It is important to understand as a developer how to transfer data from a React Native application to other applications. After all, it is how third-party integrations will receive any information through the React Native app. 

React Native linking allows the developer to perform such an action on both iOS and Android Platforms. This is just one of the many things that linking in React Native permits the user to do.

There are quite a few more advantages, linking can contribute. We will try to decipher these benefits later on in this article. 

Let us first understand the importance of React Native Linking and its impact on iOS and Android platforms.

Importance of Linking Libraries for Cross-Platform Development

Libraries are nothing but existing code snippets and modules that help developers in various projects. They can be used across multiple projects and streamline and enhance the app development process. 

Designing the structure and code for a cross-platform app is done easily on React Native. 

However, you need to link libraries to add the platform-specific features on which the app is used. 

So for the most part React Native might do the job but the niche functionalities and features of the platform can only be accessed through native app development.

Linking Libraries helps the React Native bridge for both iOS and Android languages and leveraging the features of each platform. 

Without linking them, the app would lose features like third-party SDK integration, device sensors, or platform-specific UI components

Understanding Linking in React Native 

Before we can implement React Native, let us understand the roots of React Native and how linking sits with it. 

As mentioned above, React Native linking helps in linking libraries with the app on the specific platform and allows native components to be integrated into the program as well. 

However, there is much more to the story than just this. A few other actions that React Native is capable of doing are:

• Open other apps from your React Native app.
• Sharing content with other apps. 
• Receiving data from other apps. 
• Maintaining deep links in the React Native app.

See, the framework is a Jack of all trades! It can do more than just be a bridge connecting third-party apps with the React Native app.

Now that we understand what React Native is and can do, let us understand how it integrates with iOS and Android.

iOS Linking Mechanism

If you were ever transferred to another screen without manually going through the app browser by clicking on the link, you too have been a victim of universal linking in the iOS. 

Users are redirected to the specific website after clicking on the link in the mobile app without going through the main screen.  

Some other examples include opening a promotional link from a brand to redirect to a product page, sharing the YouTube/Amazon link with a friend, etc. 

In such cases universal linking steps up to the action where web linking is unable to with native mobile apps.

Android Linking Mechanism

Universal Linking is termed Deep Linking when it comes to Android. With no stark difference to iOS, linking in Android is solely used for app user retention, marketing campaigns, and other things. 

Installing an app of a shop and clicking on a link given would take you to the product’s screen where you can navigate it. 

For the ones curious about how it works- Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) or Custom URLs connect the web apps with the actions in the app. 

Adding deep linking in the apps enhances the user experience by facilitating easy access to desirable content, increasing engagement, and endorsing smooth transitions between native and web app environments.

Creating a Development Environment

Speaking of platforms, are the processes any different in building an app for iOS as it is from an Android? Let us understand how different these approaches are:

For iOS

React Native apps come in all forms and shapes. They can be built with multiple approaches. Building an app in the iOS platform through the React Native framework can be done efficiently.

All you have to do is follow the React Native CLI approach and you will be set on the path of creating a well-functioning app. 

Dependencies

• React Native CLI- React Native CLI is a type of dependency that is one of the many approaches to start building an app in iOS. It provides high flexibility and control in setting up your project and its configuration.

• Cocoapods- If you have Xcode pre-installed you can run the project on Xcode Command Line Tools and dependency manager Cocoapods.This dependency manages the app’s library as your projects are saved in a Podfile which is a text file.

For Android

Similar to iOS, there is not a single way to build an Android app from React Native. There are various ways of getting there. 

One of the best environments to build an Android app using the React Native framework is through Android Studio.  

Android Studio is the official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app development. ReactJS development company provides multiple features that enhance the developers’ productivity. Some of these features include:

• A feature-rich app emulator that helps in testing different apps.
• It provides a wide range of testing tools.
• It has a flexible gradle-based build system.
• It supports C++ and NDK.
• It can implement changes in the resource code of the app without restarting the app.

