React vs Svelte: Which Framework is Best for Your Next Project?
React and Svelte are some of the most commonly used frontend frameworks, so which one would be the right one for your next web based project? Well I'm here to make an informed choice on which one suits your project best, this article will showcase each of the frameworks, their "An overview, Differences between each frameworks, Similarities of each frameworks".
By being in the technology space we are used to having many options to choose from and the web development space is no different, In the framework technology department we have many to make a choice from, to help us build the best project we can.
But picking a framework of choice has to more to do with the project needs than the person developing it since the most used frontend frameworks are all Javascript based, the developer can easily pick up and learn any framework.
React vs Svelte: An Overview
Before looking at which frontend framework is better we should take a look at what each of the frameworks have to offer on their own and what they do.
Here are the basics of each:
What is React?
React is the world most popular frontend framework, actually it is a UI library developed by Meta in 2011 to help aid the development of robust web applications, built to rival the pre existing Angularjs and jQuery. Reactjs has a big community of developers and contributors on GitHub. According to the Stack Overflow 2023 survey react is the most popular framework among developers.
Benefits of React
There are several advantages of using react, here are a few;
Virtual DOM: React uses a virtual DOM to efficiently update the real DOM. This means that React only updates the parts of the DOM that have actually changed, which can significantly improve performance instead of having the whole DOM update and be re-rendered when a change is made.
Fast Rendering: An added benefit of the virtual DOM is that it allows for elements to be rendered faster.
JSX: React uses JSX, which is an extension for JavaScript that allows you to have HTML code coupled with Javascript. This can make it easier to write code for UIs.\
Component-based architecture: React applications are best built from reusable pieces of code known as components, which makes code more organized, easier to maintain and easier to read and troubleshoot. Components can be easily nested within each other to create more complex UIs.
SEO-friendly: Reactjs has been successful in breaking the conception that JavaScript frameworks are usually not SEO-friendly.
Limitations of React
As good as react is it also has it's limitations, here are a few;
Steep learning curve: Compared to simpler libraries, React has a steeper learning curve. Understanding concepts like the virtual DOM, JSX, and component thinking can take time for new developers.
Rapid development pace: React's fast development can be a double-edged sword. While it brings new features, keeping up with constant updates and documentation changes can be challenging for some developers to keep up with and adapt to the changing landscape.
What is Svelte?
Svelte is a shiny relatively new framework mainly used for it's performance, Developed in 2016 by Rich Harris, Svelte is an open-source front-end compiler. Svelte compiles HTML templates to create unique code that manipulates the Document Object Model directly, this would reduce the size of files that would be exchanged with the DOM thereby making it more performant that frameworks that use a virtual DOM "which svelte avoids".
Major companies such as Yahoo, Rakuten, Apple, The New York Times, Spotify, etc. all use svelte because it converts the application’s code to ideal JavaScript while coding. Which reduces the impact of framework abstraction on the performance of the web app
Benefits of Svelte
Here are some advantages to using Svelte;
High Performance: Svelte takes a unique approach. It compiles your code during development, removing unnecessary parts. This leads to smaller app sizes and blazing-fast load times, which becomes beneficial when it comes to retaining users.
Improved Developer Experience: Svelte boasts a simpler learning curve compared to React, especially for those with basic JavaScript knowledge. Its focus on clean syntax and reduced runtime complexity makes development smoother.
Smaller Bundle Sizes: Svelte's compile-time approach results in smaller application bundles. This translates to faster load times and a smoother user experience, especially on mobile devices with limited bandwidth.
Limitations of Svelte
Let's take a look at what svelte isn't so good at;
Emerging Ecosystem: While Svelte is rapidly growing, its ecosystem of third-party libraries and tools is still smaller compared to established frameworks like React. This means you might have fewer pre-built components or solutions to choose from.
Limited TypeScript Support: While Svelte itself is written in TypeScript, it doesn't natively support writing components in TypeScript. This makes it really complex to setup TypeScript and all the added benefits it brings
Component Inheritance Limitations: Unlike React where you can extend existing components, Svelte promotes composition over inheritance. This can require a different approach to structuring complex components and additional learning curve for developers moving from frameworks similar to react.
