Angular vs React web development: Which is Best for Your Project

While JavaScript offers zillion options for front-end development, Angular and React js are the widely used and top most choices among JS developers for web development. They are also 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 and 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 and React js and help readers make a mindful decision for their next project. 

The unexpected decline of Mobile applications 

Recent times are experiencing ascendence in the usage and feasibility of mobile applications and the rise of web applications, especially for medium-sized enterprises and startups. Research states that 52% of business apps are uninstalled within 30 days and some reports pointed out that nearly 26% of business apps get uninstalled within the very 60 minutes of installation. While mobile applications by big tech companies like Facebook, Google, YouTube, Instagram, etc, are ruling the Apple and Android stores, other business apps are rarely used.  

In fact, in an interview with Economic Times, Nitin Agarwal, the AVP marketing of ShopClues stated that marketers’ fascination with apps is fading. The online marketplace is betting high on the mobile web, he added. 

About Web Applications 

A plethora of businesses leverage the Internet as a cost-effective platform or channel to communicate, and 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 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.  

In the world of web applications, Progressive web application (PWA) technology enables businesses to unite and 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 a similar manner. 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 and 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 v/s React js 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 

Let’s look at some key differences between these most sought-after frameworks: 

1. Angular is an open-source, JavaScript front-end framework developed by Google. It has a collection of well-integrated libraries, packages, and features such as client-server communication, routing, and more. 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 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. Angular is suitable for building enterprise apps that involve greater complexity like PWAs and single-page apps. React js 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. 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. 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, giving React developers more control over the web and mobile applications. 

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 which one of the two best suits your project? Read through the suitability cases of both.  

Angular and React js use cases would further help you decide.  
 

Angular:  

PayPal, one of the largest and widely used global payment gateways had used Angular to develop the PayPal checkout system.   

Upwork, having more than 10 million freelancers uses angular that ensures maintenance of functionalities and reflect the changes in a fraction of seconds. 

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 increasing 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 user 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 customisation and that can be built out of a small learning curve. While building an enterprise-grade application with lot of functionalities, businesses should go for Angular since the bigger learning curve is no limit for them. 

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