Linking Libraries for iOS

A major credit for linking libraries goes to the native modules involved in React Native. 

What might these native modules be, you ask?

These native modules allow your React Native app to communicate with the native environment of the device. 

It is a set of code written in the native language of the platform like Objective-C and Swift for iOS. They are used when the required functionality is not available in React APIs or libraries. 

Using React Native Link For iOS

There are two different ways in which you can link libraries on React Native for iOS, Manual Linking and automatic linking with Cocoapods.

• Manual Linking- As the name suggests, you can manually configure your iOS project to add the required libraries into the app. You need to follow the guidelines of the library’s documentation to add the files and configurations to your Xcode project.

• Automatic Linking with Cocoapods- This dependency facilitates the integration of third-party libraries. With React Native, you can skip the manual steps and automatically link your Cocoapods libraries to your Xcode project. 

Linking Libraries for Android

Certainly not much different from iOS, Android goes through a similar rite of passage as native module integration done in iOS. 

It means you can achieve similar behavior on different platforms by switching things up a little. 

In iOS you can call the native module without a parameter while Android demands adding a parameter to the module. It’s that simple!

The two different approaches you can use in calling native module for Android in React Native are:

• Manual Configuration- Similar to iOS, you can freely adjust your Android project according to the required libraries. The library documentation will guide you to add the necessary files and configurations to your Android project just like in iOS. 

• Automatic Linking with Gradle- Gradle is a build automation tool for Android projects. Implementing the Gradle dependencies into your project remains the same as Cocoapods in iOS. It facilitates automatic linking of the library and reduces manually linking them into the project. 

Handling Platform-Specific Code

The thought of writing and managing code for two separate platforms can be overwhelming at first, but doing it is much simpler. 

If you can understand and identify the differences between the two platforms, you are set to deliver a successful product.

Since both iOS and Android are separate platforms, they will require separate lines of code. 

To execute the command successfully, you need to execute the code based on the specific APIs, design patterns, and frameworks. 

iOS requires features like push notifications, in-app purchases, and Apple Pay to be implemented. Android needs feature implementation like Google Maps integration, Firebase Analytics, or Google Sign-In. 

Utilizing Platform Modules for Better Functionality

You can improve the overall performance of your app with the help of native modules. 

This is because some operations and computations are better handled through native code due to low optimization levels and direct device resource access. 

Troubleshooting and Debugging

Getting to know the enemy is always better than not knowing it. This is why below are a few common issues mentioned that can help the developer take precautionary measures to avoid them. 

Troubleshooting and debugging come in as a developer’s guardian angel that protects their code from malfunctioning due to bugs and issues.

Common Linking Issues

• Import error- This error occurs when default and named imports get mixed up. It implies that the error is caused by a component that is imported into the app. Due to the mixing of imports, we are unable to tell which imports were imported improperly. 

• Auto Linking error- Using an old React Native library and expecting to not get an auto linking issue is sort of asinine. The old library might not support the auto-linking feature which is why make sure to use an updated version of it.

• Unrecognized Font Family Error- Such an error occurs when you try to add a custom font to a React Native project.

Debugging Linking Failures

Component Lifecycle Errors are issues that occur during the lifecycle of the React Native components. 

Using React Native debugging tools like the React Developer Tools extension for Chrome for debugging purposes can help you solve Component Lifecycle errors. 

These tools help in offering insights into the lifecycle events and the component’s state which in return, facilitates troubleshooting React Native errors. 

Best Strategies for React Native Linking

Since linking is part and parcel of an app’s success through the development phases, only the best practices must be in motion to make the linking process go smoothly. Some of these strategies include:

Updating Dependencies

• Make sure to use version control all the time. 
• Keep your code committed and make sure no changes are made to it.
• Develop a feature branch for the integration and see if it works. 
• Examine your code thoroughly for any stability and integration issues.
• Conduct the changes and connect the feature branch.

