React vs Svelte: Popular Frontend Frameworks Comparison
React and Svelte are both tools for building user interfaces on websites and apps. React, created by Facebook, is the most popular framework that uses a virtual DOM and component-based architecture. Svelte takes a different approach by compiling your code into vanilla JavaScript during build time, making it potentially faster and lighter than React. Both help developers create interactive websites, but they do it in different ways.
Frontend FrameworksUI DevelopmentJavaScript FrameworksWeb DevelopmentComponent-Based
Detailed Comparison
Technical Analysis
featureComparison
React is a full-fledged JavaScript library for building user interfaces, while Svelte is a compiler that converts your code into highly optimized vanilla JavaScript. React uses a virtual DOM to optimize rendering, whereas Svelte does not use a virtual DOM and instead compiles your code at build time.
typescriptSupport
Both React and Svelte have excellent TypeScript support. React has built-in TypeScript definitions, and Svelte has official TypeScript plugins.
browserCompatibility
Both React and Svelte support all modern browsers, including Internet Explorer 11.
dependencies
React has a large ecosystem of dependencies, including React DOM, React Router, and Redux. Svelte has a smaller set of dependencies, including Svelte Router and Svelte Store.
performance
Svelte is generally faster and more lightweight than React due to its compile-time optimization.
Ecosystem Analysis
frameworkCompatibility
React is compatible with a wide range of frameworks, including Next.js, Gatsby, and Create React App. Svelte is compatible with Sapper, ROLLUP, and Webpack.
communityActivity
React has a massive community with millions of developers, while Svelte has a smaller but still active community.
documentationQuality
Both React and Svelte have high-quality documentation, with React's documentation being more comprehensive.
maintenanceStatus
React is maintained by Facebook, while Svelte is maintained by the Svelte Society.
Performance Comparison
bundleSizeAnalysis
Svelte's bundle size is significantly smaller than React's, with an average size of 1.4 KB compared to React's 5.5 KB.
runtimePerformance
Svelte is generally faster than React due to its compile-time optimization.
loadingTime
Svelte's loading time is faster than React's due to its smaller bundle size.
memoryUsage
Svelte uses less memory than React due to its optimized code.
Code Examples
Hello World in React
1import React from 'react';
2
3function HelloWorld() {
4 return <h1>Hello, World!</h1>;
5}
6
7ReactDOM.render(<HelloWorld />, document.getElementById('root'));This code creates a React component that renders an h1 element with the text 'Hello, World!' to the DOM.
Hello World in Svelte
1<script>
2 let name = 'World';
3</script>
4
5<h1>Hello, {name}!</h1>This code creates a Svelte component that renders an h1 element with the text 'Hello, World!' to the DOM.
Recommendation
Summary
React is a more mature and widely adopted library, while Svelte is a newer and more lightweight alternative.
Details
- React is better suited for large-scale applications with complex state management, while Svelte is better suited for smaller applications with simpler state management.
- React has a larger community and more resources available, while Svelte has a smaller but still active community.
Similar Packages
Preact
95%
A tiny 3KB alternative to React with the same modern API. It's like React's smaller, faster cousin that works almost exactly the same way.
Preact is perfect when you want React's features but need better performance and a smaller file size. It's compatible with most React code and libraries, making it an easy switch.
Frontend FrameworkVue.js
90%
A progressive JavaScript framework that's easier to learn than React. It combines the best parts of React and Angular, with an HTML-like template syntax and a gentle learning curve.
Vue is perfect for React alternatives because it has similar component-based architecture but is often considered more beginner-friendly. It has great documentation and lets you write code that looks more like regular HTML and JavaScript.
Frontend FrameworkSolid.js
80%
A modern JavaScript framework that looks like React but runs much faster. It uses a similar JSX syntax but handles updates to your app differently under the hood.
Solid.js feels familiar to React developers but offers better performance. It's great for developers who like React's style but want their apps to run faster.
Frontend FrameworkAstro
70%
A new framework that lets you use components from React, Vue, or Svelte together. It builds super fast websites by removing unnecessary JavaScript code.
Astro is a great Svelte alternative because it focuses on making fast websites and can use Svelte components. It's perfect for content-heavy sites and blogs.
Frontend FrameworkLit
60%
A simple library for building fast web components that work in any web application. It uses regular JavaScript classes and HTML templates.
Lit is a good alternative to both React and Svelte when you want to build reusable components that work everywhere. It's smaller and closer to vanilla JavaScript.
Web ComponentsNo README available
