Do you want to create an iOS app in 2021? There are numerous tools from which to choose. React Native and Swift are among the most popular tools. As a result, having a thorough understanding of what each tool has to offer makes sense. Comparing both tools against each other is an excellent approach to do this.
When it comes to selecting a mobile development toolkit for a project, there is rarely a single tool that is ideal in all circumstances. In other words, the appropriate tool depends on the use case and requirements of your project. In this article, we'll compare Swift vs React native in detail. You'll also have enough information at the end of this piece to decide which toolkit is ideal for you.
We'll use five vectors to compare the two technologies. We'll also provide a score to each toolkit in each category, determining which is superior or whether they're tied. But first, a little refresher on React Native and Swift is in order.
Swift is an Apple-developed general-purpose programming language. It was released in 2014 as an alternative to Apple's Objective-C programming language. Swift is the most common programming language used to create iOS apps. It can also run apps on Mac OS X and iPad.
Facebook's React Native framework allows developers to create native applications using React. It's feasible to create native iOS and Android apps with React Native and JavaScript.
When you use React Native to create an app, you'll just have to write code once for both iOS and Android. React Native then renders the UI elements in their native form. This means that a React Native app's Android version has the same native UI as any other Android app. This holds true for the iOS version as well.
During development, debugging and executing React Native is quick. Fast Refresh is a feature of React Native that allows you to refresh your app in seconds without having to rebuild it entirely. This function can help developers save time. Debugging Swift apps is also quick. During development, you can use the iOS simulator or an actual device to test your app. You can also set breakpoints and step through each line of your code as it runs because you have more direct access to the native platform.
It's simple to use React Native. It'll be even easier if you're already familiar with React and JavaScript. That is to say, you may quickly get started developing mobile apps with a tool and programming language you are already familiar with. If you are unfamiliar with the Swift programming language, the scenario is different. Swift, on the other hand, is a modern programming language that has a lot of capabilities and is simple to learn. The Swift Playgrounds in Xcode, for example, provide an all-in-one environment for learning Swift.
A cross-platform programme is one that uses the same code to run on several platforms. This means you only have to write the code once and it will work on iOS, Android, and the web. In this part, we'll compare React Native with Swift's cross-platform development capability.
The Jest framework can be used to test React Native apps. You may develop automated tests for your app with Jest that check certain circumstances and behaviours. React Native Testing Library and Test Renderer are two other libraries that may be used to test React Native apps.
The XCTest framework in Swift also allows for automated testing. Xcode includes the framework. As a result, it's more user-friendly. XCTest can be used to test small portions of a programme. It also allows for user interface testing.
In conclusion, React Native is easier to use and offers cross-platform support across all five comparison vectors; Swift, on the other hand, is faster. Furthermore, both React Native and Swift are simple to test and have a user-friendly syntax.
However, which one is better for your app project is determined by the app's requirements and features. Swift is the better choice if you're developing an app that relies on constant contact with native APIs. React Native is a good option if your programme doesn't rely on native APIs and your main goal is to reach more users.
