React or Angular? 🤔

I know, I know… There are millions of articles about “React vs Angular”, “Which one is better”, and etc… I decided to write this blog on this topic because I’m not really familiar with Angular and I could say I’m pretty good in React. I know for sure that React is one of the best and popular frontend frameworks/libraries out there right now, but I’m noticing that Angular is becoming pretty popular as well. So I did a little research on Angular and decided to share with you all. I’m not going to tell which one is better, I’m just going to tell the differences between them, and it’s up to you to decide! :)

Although it is worth noting separately that these two are very different, and therefore it is impossible to definitely say which is better. They are just different and are used to solve different problems.

As evidenced by the Google Trends app, React and Angular were the most popular in the development field in previous years. Moreover, analysts promise them a resounding success in 2021–2022.

The main difference

The main difference between React and Angular is that the first one uses the Virtual DOM. And this fact is attributed to the advantages of the specified framework.

The DOM is a way to represent the content of an HTML document as objects. In addition, there is an interface for managing the specified objects.

There is a regular DOM (also called real) and a virtual one. What’s the difference? Let’s look at an example. If you want to change certain information in HTML tags, the algorithms will act as follows:

The real DOM will update all tags until it finds the fragment it needs. And this, in some cases, negatively affects performance and other parameters. The virtual DOM will update only the required HTML chunk.

Comparing React and Angular

Most developers believe that React is better than Angular. Let me explain what formed the basis of this opinion. First of all, it’s worth noting — React was developed several years earlier than Angular, and has undergone many changes. As a result, it has become a user-friendly application that most developers prefer to use.

In addition, React has a huge number of codes in its database (about 100 thousand). And there are 300 ready-made solutions. The program is essentially an open source library. The main difference between Angular and react is that the former has a skeleton structure. There are 1800 ready-made solutions in its database. However, this application is large.

Both frameworks work with native and web applications:

React:

• native apps are developed with React Native;
• cross-platform (Android, iOS) are developed with React Native Renderer.

Angular:

• native apps are developed with NativeScript;
• Hybrid app development happens with the Ionic Framework.

Each of the frameworks has its own strengths and weaknesses. Let’s dwell on this in more detail.

Advantages and Disadvantages of React

So what are the benefits of React?

• It is based on simple programming languages.
• Extreme application flexibility.
• Using the DOM.
• The application can withstand heavy loads.
• React and SEO get along well. It is easier for search bots to browse sites, and user interaction with your resource is improved.
• Ensures that parental data is immutable.
• Has an open data library.
• Lightweight database
• Provides easy migration between versions.
• Hybrid mobile apps in React look almost the same as native ones.

As for the disadvantages, there are fewer of them. However, they are also present.

• Disordered documentation.
• The large selection of tools is baffling.
• It takes a long time to master all the nuances.

Now let’s move on from the pros and cons of React JS to Angular.

Angular has the following advantages:

• A wide variety of functions.
• The functions are interdependent.
• Information can be obtained directly and not through third parties.
• The opportunity is presented to work separately in one section of the program using the available data.
• Minimal risk of mistakes.

That being said, Angular has such disadvantages:

• At the heart of a complex programming language.
• Errors during migration between versions.

Conclusions

Angular is definitely easier to learn. Nevertheless, React provides many times more possibilities. Based on this, you just need to prioritize and choose what is more suitable for a specific task.