5 Reasons Why You Should Use React Instead of Angular

According to mindinventory.com, web developers are gradually switching from Angular to React. So, what’s the reason for this paradigm shift? The answer is obvious: A set of unique benefits of React over Angular. So, let’s check them out now!

Easy to Comprehend and Use

React is just a simple open-source view library with a few methods that are easy to comprehend. Each component made using React has around nine lifecycle methods using which you can control it.
However, practically, you end up using just a few of them. These are usually render() for rendering a new component instance, constructor() for manipulating its state, and setState() for updating its state.

You can then easily handle the component for different tasks. For example, you can add values to it by storing them in its this state property and then invoke setState() to update the component and consequently the view.

Thus, React is easier to learn and use when compared to Angular, that has a bit of a steep learning curve. For using Angular, it is mandatory for the developers to know the Model View Controller (MVC) architecture apart from JavaScript. However, for using React, they need to know only V of MVC and JavaScript.

For developers, it is hard to remember the declarations, expressions, and coding syntax. On the other hand, React is pretty close to JavaScript and acts as a single building block. After learning it once, you truly do not have anything to forget.

The main point of attraction for any developer leaning towards React is the proximity of React to JavaScript. Anyone who knows JavaScript can easily comprehend and use React in just a few days after proper learning.

In React, everything is in the form of building blocks. The best part of this structure is that you can easily choose and exchange these blocks for gaining new solutions. This is now possible in Angular, as it has its own solutions.

Apart from these lifecycle methods, there are more concepts, such as properties and state. You can easily and learn them one by one by subscribing to the React training resources.

Fast and Efficient

In the Angular framework, the DOM dependency for execution makes it hard to debug and test the applications. However, React is a library and not a framework.

This means that you do not directly work with the Document Object Model (DOM) but with Virtual DOM. In simple words, this exposure accelerates development. For example, in the case of continuous rendering, virtual DOM updates only the modified part of the actual DOM.

Further, the layer of virtual DOM also eliminates browser compatibility problems. In simple words, you obtain access to an integrated cross-browser Application Programming Interface (API) that runs even on an older version of Internet Explorer.

One-Way Data Binding

Angular uses the two-way binding technique, which is certainly beneficial. However, on the flip side, it ends up increasing complexity and affects the application’s performance. It also makes components’ state management less predictable.

However, React replaces this two-way data binding technique with the unidirectional one. The internal state of a component is encapsulated in its state object property and is then explicitly updated by invoking the corresponding method. Finally, the component is updated and rendered.

When an updated input is initiated, the state of the component is updated with its render method. You cannot modify the input or the internal state directly. The one-way approach to data flow is strictly followed, which makes state management relatively more foreseeable.

JavaScript and HTML Mix

React has its own syntax for developing reusable components. It is known as JSX using which you can code in both JavaScript and HTML elements and use inline styles in them.

In other words, you use JavaScript to build and manage the DOM and use HTML inline. You can utilize the integrated JavaScript functionalities such as filter and map to show several nodes of DOM.

In Angular, both view and logic are separated. It provides expressions such as ngFor or ng-repeat to be incorporated into HTML for accomplishing the same task as a single JSX function called map() can.

Development of Isomorphic Applications

An isomorphic application is the one whose code executes simultaneously on the server as well as on the client. This is something that React facilitates.

By building a React isomorphic application, you manage a single piece of code for both client and server. This accelerates speed as well as rendering performance.

React also pre-renders such applications on the server before being loaded in the browser. This aids in reinstating the live state of an application. This pre-rendering ability is something that search engine crawlers appreciate for boosting Search Engine Optimization (SEO) rankings.

For building isomorphic apps, it is advisable to take up a short React native course or seek professional help.

Conclusion

The key reasons why developers are shifting from Angular to React are a simple learning curve, accelerated performance, one-way data binding, and simple exchange of building blocks.

So what are you waiting for? Drop Angular and start using React, today!