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βš”οΈ React vs Vanilla JS / Angular / Vue

Choosing the right tool is crucial. Here's how React compares to Vanilla JS, Angular, and Vue β€” the most common front-end approaches developers face.


πŸͺΆ React vs Vanilla JavaScript

  • Vanilla JS offers full control, but lacks structure and requires manual DOM manipulation.
  • React introduces reusable components, JSX, and a virtual DOM for faster updates and cleaner logic.
  • React is more scalable, especially for medium to large projects.

🧱 React vs Angular

  • Angular is a full-fledged MVC framework with everything built-in (routing, state, forms, etc.).
  • React is a library focused on the view layer, offering flexibility and a smaller bundle size.
  • Angular uses TypeScript by default. React supports both JS and TS.
  • React has a gentler learning curve and is easier to integrate into existing projects.

🧩 React vs Vue

  • Vue is a progressive framework that’s beginner-friendly and great for small-to-medium apps.
  • React has a larger ecosystem and more enterprise adoption.
  • Vue’s templating syntax is HTML-based, while React uses JSX.
  • Both offer great performance and component-based structure.

πŸ“‹ Comparison Table

Feature React Angular Vue
Type Library Framework Framework
Size (Core) ~42 KB ~500 KB ~33 KB
Learning Curve Medium Steep Easy
Language JSX / JavaScript TypeScript HTML + JS
Use Cases SPAs, Web Apps Enterprise Apps Progressive Sites

All three are capable tools. Your choice depends on project size, team familiarity, and tooling preferences. React gives you flexibility, control, and performance β€” making it a top pick for modern web apps.