React.js vs Vue.js: Which is The Best Framework

A Comprehensive Comparison of Vue.js and React.js for Web Development

Introduction In the fast-paced world of web development, creating high-quality web solutions within tight deadlines is a common challenge. At NITSAN, we understand the need for efficiency and effectiveness. Vue.js and ReactJS stand out as two of the most rapidly evolving tools for front-end development. While both these JavaScript frameworks can help you build top-notch applications, they have their unique strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we will delve into a detailed comparison of Vue.js and React.js, considering various aspects, from general information to technical features.

1. Understanding React.js: A Closer Look

React.js is an open-source JavaScript library designed for building web applications with rich user interfaces. It offers developers the flexibility to create reusable custom components, enabling swift development processes. React.js excels in quick rendering, making it more SEO-friendly, and it’s a preferred choice for both lightweight and complex business applications.

Market Usage Statistics for React.js:

• React.js is used by 60 percent of developers, as per the 2018 State of Developer Ecosystem survey.
• It’s the most loved framework by almost 74 percent of developers, as per Stack Overflow’s 2019 survey.
• React.js is among the topmost wanted frameworks, with 21.5 percent of developers expressing interest.
• The framework boasts over 150k GitHub stars, a testament to its continuously progressive community.

Pros of React.js:

1. Easier Learning Curve: React.js is considered easy to learn, especially for newcomers, requiring only basic knowledge of HTML and CSS.
2. Simplicity: With a well-defined lifecycle and a component-based approach, React.js is relatively simple. It utilizes JSX, a unique syntax that combines JavaScript and HTML.
3. Code Reusability: Developers can efficiently reuse code components across different project levels.
4. One-Way Data Flow: React.js ensures that data flows in a single direction, from parent to child. This approach simplifies making rapid changes without affecting larger data structures.
5. SEO-Friendly: Contrary to the belief that JavaScript frameworks are not SEO-friendly, React.js works on the server side, rendering the Virtual DOM as a standard web page.

Companies Using React.js:

• Google
• Apple
• Nintendo
• Behance
• Trivago
• Gitlab
• And many more.

2. Vue.js in Focus: An Overview

Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework that allows developers to build user interfaces. Unlike monolithic frameworks, Vue is incrementally adaptable, making it highly versatile. It primarily focuses on the View layer but seamlessly integrates with other libraries and existing projects.

Market Usage Statistics for Vue.js:

• There are over 1,523,449 successful websites worldwide using Vue.
• 88.9% of these websites prefer Vue v2, capturing up to 0.5% of the market share.
• Vue’s community boasts approximately 174k members, with 26.7k forked projects.

Pros of Vue.js:

1. Efficient Web Pages: Vue.js enhances web page efficiency by updating the user interface, eliminating the need to reload entire web pages.
2. Better User Experience: Vue.js organizes code for future optimization, resulting in increased code readability and a smoother user experience.
3. Component Reusability: Separating logic and controls facilitates the creation of reusable components, streamlining application development.
4. High Performance: Vue.js uses a virtual structure to update data, leading to faster response times and a smooth client-side experience.
5. Large Community: Vue.js has a growing global community that appreciates its maximum reusability of components.

Companies Using Vue.js:

• Behance
• Gitlab
• Trivago
• Statista
• 9GAG
• And more.

3. React.js vs. Vue.js – A General Comparison

In this section, we will provide a comprehensive comparison of React.js and Vue.js, considering various aspects.

Criteria	React.js	Vue.js
Definition	JavaScript library	JavaScript framework
Creator	Facebook/Jordan Walke	Evan Vue
First Release	2013	2014
Website	react.dev	vuejs.org
Github Stars	174,200 stars on Github	187,800 stars on Github
Virtual DOM	Yes	Yes
Open Source	Yes	Yes
Syntax	JSX	HTML (default), JSX
Key Features	Widespread usage	Elegant programming style
	Rich packaging ecosystem	Easy learning curve
	Elegant programming style	Detailed documentation
	Easy learning curve

4. React.js vs. Vue.js – The Performance Comparison

Here, we compare React.js and Vue.js based on performance-related factors.

Criteria	React.js	Vue.js
Community	331,000 questions on StackOverflow	83,400 questions on StackOverflow
Tooling	Third-party CLI – create-react-app	Official Vue-CLI
Flexibility	React does not provide built-in	Vue offers state management (Vuex),
	state management or official router.	Vue Router, and Vue Server-Side
		Renderer.
Mobile Development	React Native (native components	NativeScript, using HTML/CSS/
	with bindings in JS).	JavaScript.
Performance	Good	Good
State Management	Redux	Vuex
Storage Data	More convenient syntax, but	Storage available in each component,
Reception	fewer details skipped down,	with minimal prop passing.
	limited use of selector function.
Development Speed &	Depends on the specific task.	Depends on the specific task.
Cost

5. When to Choose React.js or Vue.js?

React.js and Vue.js can be implemented for various web development needs. To help you make the right choice, consider the following factors:

When to Choose	React.js	Vue.js
Like Flexibility	Yes	Yes
Large Ecosystem	Yes
JavaScript Focus	Yes
Clean Code	Yes	Yes
Learning Curve		Yes
Lightweight		Yes
Division of	Yes	Yes
Responsibility
Application	Yes	Yes
Access to	Yes	Yes
Developer
Community
Designer-Friendly	Yes

Conclusion

In summary, React.js enjoys strong corporate support, popularity among developers, and an active community. It excels in scalability and is preferred for complex, enterprise-level applications. On the other hand, Vue.js, while not as widely adopted, is steadily gaining popularity. It owes its growth to excellent documentation, ease of use, and flexible capabilities. Vue.js also offers comprehensive built-in tools and solutions. In terms of development speed, with Vue CLI 4, you can set up a fully developed product in as little as a few weeks. Both React.js and Vue.js are excellent frameworks for modern web applications, each with its own advantages and drawbacks, depending on the specific application and use case. The choice between React.js and Vue.js ultimately depends on your project’s requirements and your development team’s familiarity with the respective framework.