While JavaScript offers zillion options for front-end development, Angular and React js are the widely used and top choices among JS developers for web development. As a result, Angular vs React web development is often the topic of debate among developers and the tech industry.
We begin this blog by briefly discussing the decline in the usage of mobile applications. Additionally, we would discuss about the subsequent rise of web applications, followed by a basic understanding of the latter.
In the last part, we highlight the key differences between Angular vs React web development and help readers make a mindful decision for their next project.
About Web Applications
A plethora of businesses leverage the Internet as a cost-effective platform or channel to communicate, and also exchange information with their target audience and facilitate faster, secure transactions. However, this interaction would only be possible and fruitful when the business is able to receive, store, and process the necessary data and present the end results to users.
Web applications facilitate this effective engagement. This computer program uses a combination of scripts, both server–side (PHP and ASP) and client–side (JavaScript and HTML), to handle the storage and retrieval of the required information, presenting it to end users. This facilitates and also boosts user interaction with a company using online surveys and forms, CMS, shopping bags and carts, etc.
Mailchimp, Google Docs, Notion, Botshot, Xero, and Salesforce are all examples of successful web applications.
Steps to develop web applications
In the world of web applications, Progressive web application (PWA) technology enables businesses to unite and at the same time, streamline their user’s experience across all touchpoints – with lower costs.
Chocolates and light snacks at the checkout counter often lure us into making an impulsive shopping decision. PWAs work in the same way. When a user comes across any engaging content while he/she is on their digital journey, he/she may get more inclined towards making a snap decision and adding the app to the Home Screen.
Some key benefits of PWAs for businesses include:
- No middleman involvement in the process of app download & installation
- Flexibility to update the app
- Smooth and unbroken digital journey even during events of weak or non-existent connectivity
- Higher user engagement. In addition, general and cross-platform conversions
- Decreased Cost of User Acquisition (CAC)
Angular v/s React js framework
For web application development, Angular and React js are the two most popular frameworks in the world. And therefore, Angular vs React web development is often a hot topic in discussions and discourses at the time when front-end programming is required.
High-level Features of React
High-level Features of Angular
Finally, let’s look at some key differences between these most sought-after frameworks:
1. Angular is open-source. In addition, the JavaScript front-end framework was developed by Google. It has a collection of well-integrated libraries, packages, and features such as client-server communication, routing, and more.
On the other hand, React js is an open-source front-end JavaScript library developed by Meta. It allows businesses to develop user interfaces from reusable UI components.
2. Angular is a client-side framework that is popular for developing scalable and high-powered web applications using HTML, CSS, and TypeScript. Angular is a JS framework that recommends the use of Typescript. Typescript in React is also gaining popularity because it can easily harness the power of both Typescript and React. This feature aids the maintenance of large and also complex web development projects.
While React js is a JavaScript-based library. If you want to go for the “everything – is – JavaScript” approach, then react js should be preferred. It recommends the use of JSX – JavaScript XML.
3. If you need to create large-scale, complex, and high-performing applications, then Angular should be chosen. In fact, Angular is suitable for building enterprise apps that involve greater complexity like PWAs and single-page apps.
React js, on the other hand, is suitable to build static or less functional and interactive applications. It is used to develop applications with frequently variable data.
4. One of the key differences between Angular and React js is the learning curve. While Angular has a steeper learning curve, the Learning curve for React js is moderate.
5. Angular provides less flexibility to developers as it comes with a rigid process or structure. Hence, it should be opted for if the developer wants to use the structure-based framework. Whereas with React js, developers have flexibility with processes and formats.
6. Talking about the models, Angular is based on MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture whereas React js is based on Virtual DOM (Document Object Model). While Angular enables clean code development, React js is a more time-saving, faster app-building framework.
7. Angular uses two-way data binding, therefore whenever any interface element changes, the model state also changes automatically.
While React js uses one-way data binding, which provides the modifications in the interface model only when the model state gets updated first. And in cases when there are changes in UI components, the status quo in the model state is maintained. The data flow in one-way data binding is unidirectional, hence, giving React developers more control over the web and mobile applications.
Data Binding Models
Tabular representation of the key and other differences would help you get a clearer picture.
Feature | Angular | React js |
Type | Framework | Library to build UI |
Written in | TypeScript | JavaScript |
Application Types | Native apps, hybrid apps, and web apps | SPA and mobile apps |
Ideal for | Large-scale, feature-rich applications | Modern web development and native-rendered apps for iOS and Android |
Learning Curve | A steep learning curve | A moderate curve than Angular |
Flexibility | If you want to use the structure-based framework | If you want to have flexibility in the development environment |
Model | Based on MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture | Based on Virtual DOM (Document Object Model) |
Data binding | Two-way binding | One-way binding |
Community Support | A large community of developers and supporters | Meta developers’ community |
Language Preference | Recommends the use of TypeScript | Recommends the use of JSX – JavaScript XML |
Angular v/s React js: Suitability
Still, confused about which one of the two best suits your project? Read through the suitability scenarios for both.
Angular and React js were used by the following brands for their respective web development.
Angular:
PayPal, one of the largest and most widely used global payment gateways used Angular to develop the PayPal checkout system.
Upwork, having more than 10 million freelancers uses angular that ensures maintenance of functionalities and reflects the changes in a fraction of a second.
Localytics, a globally renowned tool used by big names such as Microsoft, NY Times, HBO, and many more, used Angular to enhance its features and put itself into the standalone identity.
Deutsche Bank’s developer portal is made using Angular which features the bank’s API program.
React js:
Netflix, a top-class entertainment and media streaming platform, uses React js for low-performance devices in specific. It is using React js library to enhance the runtime performance, modularization, and increase the startup speed.
The New York Times also used React js for one of its new projects. The project is designed for different celebrity appearances on the Oscar red carpet and lets users apply filters and find pictures of their choice. React js enabled complete re-rendering and it stood out as the most impressive feature.
Conclusion
From the comparisons and analysis above, it is safe to say that both Angular and React js are successful and reliable front-end development frameworks for web applications. Both have their suitability criteria and businesses should choose based on their usage, project needs, and functionalities.
React js should be a go-to option to build an application that needs customization and that can be built out of a small learning curve. While building an enterprise-grade application with a lot of functionalities, businesses should go for Angular since the bigger learning curve is no limit for them.
FAQs
Q1.Angular vs react which is better?
Both are powerful front-end frameworks for web development. While Angular should be used for enterprise-grade, high-on-functionality web application development, React js is used to build custom, less interactive, less functional web applications.
Q2.What are the advantages of react js over angular?
The component-driven architecture of React js helps developers to reuse components, which eventually saves cost and time.
Q3.Is react js a library or framework?
React js is a library.
Q4. Is Angular a Strongly Opinionated Platform?
Angular is often labeled as opinionated because of its given set of best practices and procedures that developers need to follow in order to develop a reliable web application. React is more flexible in this regard.
It is strongly opinionated because there is a recommended (opinionated) way of writing code in Angular. Developers either like it or dislike it.
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