jQuery vs React: Comparing Front-End Libraries

When it comes to front-end web development, choosing the right library can greatly impact your project’s success. Amongst the myriad of options, two prominently stand out: jQuery and React. But which one should you choose? How do they differ? And which library is best suited for your particular needs?

jQuery, used by 76.7% of all websites and introduced in 2006, was a game-changer in web development. It made tasks like manipulating the Document Object Model (DOM) and making Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) calls a breeze. 

On the other hand, React, created by Facebook in 2013, was the second most used web framework in 2023 and stands out for its component-based architecture and efficient handling of user interfaces.

In this article, we’ll delve into the major differences between jQuery and React, so you can make an informed decision about which library to use. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just dipping your toes into web development, understanding the functionalities, features, usage, and performance of these libraries is crucial.

Key Takeaways:

• jQuery simplifies DOM manipulation and AJAX calls, making it a popular choice for developers.
• React offers a component-based architecture and efficient user interface handling.
• Comparing jQuery and React can help you determine which library is the best fit for your specific project needs. Consider factors such as functionality, performance, and development process before making a decision.
• If you need advanced functionality, reusable components, and improved performance, React is often the preferred choice.

Overview of jQuery

jQuery is a simple and lightweight JavaScript library that has been widely adopted since its launch. There are now 153,410, 086 websites using jQuery. With its “write less, do more” philosophy, jQuery simplifies complex tasks like manipulating HTML/DOM elements, manipulating CSS styles, parsing JSON data, and making AJAX calls.

It offers a range of utilities and has become the most popular and extendable JavaScript library, used by major companies like Microsoft, Google, and IBM.

HTML/DOM Manipulation

One of jQuery’s main strengths lies in its ability to manipulate HTML and DOM elements effortlessly. Whether you want to select, create, modify, or delete elements, jQuery provides a concise and intuitive syntax. 

By using selectors, you can target specific elements on your webpage and apply changes dynamically. This makes tasks like adding event handlers, updating content, or manipulating styles a breeze.

CSS Manipulation

jQuery also excels in CSS manipulation. It allows you to easily modify CSS properties of elements, such as changing colors, dimensions, or positions. With jQuery, you can apply CSS animations and transitions, creating visually engaging effects without the need for complex code. By combining HTML/DOM and CSS manipulation, jQuery provides a powerful toolkit for creating dynamic and interactive web pages.

AJAX and JSON Parsing

Another area where jQuery shines is AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) functionality. It simplifies the process of making asynchronous requests to the server and handling the responses. The best time to influence your customer online is within the first two seconds. jQuery’s AJAX methods offer a clean and efficient way to retrieve data from the server without causing the page to reload. 

Additionally, jQuery provides built-in support for parsing JSON data, making it easy to work with JSON APIs and format data for use in your web applications.

Utilities

jQuery comes with a variety of utility functions that enhance your productivity as a developer. These utilities cover a wide range of tasks, such as manipulating arrays, handling events, working with animations, and much more. 

jQuery’s utility functions allow you to perform common operations with minimal code, saving you time and effort. This makes jQuery an invaluable tool for web development, regardless of the complexity of your projects.

Overview of React

React is a powerful open-source JavaScript library that was developed by Facebook in 2013. It has gained significant popularity among developers and is widely used for building interactive user interfaces and creating reusable components. In the USA, 2,574,350 live websites choose React for their front-end frameworks. 

One of the key features of React is its use of a virtual DOM (Document Object Model). The virtual DOM allows React to efficiently update specific parts of a web page, rather than updating the entire DOM, resulting in improved performance and a smoother user experience. This efficient rendering approach makes React especially suitable for handling complex and dynamic websites.

Another notable feature of React development is JSX, a syntax extension that simplifies the creation of UI components. JSX allows developers to write HTML-like code within JavaScript, making it easier to visually represent the structure of a component and its associated logic.

React also implements one-way data binding, where changes made to the underlying data automatically propagate throughout the user interface. This ensures that the UI always reflects the latest data without requiring manual updates. This feature simplifies development and helps maintain consistency across the application.

Pros and Cons of jQuery and React

When it comes to jQuery and React, both libraries have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a closer look at what each has to offer.

Pros of jQuery:

• SEO friendly: 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine. jQuery allows for easier integration of SEO techniques and practices, ensuring better visibility for your web applications. 
• Simplicity: With jQuery, you can write less code to achieve desired functionality, making it a great choice for beginners who want to quickly develop web applications.
• Support for animated apps: jQuery provides a range of built-in animation effects and methods, enabling the creation of visually appealing and interactive applications.
• Quick website development: jQuery simplifies common tasks like DOM manipulation and event handling, allowing developers to rapidly build websites.
• Open source: As an open-source library, jQuery has a large and active community, which means that you can find plenty of resources, plugins, and support.

Cons of jQuery:

• Performance issues: While jQuery is suitable for smaller applications, it may experience performance issues when used in complex and resource-heavy projects.
• Overhead: Including the entire jQuery library in your project can result in additional overhead, slowing down page load times. For reference, 82% of B2B websites have a page load time of 5 seconds or less setting the industry standard. 
• Lack of component-based architecture: Unlike React, jQuery does not provide a built-in component-based architecture, which can make code management challenging for larger applications.
• Learning curve: Although jQuery is known for its simplicity, there is still a learning curve for beginners who are new to JavaScript and web development.
• Rapid changes: jQuery has been around for quite some time, and as newer technologies emerge, some developers may find it harder to keep up with the latest trends and best practices.
• Overhead for small projects: While jQuery is powerful and feature-rich, it may be overkill for smaller projects that do not require extensive JavaScript functionality.

Pros of React:

• Component-based architecture: React’s greatest strength lies in its ability to create reusable and modular components, making it easier to manage and maintain complex applications.
• Easy to use: React’s intuitive syntax and extensive documentation make it relatively easy for developers to grasp and start building web applications.
• Enhances performance: React’s virtual DOM efficiently updates only the necessary parts of the UI, resulting in faster rendering and improved performance.
• Easy to make web applications: React’s component-based architecture and reusable components allow for faster development and easier maintenance of web applications.
• Suitable for big projects: Founder of Hilly Dating app found that Only six months after the launch, their app was a 99.5% crash-free platform with one million users.
• Open source: React is an open-source library backed by a large community, providing access to a wide range of resources and third-party libraries.

Cons of React:

• Learning curve: React introduces a new way of thinking and approaches to building web applications, which may require a learning curve for developers who are unfamiliar with its concepts.
• Performance issues: While React generally performs well, excessive rendering or improper use of state management can impact performance.
• Rapid changes: React’s ecosystem and best practices are constantly evolving, which means developers need to keep up with frequent updates and advancements.
• Overhead for small projects: For small projects that don’t require the power and scale of React, the library may introduce unnecessary complexity and overhead.

Conclusion

The choice between jQuery and React depends on your development needs. jQuery is known for its simplicity, utility, and wide browser compatibility, making it ideal for those who prefer a straightforward approach and are comfortable with vanilla JavaScript.

React, on the other hand, offers a modern, component-based architecture that enhances web development. It enables the creation of interactive user interfaces with reusable components, improving performance with its virtual DOM and one-way data binding.

Consider your project requirements when choosing between the two. jQuery is suitable for lightweight utility and broad browser compatibility, while React is best for advanced functionality and reusable components. Notably, major companies like Facebook, Airbnb, and TripAdvisor use React, underscoring its industry-wide adoption and capabilities.

Discover how Flatirons’ React JS development services can help you to create amazing front-end React web applications coupled with backend APIs.