Best React frameworks for WordPress development | SSDHOSTERS
To create a stunning front end of a website, you need a premium quality framework. React is the most common front end frame that builds a mind-blowing fast online shop for your clients.
Combine React and REST API with JavaScript Library to build a strong and user-friendly website. Choosing the best framework is a daunting task, but not anymore.
In this article, we have tried to explain to you briefly about the React systems that you can use in your WordPress project. We have also tried to explain the pros and cons of using one react system over the other.
Let’s start reading further:
WordPress REST API
To understand a REST API, you first need to understand both terms.
API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is a set of programming instructions that enable you to access other web-based applications.
REST stands for Representational State Transfer. A REST API is different from a standard API in the sense that to be Restful, an API follows certain guidelines and instructions. These instructions create a uniform User Interface. In simple words, WP REST API is a web application framework.
For building a content-driven solution for your web application, you need the WordPress REST API. You can use Node.js to connect to other RESTful applications.
When a REST API is used for a WordPress project, it will bring in some startling functions including media management and an extensive developer-friendly set of APIs.
WordPress was accustomed to using PHP template files to generate HTML. But when REST API was introduced, there was a house of opportunities opened up for WordPress developers. They can now interact with other web applications and tools smoothly. The web developer can now create, read, update, and delete actions on WP content with a breeze.
With this, WordPress becomes more flexible and lightweight since the web developer can now exchange data without considering what language is used by an external program.
The WordPress REST API separates content from the front end, making it easy for web developers to use WP as a CMS. And React comes here as a solution.
How to build a modern Web App using WordPress with React
React was launched to work with Facebook, but with the ongoing popularity, Netflix, Reddit, and Dropbox also use react frameworks to build various web applications.
Web developers who are working with WordPress love to use React framework for building a modern web app.
The React framework is a JavaScript library that can build user interfaces for Single Page Application. By improving JavaScript library UI, it helps developers to create a headless WordPress.
A headless setup allows you to use the WordPress CMS on the back end. At the same time, you can use any development technology to build the front end of your web app. It means to access data from outside the WP framework, React frameworks use REST API.
React is faster since instead of reloading each page separately. A SPA loads content just once and the significant components of content get re-render only once.
Four important React Frameworks for WP developers
So it’s the main concern of web developers to select a React framework that is right for their required web application. Every framework comes with its features, pros, and cons, making it right for your required WP project.
The four react frameworks are:
- Gatsby.js
Gatsby can help in increasing the page load time 11% faster. It loads necessary HTML, CSS, and JavaScript content for improved performance. In more definite terms, you can say that Gatsby is a static site generator that primarily focuses on your app’s speed.
On the other hand, this react framework has its downside. It does not come up with solutions for displaying dynamic content on your website. So for simpler web applications and projects, Gatsby is a versatile react framework. But for dynamic content display, its performance is still underrated. Every time you will go on updating the content of your website, you are required to generate a build. By using a WordPress plugin, you can generate a build. But this rebuilding process can make your WordPress project more complex.
The beginners would love using this react framework since it provides a site header and a page template for your website’s front end. Working with this framework is easy and time-saving. Use its starter default project and let all the modules of code install automatically.
- Create React App
CRA comes where you don’t want to learn other technologies to create a WordPress Project. The CRA enables your project to run quickly. It requires zero configuration and will set up all the developing tools automatically.
The CRA may not fulfill you to build more complex tasks since it never configures files such as Webpak, Babel, and ESLint. So when you require to configure these files for a task, you are bound to use its eject command function. So it remains a limited react framework.
- Frontity
Frontity is a react framework that is specifically designed to work with WordPress.org and WordPress site itself. So it remains a flawless react framework to build a compelling WordPress website.
A fast and highly interactive framework that avoids SEO discrepancies and stores all content in HTML. Just in 5 steps, you can build a web application by using this framework.
- Next.js
Next.js is an opinionated framework used by expert web developers. It improves your project’s performance and maintains SEO.
This framework is easy-to-use only when you keep on following its instructions, but once you deviate from its defined path, this framework becomes less user-friendly.
Conclusion
Once you have known the react frameworks, you are required to sort out which framework will be appropriate for your WordPress projects.
With the right framework, you can boost your project’s performance.