Despite the fact that new players appear in the world of JavaScript every year, the choice usually comes down to two alternatives. Today, we will look at the most common technologies.
React is a JavaScript library for creating user interfaces, developed and maintained by Facebook. Vue is a progressive front-end framework created by a former Google employee as a lighter alternative to Angular.
Similarities between Vue.js and React
Both platforms have a modular architecture. They consist of components that are independent, reusable pieces of code and provide component lifecycle methods.
Both platforms are compatible with any server-side web application. They allow you to extend functionality with customizable modules and components.
One of the most notable common features is the use of a virtual Document Object Model (DOM). Instead of re-rendering the entire page, the virtual DOM updates only those objects that have changed. This saves time and resources needed to manipulate the model. For example, if you receive new notifications, the virtual DOM will only reload the notification window instead of reloading the entire page.
Differences between Vue.js and React: the difference between a library and a framework
The first difference that comes to mind is that React is a library, while Vue is a framework. But what does that mean in practice? Developers often use these terms interchangeably. Indeed, in both cases, we are dealing with code written by someone to help solve common problems in simpler ways. However, these concepts are not identical due to a feature known as inversion of control.
In the case of a library, you control the order in which the program is executed; you tell the functions where and when you want to call them. This is very similar to how we choose the books we need when we go to a real library and take them from the appropriate shelves.
Outsourcing development to Vue.js
With Vue, the situation is reversed — it calls the functions that you have connected in the designated places. In other words, it is a ready-made framework that you cannot change, and all you have to do is fill in the blanks. The framework says what it needs and then decides behind the scenes when it needs it. This is how program control inversion occurs.
For simplicity, you can remember the metaphor. “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” is a familiar phrase to anyone who has auditioned for a role, also known as the “Hollywood rule.” This phrase surprisingly conveys the idea of dependencies in programming. In this case, the framework is like a strict casting director who decides who is right for the role and calls them himself.
There are frequent debates about whether React is a framework or a library. The technology does not have such strict guidelines and rules as, for example, Angular. If desired, you can even connect React to Angular as a library. But with React on the front end, you can implement anything you want without using other libraries. But if you connect third-party libraries, React starts to dictate its own rules and feels like a framework. Hence the debate.
The difference in approaches is also reflected in the technology ecosystems. React, as a library, is usually used with additional tools such as Next.js, Redux, or the more flexible MobX. Vue, being a framework, offers a more complete ecosystem with Nuxt.js and Vuex. Both technologies work well with TypeScript, GraphQL, and Vite.
In addition to such fundamental differences in approach, individual aspects also vary greatly.
Application architecture
Unlike other libraries and frameworks, React does not have a built-in architectural pattern. It focuses only on the presentation layer in MVC architecture. Therefore, additional libraries will have to be used for other elements of the application. At the same time, React offers a more modular approach to architecture, where components and state exist as separate, independent entities, which provides greater flexibility when designing an application.
Vue is based on MVVM architecture. This allows you to spend less effort on the process of synchronizing the model and the view. The framework implements a more integrated architectural approach, where components and state are closely linked within a single system, which simplifies development but can limit flexibility when creating complex applications.
Data binding
Technologies connect information to displayed objects in different ways.
Vue.js uses two-way data binding. This means that whenever you change any element of the interface, the data model also changes automatically.
In React, this process is one-way. Changes to an interface element will only be displayed after changes to the source code. When user interface elements are changed, the model state remains unchanged. This makes debugging easier, which is very important when developing larger projects.
JSX and templates
Vue.js templates allow developers to bind data to the DOM. The framework compiles the template into Virtual DOM rendering functions. It can determine the minimum number of components to re-render, minimizing DOM manipulation when data changes.
Templates are used in HTML, which is easier for developers to read and write. This is especially true for those who already have experience working with HTML. That is why Vue is popular among backend developers.
React uses the JSX syntax extension. With its help, developers describe how the user interface (UI) should look. JSX offers a huge advantage, as it combines JS logic and markup in a single file. It also allows for more useful error messages and warnings to be displayed. However, the use of JSX is optional.
SSR
Server-side rendering ensures good indexing of websites by search engines and can improve the user experience. Vue contains built-in functions and detailed documentation on how to use these features. In the case of React, a third-party framework called Next needs to be connected for these purposes.