facebook/react-native
React Native
This project is a cross-platform mobile framework that enables the development of native iOS and Android applications from a single codebase. It utilizes a declarative component-based model where developers define user interfaces using a syntax extension that maps directly to underlying platform-native view primitives. By decoupling application logic from the host platform's main thread, the framework maintains a consistent native view hierarchy while ensuring that JavaScript execution remains independent of UI rendering.
The framework distinguishes itself through a robust bridge architecture that serializes updates and events over a message bus, facilitating two-way communication between the JavaScript runtime and native host components. It includes a specialized build-time toolchain that generates type-safe glue code, allowing for the seamless integration of custom native modules. Developers can further refine platform-specific behavior by utilizing file-extension-based resolution, which automatically selects the appropriate implementation for the target operating system during the build process.
Beyond its core rendering capabilities, the project provides a comprehensive suite of tools for managing application state, styling layouts, and optimizing performance for large datasets through virtualized list rendering. It supports deep integration with native mobile features, including hardware-level APIs and accessibility services, ensuring that applications can adapt to system-level preferences and assistive technologies. The framework also includes built-in developer utilities for real-time performance monitoring, debugging, and testing across the entire application lifecycle.