Angular vs. React: Which JS Framework to Choose for Front-end Development
Are you thinking about which JavaScript framework you should choose for front-end development? Angular and React are definitely the most popular ones amongst many that exist. But when it comes to picking one from the two, you might find yourself confused, evaluating the many different factors that can help you make a sound decision.
In this blog, learn all about the differences and similarities between the two so that you can understand better which is these is more suited for your next project.
Overview
First published as AngularJS in 2010, Angular is a complete framework created and maintained by Google. Significant changes have been made to Angular since then; Angular 2 represents a total overhaul and a switch to TypeScript. A strong, all-in-one choice for front-end development, Angular offers a comprehensive solution for creating dynamic, single-page applications (SPAs) together with a number of built-in tools, components, and libraries.
React is a library that Facebook has developed. It was released in 2013, and allows for creating many reusable components. The most significant difference that this has in relation to Angular is that it does not enforce a strict project structure and does not have many built in tool either. It provides great flexibility which means that developers can incorporate a lot of extra things into it that are based on project requirements largely.
Angular vs. React - Key Differences
While both Angular and React are used for web development, there are several differences between the two. Here is the breakdown:
- Language: Angular used TypeScript, whereas React uses Javascript. This is the main difference between the two.
- Structure: Angular works on the MVC mode framework. This uses tools for routing and form handling. React focuses on the view layer, which means that developers can make use of third party solutions and also cater to other needs.
- Learning Curve: Angular has a steeper learning curve, which means that it is definitely much harder to understand, specially for beginners. React is slightly easier to understand.
Performance and Speed
Performance and speed are both very important factors when it comes to front end development. Both of these offer rendering, but they achieve these in different ways.
Angular updates the DOM (Document Object Model) through a process known as “change detection.” Ivy, a new rendering engine that optimises speed by creating smaller bundles and facilitating faster compilation, was added to Angular in more recent versions. Even with this enhancement, Angular’s dependence on real-time data binding may cause it to run a little worse for really complicated applications. React can track UI changes more effectively since it uses a virtual DOM. React speeds up rendering by only updating the modified portions of the DOM rather than the full document. Performance can be greatly increased with this method, particularly in apps that alter their user interface often.
While both of these are great when it comes to performance, the React framework is generally considered to be a lot faster and also a lot more efficient for content heavy applications.
Development Flexibility
One of the key reasons why developers choose between these two is how flexible they are in terms of web development. Angular has built in modules, which means that it is highly opinionated. It has a very well-defined project structure. For teams that prefer having a very clearly defined workflow, Angular is the best. However, for developers who want customization, this approach can seem slightly restrictive.
React on the other hand is much more flexible. It does not have any clear project structure. Developers can then choose their own libraries freely and work according to what they require. This can really help them in the way that they want. They can tailor their work according to what they want, which can give them the flexibility to select what works best for them.
Community and Support
Both of these have well established communities, which means that the resources used for learning and other practices are rather extensive. With Google’s strong support and a devoted developer community, Angular makes it simple to locate third-party libraries, documentation, and tutorials. The organised ecosystem of Angular also guarantees the regular release of updates and new features, which makes it simple for developers to stay current with the latest developments. React on the other hand has a very vibrant open source community that Meta supports itself.
Now that you understand the key differences between the two, you are better equipped to make a decision about what works best for you. It depends entirely on what works best for you and what you think would help you achieve what you want.
