Angular and React are two famous JavaScript toolings for interactive web development purpose. While Angular is a framework, React is just a library.
React (Library)
React is a library which can realize the View component of a Model-View-Controler (MVC) approach. Each front-end site contains a physical Document-Object-Model (DOM), which is virtualized by React to manipulate and interact in a fast manern. It’s based on JavaScript XML (JSX) and HTML.
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| By utilizing a virtual DOM, applications are running very smooth, even though operations are complex due to large amount of data. React is just a library, it can be combined with other libraries and provides hardly any limitations for application development approaches (which can be positive and negative). As React is based on JSX, no particular knowledge must be build up. | On the other siede, React is not a framework and must be used case-sepcific and its usage scenarios defined for projects. In case of project delays, introduction of React might easily become a blocker as it does not provide a solution for every business case. Further libraries must be considered and evaluated by project leads. In case of minor interaction on a website, React cannot shine with its benefits; other libraries might be better utilized. |
Angular (Framwork)
Angular is a framwork to create user interfaces based on the Model-View-Viewmodel model (MVVM), therefore no Controler unit is in place. The Viewmodel replaces the Controler by connecting View and Model components. Interaction is realized by using this Viewmodel to extend HTML by script languages and leveraging script languages for interactions afterwards.
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| By connecting HTML, CSS and JavaScript, known concepts are utilized by Angular. Angular calls and syntax are included within the HTML code of a website, which makes it easy to be used. Angular 2 is written in Typescript, which makes Typescript also the preferred choice for writing Angular code in projects; it proides a wider range of possibility than JavaScript anyways. This has a positive effect on writing compact code. Single-Page-Designes are easily to be realized by avoiding references to external contents. Angulars Double-Bind feature couples view and model and allows data echange without the need for large listener services. This makes applications responive and fast. As Angular is a framework, no other external libraries are required for projects, which makes Angular a good choice to reduce complexity through a wide landscape for libraries. | Angular is a Framework, therefore it has its limits how to implement with it. Even tough tasks an be implemented within different approaches; therefore project teams must define guidelines how to use Angular within a project. Otherwise implementations will not fit a common standard which has a bad impact on the maintainability of developed software. |
License
From a software license perspective, both approaches are a bit tricky. React belongs to Facebook and is licensed under the MIT/X11 license, however Facebook holds the right to change the license anytime. Angular uses the same library but is not at risk like React. The MIT license can be understood as found below:
- Person or company X created Y.
- Y belongs to X, but X is granting you the right to use it and do whatever you want with it.
- X cannot be held accountable for anything that goes downhill with what you do with Y.
