Understanding React Native encryption libraries

App developers face significant challenges in managing app security, particularly when implementing encryption in applications like banking apps. Instead of building encryption components from scratch, which involves complex algorithms and the need for security experts, developers can leverage third-party libraries to simplify this process. This article explores how to use encryption libraries within React Native, specifically through the Expo platform, and provides an overview of key concepts such as RSA encryption, initialization vectors, and salts. It discusses several React Native libraries for secure data storage, including Expo SecureStore, React Native MMKV Storage, React Native Keychain, and React Native Encrypted Storage (RNES), highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. These libraries offer features like biometric support, access control, and integration with platform-native cryptography tools, but they also come with limitations such as storage size restrictions and update frequency issues. The article concludes by recommending React Native Keychain for its robust features and community support.