React vs Bootstrap: Which framework to choose for front-end development

Learning Curve

Companies understand the time required for developing a project along with the learning curve of the technologies that have to be used in that project.

It assists developers to be proficient in that particular framework. Let’s see what is the difference between the learning curves of React and Bootstrap.

Developers who are experienced in using JS can easily learn and grasp React concepts. It requires very less time for seasoned developers to understand the architecture and workflow of React.

Bootstrap at the same time gives a developer-friendly framework. A small learning curve is necessary to overcome for developers with CSS and HTML basic experience. Developers can easily learn the Bootstrap components and CSS classes.

App Architecture

It is necessary to not compromise the flexibility feature while picking any development framework. It will help you avoid strict enforcement of guidelines and other things.

The architecture of Bootstrap relies on utilizing two components for developing the view layer and logic layer. The view layer focuses on explicit visual displays, and view controllers focus on the behavior of visual components in the framework.

React library doesn’t have a predetermined in-built architecture, unlike other libraries. Its internal architecture is based on components that perform functions and render the UI as soon as the information changes while non-stop interaction of user action and state of app components.

Performance Comparison

While developing extensive and complex projects, considering performance factors is essential. Hence, let’s have a close look at the comparison factor between React vs Bootstrap based on their performance factor.

The user-centric ease of developing websites and apps makes the Bootstrap framework unique. But, you have to monitor it closely while considering its performance factor. Occasionally, developers try to avoid Bootstrap because of its vast unutilized resources and React component libraries that lead to slow performances. 

On the other hand, the performance factor of React apps is better and faster than Bootstrap. It is because React is a lightweight library and provides UX with each component in a very functional way.

React framework’s component-based structure helps with developing robust SPAs (Single Page Apps) and the code reusability feature avoids clutters and minimizes DOM manipulation. It ultimately improves the speed of page loading.

Easy testing

Before deploying your app or software, it requires you to pass a series of tests to confirm compliance with UI compatibility, standards, and uses to overcome errors under different situations like sudden heavy traffic. Let’s compare both Bootstrap vs React on the basis of testing factors.

As Bootstrap doesn’t have any internal components for performing tests, it essentially requires third-party tools and compatible plugins for testing Bootstrap developed websites or apps. The advantages of using the Bootstrap framework are that it solves cross-browser errors with the use of its reusable coding components that need no repetition.

React has key test runners, because of which the development process becomes easier and more manageable. Here are some well-known test runners- Jest. Mocha, etc., which allows the QA team to search for the bug in a real browser environment.

Security

The compliance and implementation using security controls in an organization are done by different frameworks and technologies. Hence, it’s essential to provide best practices for developing secure software. Here’s how Bootstrap and React are different in terms of the security features that each of them provides.

Security risks are widespread in the field of front-end frameworks. Bootstrap also falls in the loss of threats. Uniquely, Bootstrap is at high risk of XSS susceptibility because of its data-target feature. This issue was reported by developers even in updated versions.

React-based apps are also prone to warnings of SQL injections, XSS vulnerabilities, server-side renders, and much more. Ultimately, it depends on the developers to use the best practice that protects the software or app from security vulnerabilities.

Scalability

React and Bootstrap frameworks have a scalability influence on web app development. So, it is important to pick a proper framework. Here’s the comparison of React vs Bootstrap on the basis of scalability.

React apps are made using JS, and developers can rely on different ways of organizing the code for completing the project scalable. This JS library is an outstanding alternative for developing scalable UIs as per component reusability and virtual DOM.

Meanwhile, Bootstrap framework is a mobile-first framework so one can depend on such a framework for building scalable apps and websites. Using this framework, one can build responsive content for websites that can be upgraded based on the user’s app, browser, and screen.

Application Size

The framework that you will choose will affect the app. If the software is big, then the app size will dominate the scope of the framework. Let’s see which framework between React and Bootstrap is suitable as per the app sizes.

The sizes of supplication in Bootstrap can vary as per the content of the presentation and design. A straightforward and comprehensive app has a minimum footprint on the file size of CSS files and JS.

Meanwhile, React is a library and not a featured framework such as Angular. According to this POV, it makes an app smaller as compared to featured frameworks. But the React developed app sizes are even bigger compared to other apps.

User Experience (UX)

Another important element of selecting the specific framework for your project is the factor of UX. Here’s the comparison of ReactJS vs Bootstrap in the form of the user experience they provide.

React apps provide high-quality UIs along with fast-rendering web pages. This feature makes it a framework that is more likely to be used by developers. Hence, React apps provide smoother third-party integrations and UX.

Meanwhile, Bootstrap aims at making the project more web-responsive and provide a standard and amazing user experience to the users. Additionally, the responsive design offers viewers, users, and developers a spontaneous consistency across various platforms on which that app will be used. 

Code Maintainability

The framework which you select must be easy to adapt and maintain. For any app development, code maintainability refers to the ease provided by the framework to developers for analyzing the code and fixing bugs, and offers real functionality.

ReactJS framework’s architecture is component-based. It will focus on developing the UI components, and custom functions in a UI, and uses optimal logic to develop meaningful functions. Once React is used for development, you will build functional and individual snippets easily. These reusable snippets can be used in other apps too.

Suitability for developing Complex apps

Guidelines, third-party libraries, official documents, plugins, & open-source systems are provided by both React and Bootstrap for supporting developers while they are working on project development. Here’s the comparison of React vs Bootstrap on the basis of developing enterprise apps.

Bootstrap can quickly pass the challenge of developing a complex app as it is one of the most popular CSS/HTML/JS front-end frameworks. This framework also offers various in-built components, templates, themes, etc., that are functional during the project development and as per the project’s requirements.

‍React supports the development of interactive SPAs, and it also supports server-side rendering and external architectures like Redux, SSR, Flux, etc.