React vs Svelte: Their Similarities
React and Svelte, both prominent JavaScript frameworks, have taken the web development world by storm. While they each offer distinct approaches to building user interfaces, they share some fundamental similarities that make them attractive options for developers. Let's delve into these key shared characteristics:
1. Component-Based Architecture:
Both React and Svelte champion a component-based architecture. Applications are meticulously constructed by assembling reusable components, fostering modularity, maintainability, and code organization.
Components encapsulate UI logic and data, promoting the separation of concerns and simplifying complex UI structures. This allows developers to build intricate interfaces by composing smaller, well-defined components.
Both frameworks utilize similar component structures, typically defined in separate files with a dedicated template (JSX in React, HTML in Svelte) and JavaScript code handling functionality.
2. Declarative Style:
A core principle shared by React and Svelte is the declarative style of programming. Developers describe the desired state of the UI rather than dictating how to achieve it step-by-step.
This approach focuses on what the UI should look like based on the underlying data, making the code more readable and easier to reason about. Changes to the data automatically trigger UI updates, streamlining development workflow.
3. Data Binding and Reactivity:
React and Svelte excel at keeping the UI in sync with the underlying data.
In React, this is achieved through a combination of state and props. Components manage their internal state, and changes to the state trigger a re-render of the component and its children. Props act as a way to pass data down the component hierarchy.
Svelte employs a reactive system where UI elements are automatically bound to data. Any changes to the data instantly reflect in the UI, eliminating the need for manual DOM manipulation.
React vs Svelte: Their Differences
With all their similarities both react and svelte take distinct approaches to building user interfaces which make each framework unique. Let's explore these key differences to help you pick the right tool for the job:
1. Approach to Updates:
React: Utilizes a virtual DOM, an in-memory representation of the real DOM. When data changes, React compares the virtual DOM with the real DOM and updates only the necessary parts. This can introduce some overhead in complex applications.
Svelte: Employs a compile-time approach. During development, Svelte analyzes your components and precompiles them into highly optimized vanilla JavaScript code that directly updates the DOM. This eliminates the virtual DOM layer, potentially leading to smaller bundle sizes and faster performance.
2. Runtime Complexity:
React: Relies on a JavaScript library at runtime to manage component state and updates to the virtual DOM. This adds to the overall bundle size and can impact performance.
Svelte: Shifts most of the work to compile time. The compiled code is leaner, requiring minimal runtime functionality, potentially leading to faster load times and a smoother user experience.
3. Learning Curve:
React: Has a steeper learning curve due to concepts like the virtual DOM, JSX (a syntax extension for JavaScript), and component lifecycle methods. However, its vast community offers extensive resources and support.
Svelte: Often considered easier to learn, especially for developers with basic JavaScript knowledge. Its focus on clean syntax and a reactive system simplifies development.
4. Component Inheritance:
React: Supports traditional component inheritance, allowing you to extend functionality from existing components. This can be useful for building reusable UI patterns.
Svelte: Promotes component composition over inheritance. Complex components are built by composing smaller, reusable components. This can enforce a more modular design but might require a different approach for some developers
React vs Svelte: Conclusion
The battle between React and Svelte depends on what your project specific requirements are. When deciding on which to pick consider these factors:
Project Complexity: For complex applications, React's mature ecosystem and established tooling might be advantageous.
Performance: Svelte's focus on performance and potential for smaller bundle sizes makes it a compelling choice for mobile-friendly or performance-critical applications.
Team Experience: Existing team knowledge of React can be a factor, but Svelte's easier learning curve can be a plus for onboarding new developers.
Ecosystem Maturity: React's vast ecosystem offers pre-built solutions, while Svelte's core framework promotes self-sufficiency, potentially reducing reliance on external libraries.
Developer Experience: Evaluate the trade-off between React's extensive tooling and Svelte's streamlined development experience.
Ultimately, the best framework depends on your priorities. Do you value a powerful and established solution like React, or a streamlined and performant option like Svelte? By understanding the core principles, technical differences, and factors influencing your project, you can make an informed decision and leverage the strengths of either framework to build exceptional user interfaces.
This write up was for my HNG internship if you would like to join go to https://hng.tech/internship or https://hng.tech/premium