React Native is based on the ReactJS framework, it allows to create cross platform mobile applications from a Javascript code base.
React Native is a framework designed by Facebook to accelerate the development of their mobile applications. Applications developed with Native React have the “look and feel” of native applications while retaining the advantages of web development. The applications can be deployed on Android and iOS faster without sacrificing performance and ergonomics.
React Native relies on the React.js Javascript framework that combines simplicity and modularity for developers. Contrary to hybrid technologies based on the concept of WebView, based on HTML and CSS, Native React can develop from native UI components of iOS and Android: the Javascript code invokes native components to be deployed on both platforms. The end result is imperceptible from a native application.
In practice this means that developers work on a single code base. The development of the application is faster.
Who is using React Native? Apart obviously from Facebook apps (Facebook Ads Manager, Facebook Groups), the latest versions of the Instagram, Airbnb and Gyroscope mobile apps have been built with React Native.