When developing web applications, JavaScript frameworks and libraries are indispensable, but it is difficult for companies to choose between the popular React and Vue.js, each has advantages and disadvantages. This short guide to popular frameworks will help you understand when to use Vue, which React, and decide which one is right for your next project.
Similarities
Vue and React have many similarities and features. Most of all they have in common the use of virtual DOM.
In addition, both frameworks:
- work with any existing web application;
- help developers get started quickly and easily;
- have a component-based architecture with component lifecycle management;
- characterized by increased flexibility, speed and productivity;
- have large active communities;
- offer a wide range of libraries and tools.
The difference between Vue and React
There are a few differences between React.js and Vue.js that determine what each is better suited for. The main one lies in the methods that Vue and React use to render content in the DOM. Vue employs HTML templates as well as JSX, while React exclusively uses JSX. JSX is an extension that enables you to embed HTML straight into JS code. JSX can simplify many complex tasks, but at the same time, it can complicate simple ones.
Also, React core only provides components, their state management, and DOM manipulation. The rest is written and supported by the community. Experienced developers often prefer this kind of freedom, but for a beginner, the abundance of third-party libraries and tools can be confusing.
Although Vue also has many community-created solutions, its commonly used tools and companion libraries such as Vue-router, Vuex, and Vue CLI are created and maintained by an internal development team.
Performance
Since React and Vue have many of the same elements, their performance is about the same. Both frameworks use virtual DOM and lazy loading to improve performance and page loading speed.
In some situations, however, Vue is clearly superior to React. For example, when you change the state of a React component, the rest of the components in its subtree will also be re-rendered.
Application architecture
React differs from other frameworks and libraries in that it doesn’t have a built-in architectural pattern. It uses a component-oriented architecture. React UIs are rendered by components that act like functions and respond to data changes.
Vue’s emphasis on the ViewModel approach from the MVVM pattern works well for larger applications. It uses two-way data binding to bind the view and model. The main goal of Vue is to provide a simple and flexible presentation layer, not a complete framework. If this framework suits you, choose only proven vue js development services.
Scalability
When it comes to large apps, React has an advantage over Vue due to its easy scalability. Because React apps are purely JavaScript, developers can use traditional code organization techniques.
Vue provides a wide range of flexible tools for scaling, but is more commonly used in small applications (although the size of the application, of course, depends on the architecture).
Documentation
Here Vue is the clear winner. It has a website with detailed descriptions in several languages, and the manual and help for API methods are recognized as the best in the industry. The documentation provides clear answers to many complex questions.
The React documentation is not up to the level of Vue, so you will have to go to the community much more often to solve problems.
Summing up
If you need a complex enterprise application, choose React. It has more corporate support, is more popular with developers, and has a community that can answer any question. React apps are also easier to scale.
Check out Vue if you need a framework for a tiny application or a fast test of a concept.It is not yet widely supported and used, but its popularity is growing, primarily due to excellent documentation, ease of use, and the possibility of gradual implementation.
Comparing React and Vue is not a search for pros and cons in a vacuum. The choice depends entirely on the goals and parameters of your project.
React is a better fit if you want:
- a huge number of adaptable libraries, tools, and ecosystems;
- easy to use with TypeScript, Flow, BuckleScript;
- create a highly scalable application that is simple to test and debug;
- quickly create a complex application;
- build a high performance video streaming platform or media site.
Choose Vue if you want:
- create a progressive web application or SPA;
- start development immediately;
- get access to more tools from the developers of the framework and their support;
- extend the functionality of an existing application.
