Before we begin, let’s take a look at some compelling facts:
- As of 2021, over 411,291 websites are powered by Ruby on Rails.
- Around 3.0% of all websites in the world use React.
- React was voted as the second most used web framework in 2022.
Together, React with Rails is one of the most popular and widely used combinations for building modern web apps.
React is a JavaScript-based library that helps you create dynamic and interactive user interfaces. Ruby on Rails, also known as Rails, is a web development framework that powers many famous websites and web applications such as Twitter, Shopify, GitHub, Airbnb, and a lot more.
When combined, React with Rails helps you create aesthetically pleasing and highly functional modern web apps with ease.
If you are not convinced, simply take a look at the React on Rails usage statistics:
That is why if you are planning to hire React developer, make sure you test their proficiency in Ruby on Rails as well.
Why Use React with Rails to Build Modern Web Applications?
Your choice of web development frameworks can determine the UI and UX of your web app. So, it is fairly likely that you won’t make such an important decision purely based on user statistics.
After all, just because a large number of people are using a particular framework, it does not mean that framework will be suitable for your development needs.
So, you should first find out why so many developers and development firms prefer this combination. Here are the top reasons for using React with Rails when it comes to building modern web apps.
Fast and Effective Development:
One of the most prominent reasons for using React with Rails is to improve overall site load times and front-end performance. That leads to enhanced user experience and reduced bounce rates. React on Rails also makes it easy to manage changes since everything you need remains in one place.
Using React with Rails also allows you to effortlessly add new features and functionalities to a web app. All you would have to do is add a new API script or endpoint that will run on your server.
With React on Rails, every change you make across the front and back ends will sync perfectly with each other without any additional effort from your side. That means less friction and more productivity, which makes the development process fast and effective.
Improved Performance:
The most vital quality of a modern web app is its performance. If it does not perform well, the users are simply going to reject it. So, performance should always be your priority. And you need a framework that makes it easy for you to achieve that.
A JavaScript framework like React perfectly complements a web application server built on Ruby on Rails. React’s modularity enables it to work in perfect harmony with other platforms and frameworks. It does so while giving every component of your web app full control over how they communicate.
This level of efficiency helps you earn a satisfied and loyal user base. That ultimately gives your web app an edge over your competitors.
Server Request Time Reduced:
The real trick here is to keep the client-side code separate from the server-side code. In traditional MVC frameworks, different types of code are mixed together. The combination of code then runs on two separate devices – the client and the server.
That means the chances of something breaking are high when someone makes changes in one file without remembering to make changes in another. But the good news is that if something breaks, you would be able to repair it on just one side rather than having to fix it on both sides. You would also know exactly where the problem occurred.
Furthermore, React with Rails is known to significantly reduce server request time since JavaScript runs on the browser. That means the server needs to perform less rendering. As a result, request time between the server and the client, as well as the load on the server, is reduced.
This significantly improves your web app’s performance and user experience. Furthermore, reduced load time leads to a high conversion rate, especially for ecommerce websites.
Modularity:
One of the biggest advantages of Ruby with Rails is that it is modular. While it can be frustrating for beginners, seasoned experts can take advantage of this architecture. With React on Rails, you can gain the benefits of two frameworks to make your web app more flexible.
Furthermore, there are no set rules on how these two separate frameworks can work together. That means you can use them in various ways. For instance, when it comes to adding pages to a site, you can use single-page apps in some cases and traditional pages in others.
Easy to Maintain:
The best part of using React with Rails is that it is easier to maintain than other JavaScript frameworks. Developers need to write less code, which means fewer bugs popping up in the app and less time spent on unnecessary components.
React with Rails further simplifies the developer’s work by providing pre-built components such as calendar views, form fields, modals, and many others that reduce coding work and make the development process fast and easy.
Development Quality and Pace:
Using React with Rails for building modern web apps means that you can get your product in the market quickly. However, the more important thing here is the development quality. Just because the development process is quick, it does not mean compromised quality.
React speeds up the development process because it uses reusable components instead of just templates. Furthermore, if one part of the application does not need to rely on functionalities from another part, you won’t need to replicate code by using extra libraries.
Development firms that use this combination should focus on the stability and maintainability it offers rather than just the speed.
These are the most compelling reasons for using React with Rails for building modern web applications. You may come across many other intrinsic advantages when working with the combination.
Top Brands That Use React with Rails for Their Websites and Web Apps
The popularity of React with Rails for building modern web applications has led many top brands around the world to try this combination. Here are a few of them that you should know about:
Airbnb:
Airbnb is an excellent example of using React with Rails effectively. The brand uses Rails for SSR configuration, Ruby as the primary programming language, and ReactJS for a seamless and smooth user interface.
Opendoor:
When the Opendoor website was first being built, the development team used Ruby on Rails with Angular. With time, better alternatives became available in terms of user experience and performance.
They later realized that React was a more appropriate option for this site. The fact that React’s adoption rate grew rapidly and it is continuing to do so made this decision easier. Another reason they went with React with Rails is that React is the safer choice for building SPAs (single-page apps).
Gusto:
Gusto is a cloud-based payroll platform that uses React with Rails for its main stack. The combination allows the online platform to process billions of dollars worth of online payroll. The company chose Ruby on Rails as its main language because of its speed and efficiency.
Wrapping Up:
There are many reasons for using React with Rails for building modern web applications. Both frameworks are well-tested and reliable, and they are used by some of the biggest brands in the world.
When combined, React and Rails provide an efficient, fast, and user-friendly experience for users. So, if you are planning on building a functional web app, try React with Rails for the development.
