react vs vue vs preact vs inferno: Which is Better JavaScript UI Libraries?

Package	Downloads	Stars	Size	Issues	Publish	License

react	26,983,815	229,186	318 kB	874	7 months ago	MIT
vue	5,453,749	47,641	2.39 MB	908	a month ago	MIT
preact	4,270,468	36,808	1.42 MB	169	a month ago	MIT
inferno	168,142	16,094	657 kB	38	a year ago	MIT

Package

Downloads

Stars

Size

Issues

Publish

License

react

26,983,815

229,186

318 kB

874

7 months ago

MIT

vue

5,453,749

47,641

2.39 MB

908

a month ago

MIT

preact

4,270,468

36,808

1.42 MB

169

a month ago

MIT

inferno

168,142

16,094

657 kB

a year ago

MIT

Performance

react: React provides good performance through its virtual DOM and reconciliation algorithm, but it may require optimization techniques like memoization for complex applications to avoid unnecessary re-renders.
vue: Vue offers excellent performance with its optimized reactivity system and virtual DOM. It efficiently updates the DOM only when necessary, making it suitable for applications with frequent data changes.
preact: Preact is extremely lightweight and fast, with a virtual DOM that allows for efficient updates. Its small footprint ensures quick load times, making it ideal for performance-sensitive applications.
inferno: Inferno is designed for high performance, boasting a virtual DOM implementation that is optimized for speed. It excels in scenarios requiring rapid updates and rendering, making it suitable for applications with dynamic content.

Ecosystem and Community

react: React boasts a vast ecosystem with a plethora of libraries, tools, and community support. This extensive ecosystem makes it easier to find solutions and resources for various development challenges.
vue: Vue has a strong and supportive community along with a rich ecosystem of libraries and tools. Its official libraries, such as Vue Router and Vuex, provide seamless integration for building complex applications.
preact: Preact has a growing ecosystem, and while it may not be as extensive as React's, it offers compatibility with many React libraries, allowing developers to leverage existing tools.
inferno: Inferno has a smaller ecosystem compared to React and Vue, which may limit the availability of third-party libraries and resources. However, it still provides essential tools for building applications efficiently.

Learning Curve

react: React has a moderate learning curve, particularly due to concepts like JSX and state management. However, its extensive documentation and community resources help ease the learning process.
vue: Vue is known for its approachable learning curve, featuring clear documentation and a straightforward syntax. Its design encourages gradual adoption, making it beginner-friendly.
preact: Preact has a gentle learning curve, especially for developers familiar with React. Its API is designed to be intuitive, making it accessible for newcomers to UI development.
inferno: Inferno's API is similar to React's, making it relatively easy for React developers to transition. However, its smaller community may result in fewer learning resources available for beginners.

Component Architecture

react: React's component architecture is one of its core strengths, enabling the creation of reusable and composable components. It supports both class-based and functional components, offering flexibility in design.
vue: Vue utilizes a component-based architecture that promotes reusability and organization. Its single-file components allow developers to encapsulate HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in one file, enhancing maintainability.
preact: Preact also follows a component-based architecture, enabling developers to build encapsulated components that manage their own state. Its API closely resembles React's, facilitating easier migration.
inferno: Inferno uses a component-based architecture similar to React, allowing developers to create reusable UI components. Its focus on performance means that components are optimized for speed and efficiency.

State Management

react: React provides a built-in state management system through hooks like useState and useReducer. For larger applications, developers often use libraries like Redux or Context API for more complex state management needs.
vue: Vue has a built-in reactivity system that simplifies state management. For larger applications, Vuex, its official state management library, provides a centralized store for managing application state.
preact: Preact relies on external libraries for state management, similar to React. Developers can use Redux, MobX, or even Preact's own state management solutions to handle complex state scenarios.
inferno: Inferno does not provide built-in state management, but it can integrate with external libraries like Redux or MobX for managing application state effectively.

react

React is a JavaScript library for creating user interfaces.

The react package contains only the functionality necessary to define React components. It is typically used together with a React renderer like react-dom for the web, or react-native for the native environments.

Note: by default, React will be in development mode. The development version includes extra warnings about common mistakes, whereas the production version includes extra performance optimizations and strips all error messages. Don't forget to use the production build when deploying your application.

Usage

import { useState } from 'react'; import { createRoot } from 'react-dom/client'; function Counter() { const [count, setCount] = useState(0); return ( <> <h1>{count}</h1> <button onClick={() => setCount(count + 1)}> Increment </button> </> ); } const root = createRoot(document.getElementById('root')); root.render(<App />);