Verify Compatibility with React Native Versions

While working on an app through React Native, it is important to verify its compatibility with different React Native versions. Below are a few common approaches to checking the React Native version compatibility:

• Using info option
• Checking package.json file
• Using the CLI

Conclusion

It can be a superpower to understand how linking in React Native works. With the right resources and knowledge, issues regarding linking can be resolved in an instant. 

This article provides a budding developer with the opportunity to seize that superpower. Since linking in React Native is quite important, the information given above will be no less than a super pill!

Make sure you utilize this power to develop your app in the best way possible and find other information and knowledge as a learning developer. 

React Native can deliver you an app with much convenience and ease if you understand how and when to use it right. So make sure that you build a successful app using the right linking strategies for both iOS and Android.

Frequently Asked Question

1. Why is React Native Linkage important for Android and iOS?

You can integrate libraries and modules for both Android and iOS platforms. It also helps in leveraging platform-specific functionalities, improving the app’s capabilities, and having a consistent user experience across multiple devices.

2. How to handle platforms-specific code in React Native?

Make sure to identify platform differences, use platform modules for enhanced functionality, and write platform-specific code blocks. This is how easy it is to tackle platform-specific code in React Native.

3. Can third-party libraries be integrated with React Native linkage?

Yes, React Native permits third-party libraries to improve the app’s functionality. However, the right React Native version to be compatible and follow documentation guidelines for accurate integration.

4. What are a few issues encountered while React Native linking?

Some of the React Native linkage issues include:

• Dependency conflicts
• Compatibility issues with React Native versions
• Gradle or Cocoapods integration errors. 

Some debugging testing tools and testing on real devices can help in the elimination of issues in these devices.

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Picture this: Instagram, Facebook, and even Uber – all running seamlessly on your smartphone. But here’s the kicker: what if I told you that beneath the sleek interfaces and impressive functionalities lies a single technology driving them all? 

Drumroll, please. Enter React Native – the framework that is responsible for building thousands of seamless mobile apps.

Companies alluding to a popular user base to ones that barely survive in the market, all consider building mobile apps on React Native. 

This is because it provides developers with a powerful toolkit to craft cross-platform that function efficiently on all devices and platforms.

Which is why it has become an integral part of the world of app development. 

This article will help you understand React Native which is responsible for shaping apps like Uber, Facebook, and Instagram. 

The Importance of Choosing the Right Framework

Picking the right framework can get quite tiresome and toiling for an app developer. 

If you want to build an application that scales well, is efficient, and is easy to maintain, picking the right framework becomes crucial.

Being hasty and impulsive in picking a mobile app development framework can lead to the downfall of your app in the long run.

Hitting a brick wall while developing your dream app down the road due to a sloppy choice of picking the wrong framework sounds mortifying. 

Which is why React Native has become the ideal option for a majority of developers around the world.

According to Statista, 8.43% of developers around the world prefer React Native to other frameworks. So it is safe to say that this technology is in vogue and much demand.

Understanding React Native

React Native helps you natively build cross-platform apps that can be utilized on multiple platforms such as iOS and Android. With the help of the same codebase, you can build different apps for different platforms.

Since it is written in JavaScript and renowned as a ‘hybrid’ framework, its constitution makes it platform-independent.  This is what differentiates it from the other traditional apps written in languages like Java or Kotlin.

Another factor that contributes to its cause is React- a JavaScript library based on which it is built. 

Benefits of React Native

So you might be wondering, “How does any of this benefit the developer?”

To answer that question in regards to React Native and its impact on your mobile app, the following reasons should suffice:

Code Reusability

A single codebase that can be reused over and over is a dream come true for many developers around the world. This implies that apps can be run on multiple platforms.

This becomes a lucrative asset for many CEOs and companies as they can integrate 90% of the reusable code on both Android and iOS platforms. 

