Ionic React is introduced as a web-native framework aimed at integrating smoothly with the React ecosystem by leveraging pure web technologies to build apps for mobile, desktop, and the web, without compromising on native performance and power. Unlike React Native, which uses JavaScript to control native iOS and Android elements, Ionic React runs in a browser environment using standard HTML elements and CSS, making it a natural choice for traditional web developers. The framework allows developers to incorporate existing web libraries and code, facilitating the development of Progressive Web Apps alongside app store apps. Ionic React offers a similar plugin model to React Native, where native code is exposed to JavaScript through plugins, but it differentiates itself by providing commercial support and additional native plugin functionality, catering to teams that prefer a more web-centric approach. The text suggests considering Ionic React if the goal is to target multiple platforms using web development skills, while React Native might be preferable for teams focused on native mobile experiences.