The complete guide to React Native for Web
Blog post from LogRocket
React Native for Web is a versatile framework that extends the capabilities of React Native, allowing developers to use its components and APIs on web browsers, thereby creating truly cross-platform applications that can run on Android, iOS, and web environments. This framework bridges the foundational differences between web and mobile applications by providing browser-compatible versions of React Native components, enabling the creation of a single codebase for multiple platforms. While not all native components are easily ported to the web due to hardware API limitations, React Native for Web maintains a significant portion of functionality, which is often sufficient for many applications. The project is community-maintained, with contributions ensuring compatibility with the latest React Native versions, and is leveraged in production by major companies like Twitter and Uber. Developers can set up React Native for Web projects using tools like Expo or Create React App, benefiting from easier styling and integration with React Native UI kits. Although there are some limitations in terms of API and component support, React Native for Web presents a valuable tool for developers looking to expand their applications across different platforms without extensive rewrites.