Another benefit of code reusability is that it can be used for both web and mobile application development if they are both made with React Native. 

It also reduces the development time due to the availability of pre-developed components that can be accessed from the open-source library.

Big Developers’ Community

The open-source JavaScript platform brings a large community of developers who share their knowledge about the framework’s development which is accessible to everyone. 

The community helps anyone who is at an impasse when it comes to app development. As a result, ‘the more the merrier’.

This not only brings the community together but also positively impacts the skills of the troubled developer. 

Cost-effective

The cost efficiency of React Native is also responsible for its popularity around the world. This is because developers can reuse the same code for both Android and iOS.

Hence, hiring two separate teams for two specific projects stops being the case. Apps built in React Native cost way cheaper than those built on a non-cross-platform app development framework. 

Simple UI

React Native uses React JavaScript to create the app’s interface making it more interactive with a quicker response and loading time. This enhances the user experience. 

The component-based approach and the reactive UI in React Native provide the blueprint for both simple and complex designs to build apps. 

Key Features of React Native

React Native is like the mother who takes care of both her family and her work. 

In other words, it multi-tasks a lot of things at once with simplicity and convenience. 

Here are a few features that help it develop apps with ease:

Hot Reloading

While making changes to the code, this feature allows developers to view the immediate results of it without restarting the app. 

How convenient is that!

Not just that, it also allows room for quicker feedback, increased productivity, and enhanced code iteration. 

Cross-Platforming

This feature is the essence of React Native. It’s what makes React Native so likable amongst the developers’ community.

Cross-platform development allows a single codebase to be run on different platforms and devices like iOS and Android. 

The need to program separate codebases for multiple platforms is no longer required which enhances the development speed and curtails time. 

Native Performance

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a cross-platform framework offered native-like performance? React Native offers just that. 

The native components of React perform similarly to the native-built apps which brings out the native performance in the app. 

This is because the framework can interact with native modules, ensuring quick response time and smooth animation. 

Declarative Syntax

Do not be intimidated by the sound of this word since it allows the developers to reuse and maintain the code easily. 

Such an approach gives a general view to the developer of how the UI would look based on the current phase of its development and not the finished product.

It facilitates the development process and improves the code readability.

Reusable Components

This might be way down this list but is one of the best React Native features that allows the advent of cross-platform development.

This feature allows developers to build scalable and modular applications. Components are sometimes used in different parts of the app or projects entirely. 

It also allows streamlined development and consistent design and functionality. 

Successful Case Studies of React Native Apps

React Native has also walked the talk in many case studies around the world. Some of the most famous brands and companies utilize React Native.

Let us shine some light on their success stories and what makes them different from the rest of the crop:

1. Facebook

Facebook created React Native as it was the first app that came out of this framework. It remains one of the biggest names in the social media industry with a turnover of more than 134.9 billion USD. 

Don’t worry Meta owners, all is not lost!

React Native’s quick iteration and reusable code were quite lucrative in this case which is why Facebook now used it to revamp the app and make it operable in different platforms. 

Hence, it came to mobile too. The results were earthshaking since the app became two times faster. 

2. Facebook Ads

This was the first ever fully developed cross-platform app organized by Facebook with React Native. It oversees multiple ad formats, currencies, and time zones. 

Every minute, thousands of GBs worth of data goes through this app. 

This app also allowed a smooth and seamless, high-quality experience for its users available on both platforms. 

3. Walmart

It is only obvious that Facebook, one of the world’s biggest retail corporations is going to utilize React Native too. 

They enhance their user experience by integrating React Native into their existing app structure. 

They stood ahead of their competition by introducing better and more advanced technologies in their system. 

React Native allowed Walmart to share the same codebase with apps of both platforms. This enhanced both performance and experiences in a short duration.

4. Bloomberg

Bloomberg is considered a giant in the finance and business world. React Native helped them build apps for both platforms. 

