What is React Native?
Why Interviewers Ask This
This question tests conceptual clarity. Interviewers want to hear a precise, confident definition before moving to more complex React Native topics. It also reveals how well you can explain technical ideas to non-experts.
Answer
React Native is an open-source framework created by Facebook (Meta) in 2015 for building native mobile applications for iOS and Android using JavaScript and React. Unlike hybrid frameworks (Cordova, Ionic) that render web views inside a native shell, React Native compiles JavaScript components to genuinely native UI elements — so the app looks and feels like a real native app. Key characteristics: (1) Write once, run on iOS and Android: share most code between platforms while still accessing platform-specific APIs; (2) Native rendering: React components map to real native views (UIView on iOS, View on Android) — not a WebView; (3) JavaScript bridge / New Architecture: JavaScript runs in a separate JS thread and communicates with native code. The New Architecture (JSI + Fabric + TurboModules) dramatically improves this communication; (4) Hot Reloading / Fast Refresh: see code changes instantly without rebuilding the app; (5) React paradigm: same component model, hooks, and state management as React web. Used by: Meta (Facebook, Instagram), Shopify, Microsoft (Outlook), Walmart, Airbnb (formerly), Discord. React Native vs Flutter: React Native uses JavaScript + native components; Flutter uses Dart + its own rendering engine (Skia/Impeller). React Native has a larger community; Flutter has more consistent cross-platform rendering.
Pro Tip
Demonstrate both theoretical understanding and practical experience. Say what it is, then give an example of how you actually used it in a React Native codebase.