Updated June 8, 2023
Difference Between ReactJS and Angular 4
React is a JavaScript library utilized for building the front-end or user interface of an application. It is developed and maintained by Facebook. React is handling the view layer for web application and mobile application. It can be used as a base for the development of single-page or mobile applications. React framework’s feature development, and future improvements can be done via React Fiber, which is a new core algorithm of React framework library for building user interfaces. Angular 4 is a typescript based open-source front-end web application platform led by the Angular team at Google. Angular is a complete re-write from the same team that actually built Angular JS. But Angular is completely different from Angular JS. The architecture of both Angular and Angular JS vastly differ. Angular 4 was released in March 2017, which proves to be a major breakthrough and is the latest Angular team release after Angular 2.
What is React JS?
React JS allows a developer to create reusable UI components. Currently, it can be cited as one of the most popular JavaScript libraries. It has a solid foundation and a large community backing it. One needs to know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript before it begins with React. The majority of the developer utilized React as a ‘view’ in the MVC (Model-View-Controller) framework. React smartly abstract away the DOM (Document Object Model) from the developer, offering a simple programming model and better performance. React can also be rendered on the server-side using Node. Native applications can also be powered using React native. It implements one-way reactive data flow, which heavily reduces the boilerplate code and is easier to gel in the current data flow than traditional data binding. React uses JSX, i.e. JavaScript Syntax Extension; although it is not required to use JSX still, it is recommended for React JS development.
What is Angular 4?
Angular 4 has backward compatibility with Angular 2. That means the project developed in Angular 2 will work without any issues in Angular 4. An angular community has introduced some significant improvement to Angular 4, and thus, the major version number has been changed from 2 to 4, skipping 3. The reason behind that direct jump to version 4 was that the router package was in version 3.x, so instead of putting everything to 3.0 and the router to 4.0, the team chose to upgrade the versions of all the ng – modules to 4.0. There are major changes that have been introduced in Angular 4. TypeScript 2.1 and 2.2 have brought nice features; a new SystemJS plugin has been added, which dynamically converts component-relative path in TemplateURL and StyleURLs to absolute paths for a developer. Angular compiles the templates during the build, generate the JS code; in Just in Time mode, a compilation is done at runtime. Ahead of Time compilation has several advantages, at build time, template correctness is known instead of having to wait till runtime. Also, in Angular 4, segregated animation package from the core as a separate and dedication package. The template tag is now deprecated. Although it still works, one can use an ng-template tag. Angular 4 applications are smaller and faster when compared to Angular 2.
Head To Head Comparison Between ReactJS and Angular 4
Below is the top 8 difference between ReactJS vs Angular 4
Key Difference between ReactJS and Angular 4
Below is the list of points describing the difference between ReactJS vs Angular 4
- ReactJS is a JavaScript library developed by Facebook, whereas Angular 4 is a complete MVC framework developed by Google.
- ReactJS could be easier to learn for those who are already familiar with JavaScript, whereas learning Angular 4, even some familiarity with JavaScript, will still be a bit of a challenge.
- ReactJS is best utilized for dynamic and single page applications since it uses virtual DOM, can quickly react to data changes, whereas Angular 4 is best suited for creating cross-platform mobile apps and progressive enterprise web applications and software.
- ReactJS is a JavaScript library; thus, it is created using JavaScript, whereas Angular 4 is a complete framework, which is created using TypeScript.
- ReactJS uses one-way data binding means any model changes can affect the view, but not vice-versa, whereas Angular 4 uses two-way data binding means any model changes would affect the view and vice versa.
- ReactJS uses virtual DOM, which is a simplified version of DOM, whereas Angular 4 uses a browser’s DOM.
- ReactJS is better in-term of performance for a single page application since virtual DOM render the page quickly, whereas Angular 4 uses a traditional browser’s DOM, making its performance a bit lethargic as compare to ReactJS.
- ReactJS has decent community support behind it, whereas Angular 4 has a strong community support system since it is more utilised than ReactJS.
- ReactJS is completely backwards compatible with previous versions, whereas Angular 4 is also backwards compatible with Angular 2 and beyond, but versions below Angular 2 are not backwards compatible.
- ReactJS is written entirely in JavaScript since it is another JavaScript library, whereas Angular 4 is written using TypeScript, which is a fully-feature MVC framework.
Comparison between ReactJS vs Angular 4
The primary Comparison is discussed below:
| Basis Of Comparison | React JS | Angular 4 |
| Development | Developed by Facebook | Developed by Google |
| Written | Written in JavaScript | Written using TypeScript |
| Type | JavaScript library | Complete framework |
| Learning | The learning curve is minimal since considering the library | The learning curve is steep since it’s a complete framework |
| Community | Sizable community support to React | Strong community support as compare to React |
| Data binding | Allow one-way data binding; model affect view but not vice versa | Allow two-way data binding; model affect the view and vice versa |
| DOM usage | Uses virtual DOM | Uses browser’s DOM |
| Structure | React is just a ‘V’ in MVC | Fully-featured MVC framework |
Conclusion
Both ReactJS vs Angular 4 work on a completely diverse approach to front-end application development. The technologies are both powerful and flexible at the same time, with their own set of merits and demerits. ReactJS is just a view part in the MVC framework, written completely using JavaScript, whereas Angular 4 is more than a view; it is a complete MVC framework, written using TypeScript.
Both provide a robust set of tools for quality, scalable and reactive web-based applications. Those developers, who prefer to code in classical JavaScript, may find ReactJS more favorable than Angular 4. For other developers looking for a mature and sophisticated solution, Angular 4 might be the best choice. While neither is better or worse, it depends on business application goals and system constraints that make the final choice.
Recommended Article
This has been a guide to the top differences between ReactJS vs Angular 4. Here we also discuss the ReactJS vs Angular 4 key differences with infographics and comparison table. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –
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