This article was originally published at: https://www.blog.duomly.com/vue-vs-react/
There is a lot of debate in the programming community about which front-end framework is the best: Vue or React?
This blog post will compare the two frameworks and see which one comes out on top.
Vue was created by Evan You in 2014 and has gained popularity in recent years. It is a lightweight framework that is easy to learn and use. React was created by Jordan Walke in 2013 and is also popular among developers. It is more heavyweight than Vue but offers more functionality.
So, which framework should you choose? It depends on your needs and preferences. Vue is simpler and faster to learn, while React has more features and can be used for larger projects.
1. Vue vs React
Simplicity
Both React and Vue are easy to learn for beginners.
Vue is smaller and easier to pick up than its main competitor: React. You can start using it in your projects right away without the need to first master a bunch of complex concepts and tools, as you would have to do with, for example, Angular and a similar amount to React. It is also a bit faster than React, which uses a more complex system of virtual DOM reconciliation.
What makes Vue special? The Vue core library is focused on the view layer only! Therefore, it's straightforward to pick up and use by any web developer who already knows HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Moreover, since it doesn't rely on a separate ecosystem like React does (with JSS etc.), the learning curve isn't as steep as with its main competitor.
Performance
Vue is more lightweight than React and renders data faster. It doesn't use a separate library to handle state management but relies on native methods such as getters and setters.
Native methods are optimized by browsers. They don't need additional libraries that could slow down the rendering process or increase bundle size. Vue is also one of the few JavaScript frameworks that run equally fast in Node.js and browser environments. One of the common misunderstandings about Vue performance is that you have to use Nuxt when developing applications with routing. However, this is not true! You can still render your application server-side just fine while having SSR features.
Flexibility
React's philosophy gives you a framework for creating reusable UI components. It doesn't force you to use a specific template engine or data management system. If something isn't provided, it can be built using pure JavaScript. Hence, developers have unlimited freedom and control over the process.
This makes it excellent for building large-scale applications that consist of many interconnected parts. Still, it also means that React requires more time and effort from developers to get started.
In contrast, Vue templates are written with HTML, which means there is no steep learning curve - just familiar tools that web devs already know how to use!
Once again, Vue wins because of its simplicity. Vue developers don't have to deal with JSX, use webpack or learn how to make their apps scale - all of these features are taken care of by the framework!
Availability of plugins
Vue - Higher availability of official packages from vuejs and community-contributed packages (a lot)
React - Lower availability of official packages from Facebook and community-contributed packages (a lot)
SSR
React, and Vue can use two different strategies when rendering your application depending on your needs. Both can render the whole page simultaneously using server-side rendering (SSR) or incrementally in each browser view using client-side rendering (CSR).
SSR provides better SEO results and fast initial loading times. It doesn't require JavaScript to work correctly but does so by sacrificing some flexibility in the development process.
2. What is the difference between Vue and React?
The main difference between Vue and React is their approach to application design. While React focuses on creating reusable UI components, Vue takes a more holistic approach by providing developers with tools for the front-end.
Vue's template syntax uses plain HTML, making it easy to pick up. It also requires less code than React (with JSX) because you don't need separate files for each component in your app.
3. Why should I use one over the other?
If your main focus is on building reusable components, React will be a better fit for you.
Vue's strength lies instead in its ease of use and excellent performance. It enables developers to create high-performing web apps that render data very quickly. That said, if you're not sure which framework to choose, then Vue might also be the best solution since it is easier to learn than both Angular and React.
However, suppose you already have experience with JS frameworks like Angular or Meteor. In that case, it'll be easier for you to pick up React because it has more similarities with these tools (in particular Angular).
4. How to choose a framework for my project?
You must choose a tool that best fits your project's requirements. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for JavaScript frameworks. So you need to consider what your web app will do and decide which features are the most valuable for its success.
Since React is a library rather than a framework, there isn't a "one way" to build apps with it. It can be used both as a library or in pre-made solutions like Next.js, which provides developers with server-side rendering functionalities out of the box. Vue JS also offers an advanced routing system. Still, it comes packaged in an external plugin called Vue-router. At the same time, React has similar features built right into the core library.
React has a steeper learning curve than Vue and is not as beginner-friendly. Still, it offers better performance and larger community support, so you can find more resources and experienced developers to help with any issues that crop up during development. On the other hand, Vue JS provides developers with all the tools they need for building user interfaces right out of the box.
All this makes Vue one of the fastest JavaScript frameworks on the market today!
5. Companies using Vue
Vue's popularity is growing rapidly, and many high-profile companies have started using it for their projects. Some of the leading names in the industry that use Vue include Adobe, Alibaba, GitLab, WizzAir, Netflix, and even NASA! Out of all the JavaScript frameworks on the market today, Vue is one of the rare few to achieve this level of widespread adoption.
Furthermore, as more developers decide to learn how to code with this powerful framework, its community has been steadily increasing together with its demand!
6. Companies using React.js
Some of the most notable companies using React for their projects include Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, PayPal, Yahoo!, Khan Academy, and even Barack Obama's website!
As you can see, React has already managed to establish itself as the go-to solution for quickly building high-performing web apps.
7. Conclusion
Vue and React are similar tools that provide developers with libraries and frameworks for creating dynamic, fast-loading user interfaces. However, Vue is a little simpler than React, so it might be easier to pick up for new programmers. On the other hand, React has a steeper learning curve and requires practice before you can master it properly. Despite this fact, developers generally consider it an outstanding tool that's more flexible than Vue.
Suppose your main focus is on building reusable components. In that case, you'll probably want to use React because of its support for JSX, which makes designing custom components really straightforward. Not to mention that React already has a huge community supporting it!
If you need help with software development using Vue or React, please contact us for assistance! We have a team of experienced developers who can help you get your project up and running in no time.
Thank you for reading, Radek from Duomly