- Solid React knowledge: Understanding of components, hooks, state management, and modern React patterns
- TypeScript proficiency: Familiarity with TypeScript syntax, types, and interfaces
- JavaScript fundamentals: ES6+, async/await, modules, and modern JavaScript features
- iOS development experience (beneficial): Understanding of iOS concepts like UIKit, navigation patterns, and platform guidelines
What is React Native?
React Native is a framework for building native mobile applications using React. Unlike web applications that run in a browser, React Native apps compile to native code, providing near-native performance and access to platform-specific APIs.
Key Benefits
- Code Reuse: Share business logic and components between iOS and Android
- Developer Experience: Hot reloading, debugging tools, and familiar React patterns
- Native Performance: Direct access to native APIs and UI components
- Large Ecosystem: Extensive library ecosystem and community support
- Faster Development: Rapid iteration with over-the-air updates
Limitations to Consider
- Platform Differences: iOS and Android have different design paradigms and APIs
- Learning Curve: Understanding mobile-specific concepts and constraints
- Bundle Size: JavaScript bundle can impact app size and startup time
- Native Dependencies: Some features require platform-specific implementations
- Performance: Complex animations or computations may need native optimization
Expo vs React Native CLI
This guide focuses on Expo, the recommended approach for most React Native projects.
Expo Framework
Expo provides a managed workflow that simplifies React Native development:
- Unified Development Experience: Single codebase for iOS, Android, and web
- Rich SDK: Pre-built modules for camera, location, notifications, and more
- EAS Services: Build, submit, and update services in the cloud
- Simplified Setup: No need to configure native build tools locally
When to Choose Expo
- Starting a new project: Expo is the fastest way to get started
- Rapid prototyping: Quick iteration without native code complexity
- Team without mobile expertise: Managed workflow reduces complexity
- Cross-platform targeting: Including web alongside mobile
When to Consider React Native CLI
- Existing native codebase: Integrating React Native into existing apps
- Custom native modules: Heavy reliance on platform-specific functionality
- Specific performance requirements: Need for fine-tuned native optimizations
Development Environment
With Expo, you can start developing immediately with minimal setup:
- Install Node.js (18 or later)
- Install Expo CLI:
npm install -g @expo/cli - Install Expo Go app on your mobile device for testing
- Optional: Install Xcode (iOS) or Android Studio for simulator testing
Architecture Overview
React Native uses a bridge architecture to communicate between JavaScript and native code:
JavaScript Thread ←→ Bridge ←→ Native Thread (iOS/Android)
Modern Architecture (Fabric + TurboModules)
The new architecture improves performance with:
- Fabric: New rendering system with better synchronization
- TurboModules: More efficient native module system
- JSI (JavaScript Interface): Direct JavaScript-to-native communication
Comparing Web and Mobile Development
| Aspect | Web Development | React Native |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | CSS Flex box, Grid | Flex box only |
| Styling | CSS, CSS-in-JS | StyleSheet, styled-components |
| Navigation | React Router | React Navigation, Expo Router |
| Storage | localStorage, IndexedDB | AsyncStorage, SQLite |
| Networking | fetch, HTTP clients | Same + network info APIs |
| Platform APIs | Web APIs | Expo SDK, Native modules |
iOS Development Parallels
If you have iOS experience, here are helpful parallels:
| iOS Concept | React Native Equivalent |
|---|---|
| UIViewController | Screen components |
| UINavigationController | Stack Navigator |
| UITabBarController | Tab Navigator |
| Auto Layout | Flex box |
| UITableView | FlatList, SectionList |
| UserDefaults | AsyncStorage |
| URLSession | fetch API |
Next Steps
Now that you understand the fundamentals, let's dive into specific topics:
- Core Concepts & Architecture - Deep dive into React Native architecture
- Project Structure - Organizing your React Native project
- Development Fundamentals - Components, styling, and layout
- Navigation & Routing - Moving between screens
- Platform Integration - Using native device capabilities
Continue reading through each section to build your React Native expertise systematically.