React
The library for web and native user interfaces
- Vendor
- Meta
- Also known as
- reactjs, react.js
Available worldwide · Popular in: US
What is React?
A JavaScript library for building user interfaces from reusable components. React components are JavaScript functions that can manage state, respond to user interactions, and use JSX markup syntax.
React pricing
We don't have React's full plan breakdown yet (its pricing page resisted automated reading). Here's what we could confirm. Always check live pricing for exact numbers.
What React does
The capabilities that matter for frontend ui frameworks, normalised so it lines up with every alternative. “-” means we haven't confirmed it, not that it's missing.
- Paradigm
- component-based
- Reusable component model
- ✓
- Virtual DOM
- -
- Signals / fine-grained reactivity
- -
- SSR support
- -
- First-class TypeScript
- -
- Built-in state management
- ✓
- Official router
- -
- Runtime size
- -
Platform & deployment
Independently observed- Web
React FAQ
Common questions about React, answered from independent, dated evidence.
What is React?
React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces using a component-based architecture. It uses a declarative programming model, allowing developers to describe what the UI should look like for any given application state. React employs a virtual DOM abstraction to efficiently update only the parts of the interface that have changed.
Is React open source and free to use?
Yes, React is open source software released under the MIT license, permitting free use, modification, and distribution in both commercial and personal projects. There are no licensing fees or cost barriers to using React.
Who maintains React?
React is maintained by Meta (formerly Facebook) along with contributions from the open-source community. Meta created React to solve its own internal UI challenges and later open-sourced it to enable broader adoption and community feedback.
What programming languages and platforms does React support?
React is built on JavaScript and TypeScript, running natively in web browsers. Meta also maintains React Native, a separate framework that allows developers to apply React principles to build native iOS and Android mobile applications using JavaScript.
What are the main alternatives to React?
Popular alternatives include Vue.js (a progressive JavaScript framework), Angular (a comprehensive full-featured framework), Svelte (a compiler-based framework), and Preact (a lightweight React-compatible library). Each offers different trade-offs in learning curve, ecosystem size, and performance characteristics.
How are React applications typically deployed?
React applications can use multiple rendering strategies: client-side rendering (browser handles all rendering), server-side rendering (server generates initial HTML via Node.js), or static site generation (pre-built HTML files). Deployments typically run on web servers, content delivery networks, or serverless computing platforms.
What build tools and libraries are commonly paired with React?
React projects typically use build tools such as Webpack, Vite, or Parcel for bundling and development. Common complementary libraries include React Router for navigation, Redux or Context API for state management, and Jest or React Testing Library for testing.
React alternatives
Other frontend ui frameworks we track, ranked by the same independent score.
- Angularmedium · 52%
- Tailwind CSSRapidly build modern websites without ever leaving your HTMLlow · 31%
- PreactFast 3kB alternative to React with the same modern APIlow · 31%
- Vue.jsThe Progressive JavaScript Frameworkmedium · 54%
- Vue.jsThe Progressive JavaScript Frameworklow · 40%
- MUIThe React component library you always wantedlow · 38%
The Vioscale score: one lens on the evidence
Not user reviews and not a paid placement: a confidence-weighted blend of the independent signals below (adoption, activity, security posture, and more), which you can sort and re-weight yourself. Vendors can correct their listing but can never move their rank, and stars are weighted low as a vanity metric. It is one way to read the evidence for React, not the verdict.
| Signal | Score | Weight | Contribution | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package Downloads | 100 | 26.00 | 2600.0 | ✓ |
| Stackoverflow Activity | 100 | 12.00 | 1200.0 | ✓ |
| Github Activity | 57 | 18.00 | 1023.5 | ✓ |
| Capabilities | 46 | 16.00 | 733.1 | ✓ |
| Release Cadence | 67 | 10.00 | 666.7 | ✓ |
| Price Level | 100 | 6.00 | 600.0 | ✓ |
| Github Stars | 100 | 5.00 | 500.0 | ✓ |
| Reliability | 0 | 8.00 | 0.0 | - |
| Integrations | 0 | 8.00 | 0.0 | - |
| Security Posture | 0 | 13.00 | 0.0 | - |
| Pricing Transparency | 0 | 8.00 | 0.0 | - |
Computed . Re-weight it by intent, or see the full method.
All data & sourcesshow ↓
Every value we hold, with its source, retrieval date, and confidence. This is the evidence behind the score: don't trust it, verify it.
Activity
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Commits last 30d | 63 | mediumsource · 2026-08-01 · 65% |
Adoption
Content
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Faq | [{"answer":"React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces using a component-based architecture. It uses a declarative programming model, allowing developers to describe what the UI should look like for any given application state. React employs a virtual DOM abstraction to efficiently update only the parts of the interface that have changed.","source":"https://github.com/facebook/react","question":"What is React?","confidence":0.95},{"answer":"Yes, React is open source software released under the MIT license, permitting free use, modification, and distribution in both commercial and personal projects. There are no licensing fees or cost barriers to using React.","source":"https://github.com/facebook/react","question":"Is React open source and free to use?","confidence":0.95},{"answer":"React is maintained by Meta (formerly Facebook) along with contributions from the open-source community. Meta created React to solve its own internal UI challenges and later open-sourced it to enable broader adoption and community feedback.","source":"https://github.com/facebook/react","question":"Who maintains React?","confidence":0.94},{"answer":"React is built on JavaScript and TypeScript, running natively in web browsers. Meta also maintains React Native, a separate framework that allows developers to apply React principles to build native iOS and Android mobile applications using JavaScript.","source":"https://github.com/facebook/react","question":"What programming languages and platforms does React support?","confidence":0.95},{"answer":"Popular alternatives include Vue.js (a progressive JavaScript framework), Angular (a comprehensive full-featured framework), Svelte (a compiler-based framework), and Preact (a lightweight React-compatible library). Each offers different trade-offs in learning curve, ecosystem size, and performance characteristics.","source":"https://github.com/facebook/react","question":"What are the main alternatives to React?","confidence":0.93},{"answer":"React applications can use multiple rendering strategies: client-side rendering (browser handles all rendering), server-side rendering (server generates initial HTML via Node.js), or static site generation (pre-built HTML files). Deployments typically run on web servers, content delivery networks, or serverless computing platforms.","source":"https://github.com/facebook/react","question":"How are React applications typically deployed?","confidence":0.94},{"answer":"React projects typically use build tools such as Webpack, Vite, or Parcel for bundling and development. Common complementary libraries include React Router for navigation, Redux or Context API for state management, and Jest or React Testing Library for testing.","source":"https://github.com/facebook/react","question":"What build tools and libraries are commonly paired with React?","confidence":0.93}] | highsource · 2026-07-30 · 94% |
Features
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Capabilities | {"paradigm":"component-based","component_model":true,"state_management":true} | mediumsource · 2026-08-01 · 60% |
Language
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | JavaScript | highsource · 2026-08-01 · 90% |
License
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Spdx | MIT | highsource · 2026-08-01 · 99% |
Market
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | {"source":"https://react.dev","hqCountry":"US","confidence":0.95,"primaryMarkets":["US"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]} | highsource · 2026-07-30 · 95% |
Pricing
Release
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cadence days | 60 | mediumsource · 2026-07-30 · 70% |