The new app was a pioneer in an interactive experience acquiring personalized content across the Bloomberg media. 

The developers in Bloomberg developed the entire app within 5 months. This was due to React Native and its efficiency in app development. Bloomberg today is thriving better than any other financial agency in the world.

5. Instagram

What can we say about this one that has not already been said? One of the biggest names in the social media industry, Instagram owes a lot of its success to React Native. 

It added React Native to its existing native app to let the developers deliver the app quicker than expected. This increased the performance and user experience of the app. 

Read: Why Top Brands Prefer React Native for Hybrid App Development

Future Trends of React Native

Does the future look bright for React Native and its community? 

It does! The following trends will highlight the future of this technology:

Integration with Advanced Technologies

React Native is set to one day seamlessly function with advanced technologies like AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

Such technologies help in developing better and more immersive ways providing enhanced user experiences. 

Fabric

No, it’s not the wear-to-work kind of fabric but rather something new that React Native is coming up with. 

It is a rendering system used to recreate the rendering layer of React Native. It will make the framework more responsive and will blend with the hybrid JavaScript-based infrastructure.

Some of the important changes that Fabric will bring to the framework are:

• New Threading Model- Developers can call all at once into JavaScript on any thread instead of working the UI/UX update on three different threads.

• Async Rendering- This will allow React Native to utilize async rendering abilities. 

• Simplified Bridge- A new and sophisticated path will allow React Native to improve direct calling between itself and JavaScript.

Going Serverless

It is highly rumored that in 2024, many React Native developers will adopt the serverless approach to app development. 

This is because maintaining complex server management and coding at the same time is cumbersome.

Additionally, Azure Functions and AWS Lambda facilitate coding and make it cost-efficient at the same time. This would result in highly scalable applications that work seamlessly. 

Suspenseful Data Fetching

The app performance can take a hit while fetching data. React Suspense eliminates this quandary. It helps load apps smoothly. 

With this feature in React Native, the speed and performance of the apps built in this framework may be enhanced. 

Expanded Compatibility

Wearable devices like smartwatches, robust support for VR, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are rapidly overtaking the world of technology.

People are demanding more apps to be built for these devices which is why the future of React Native looks brighter than ever.   

Developers are keen on providing wearable apps utilizing the React Native framework to such third-party devices. 

Hence, this framework is in great demand in the world as it is going to be one of the reasons for the next technological advancements of the world. 

Conclusion

It is undeniable that React Native is one of the most famous and impactful cross-platform frameworks in the world. Now that you understand its power, make sure to always consider the requirements of your app before building one.

Implementing React Native for the sake of its popularity is a novice mistake. 

Evidence shows that if used correctly, React Native can create apps that can revolutionize and change the world for the better (Facebook, Instagram, and Walmart).

This implies that your business can turn into something big and powerful if the framework is used correctly. 

So make sure to understand its pros and cons and accordingly consider it in your business strategy. 

Frequently Asked Question

1. Is React Native the right choice for building all kinds of mobile applications?

React Native can build the majority of social media apps, e-commerce platforms, and productivity tools. It is one of the best technologies that require building apps for multiple platforms. However, it cannot handle complex UI interactions and custom UI designs. These require native development.

2.  How is React Native and native app development different?

You can develop apps using separate codebases for specific platforms like Java and Kotlin for Android and Swift for iOS. React Native on the other hand, utilizes a single codebase for multiple platforms. 

3. Can existing code be integrated with React Native?

Yes, existing code can be integrated seamlessly with React Native in their applications. This capability is quite useful in migrating existing apps to React Native or when specific functionalities are better executed using native code. 

4. Can React Native be used for large-scale applications?

Apps like Airbnb, Facebook, and Instagram have already been built using the React Native framework. Hence it is safe to say that it can certainly be used for building large-scale apps. All it requires is the right architecture, best practices, and optimization to build a large-scale application. 

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