When we talk about the Frontend mobile app or web app development, there are two things that are absolutely certain – A. JavaScript leads the frontend domain and B. React.js has over time emerged as the most trusted library for the development of apps.

And why not, after all, React.js is what powers React Native – the cross-platform app development mode that has given businesses a lot to reasons to adopt in their ecosystem.

Joining the list of Frontend certainties is the growing popularity of the Vue.js framework.

The growth in the adoption rate that Vue.js is witnessing, is what is fuelling the discussions around Vue.js vs React.js: Which Framework is Winning the Race to Becoming the Top JS Framework/Library.

Your next Seven Minutes will go into finding an answer to just that.

While we have already talked about the options that businesses have when it comes to the frontend development of web apps, mobile apps, and even PWAs in-depth in an article before, this piece is about the comparison of two framework/library that we listed as the Fantastic Four JS frameworks that would rule the industry in 2018 and for some time to come – Vue.js vs React.js.

*Here is the article that we have been mentioning – JavaScript Framework Guide & Top 15 JS Frameworks of 2019.

Now all comparison between React.js and Vue.js would come to a standstill until and unless we have gathered a complete understanding of both the JS frameworks. So, before we move onto the comparison part, let us look into the strengths and disadvantages that come attached with both.

Here are the perks and disadvantages that come attached with the two JavaScript framework/library –

Pros of React.js Library

• Easy To Learn – React’s simplicity in terms of syntax makes it a lot easy to learn for a developer who has good working knowledge of HTML. This is one of the main factors that bring React points ahead in the React vs Angular debate.
• React.js comes with high flexibility level and responsiveness.
• Virtual DOM allows arranging of the document in XHTML, HTML, and XML format in a tree from where it is acceptable by web browsers when parsing different element of web app.
• 100% open source library, which gets a number of everyday improvement and updates in because of the contributions made by developers around the world.
• Migration between versions is usually very easy.

Cons of React.js Library

• The lack of documentation continues to be the biggest drawback of React.js
• The learnability scale is on the higher side, meaning it takes time for a developer to understand the nuances of React.js.

Even with the presence of evident shortcomings, the adaptation rate of React.js is what keeps it afloat in the market. The library continues to provide an ecosystem that favours near native app experience to the users.

However, what cannot be ignored is the rate at which Vue native framework is growing in the mobile app industry. Since, the framework is considerably new in the industry, the expectation that it comes with visible advantage over other JS frameworks is pretty evident.

Let us look into the framework into more detail to get an idea of whether it is ready to stack over React.js.

Pros of Vue.js Framework

• Heavy use of HTML – It means that Vue has a lot of similar features like Angular, which helps in optimizing HTML blocks handling with the help of different components.
• Detailed Documentation – The clarity and depthness of documentation of Vue, makes it easy for developers to understand the framework.
• Adaptability – It offers rapid switching time from different frameworks to Vue because of its similarity with React and Angular in terms of architecture and design.
• Great Integration – Vue is used for the development of both single page and complex web interfaces of the apps.
• Large Scaling – Vue is very helpful when it comes to developing reusable templates which can be easily developed in no extra time.

Cons of Vue.js Framework

• Less Resources – When it comes to the market share, Vue.js is a lot smaller than Angular or React, meaning that the knowledge sharing is in a beginning phase.
• Over Flexibility – There have been integration issues of framework in big projects, which becomes only more crucial as there is no possible solution.
• Absence of Complete English Documentation – A great portion of the Vue documentation is in Mandarin, which makes it difficult for developers to some extent.

Now that you have seen the best of and the weaknesses of both the frameworks, it is time we look into what separates Vue native framework with React.js.

Here is a Vue.js vs React.js comparison table –

Amidst all the differences, the decision between which is a better framework between Vue.js and React.js ultimately comes down to five deciding factors –

1. Interaction with DOM

React.js is based on virtual DOM. The applications made on React.js compare two DOM trees where the rendering starts specifically on those nodes that needs changing. While this method betters the performance on the client side, among the other various benefits that comes with using Virtual DOM in React.js, at times when Animation is created with complex synchronization, the approach doesn’t come in handy.

On the other hand, while Vue js native app is also based on Virtual DOM, but it does so with a lot more filigree, meaning the references are operated to every node of the tree, which is the number one reason why developers select the framework for apps that are high on animations and interactivities.

2. Performance

Although both Vue.js and React.js operate on Virtual DOM, which in itself come with a share of performance issues, Vue pays a greater attention to the shortcomings. And because of this fact, Vue.js comes with a lot less overhead and faster speed. Along with this, Vue native app has the ability to manage high frames rate – 10 frames per second when compared to the 1 FPS of React.js.

3. Developer Convenience

When it comes to React.js, the library comes with zero division in MVW, MVC, or MVVM structure. With the absence of a division in app’s presentation and logic, multiple developers cannot be implemented at the same time, which makes the development process complicated.

On the other hand, Vue js mobile app is based on a MVC framework. It gives the developers a template which is shown in the form of filters and directives that make the codes a lot more readable, thus reducing the occurrence of bugs.

4. Scalability

When we talk of front-end development of apps, in the Vue.js vs React.js discussion, React is points ahead of Vue.js native app.

As per the common understanding in the mobile app development ecosystem, frontend scalability is the capability to maintain expanding functionality. Whatever development platform that you choose Vue.js or React.js, it should be able to support the growth that a quality app’s frontend should.

Now on that front, while React make use of a component based approach with superb results, Vue native apps are known to be developed using a template specific syntax, which makes it very difficult to reuse as the app size grows.

5. Brand Evangelists

Both Vue.js and React.js have their share brands names favouring them –

Now that we have looked into both the JavaScript frontend frameworks – Vue.js framework and React.js Library in depth, let us now get to the section that would help save a few steps of discussion of your discussion with your partnered mobile app development company – When to Use Which JavaScript Framework/Library.

When to Use React.js Library

There are some very evident instances where investing in React.js makes more sense than developing an app around Vue.js –

• When you have to develop a more complex app
• When you need to create both Mobile and Web App
• When you would need community support

When to use Vue.js Framework

Like React.js, Vue mobile app also make sense only in some calculated instances such as –

• When you are looking to create a web app having templates
• When you are developing a simple category app
• When the go to market time is very less

With this, we have now come at the end of the comparison article. If you are still waiting for our verdict on which framework/library would become the best JavaScript framework by the time we hit the end of 2018 or even 2019, our unbiased answer would be React.js. Vue.js would take some more years to stand next to, let alone overpass the React.js popularity.

But then again, there are legitimate situations where Vue.js makes a lot more sense than React.js. So, what we would suggest is to contact our mobile app development experts and understand which framework/library would best suit your business need.

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