After building numerous React Native applications, I’ve compiled the best practices that make the difference between a good app and a great one. Here’s what you need to know in 2024.
Performance Optimization
1. Use Hermes Engine
Hermes significantly improves startup time and memory usage:
// android/app/build.gradle
project.ext.react = [
enableHermes: true
]
2. Implement Lazy Loading
const HomeScreen = lazy(() => import('./screens/HomeScreen'));
function App() {
return (
<Suspense fallback={<LoadingScreen />}>
<HomeScreen />
</Suspense>
);
}
3. Optimize Images
Use proper image formats and implement caching:
import FastImage from 'react-native-fast-image';
<FastImage
style={styles.image}
source={{
uri: imageUrl,
priority: FastImage.priority.normal,
}}
resizeMode={FastImage.resizeMode.cover}
/>
State Management
Redux Toolkit
import { configureStore, createSlice } from '@reduxjs/toolkit';
const userSlice = createSlice({
name: 'user',
initialState: { profile: null },
reducers: {
setProfile: (state, action) => {
state.profile = action.payload;
}
}
});
export const store = configureStore({
reducer: {
user: userSlice.reducer
}
});
Navigation
React Navigation 6
import { NavigationContainer } from '@react-navigation/native';
import { createNativeStackNavigator } from '@react-navigation/native-stack';
const Stack = createNativeStackNavigator();
function App() {
return (
<NavigationContainer>
<Stack.Navigator>
<Stack.Screen
name="Home"
component={HomeScreen}
options={{
headerLargeTitle: true,
headerTransparent: true
}}
/>
</Stack.Navigator>
</NavigationContainer>
);
}
Animations
Reanimated 3
import Animated, {
useAnimatedStyle,
useSharedValue,
withSpring
} from 'react-native-reanimated';
function AnimatedCard() {
const scale = useSharedValue(1);
const animatedStyle = useAnimatedStyle(() => ({
transform: [{ scale: scale.value }]
}));
const handlePress = () => {
scale.value = withSpring(0.9, {}, () => {
scale.value = withSpring(1);
});
};
return (
<Animated.View style={[styles.card, animatedStyle]}>
<TouchableOpacity onPress={handlePress}>
<Text>Press me!</Text>
</TouchableOpacity>
</Animated.View>
);
}
Best Practices
- Use TypeScript: Catch errors early and improve maintainability
- Implement Error Boundaries: Gracefully handle crashes
- Optimize Bundle Size: Use dynamic imports and tree shaking
- Test on Real Devices: Simulators don’t catch all issues
- Monitor Performance: Use Flipper and React DevTools
Conclusion
Building great React Native apps requires attention to detail and following best practices. Focus on performance, user experience, and code quality to create apps users love.
About Surendra Tamang
Software Engineer specializing in web scraping, data engineering, and full-stack development. Passionate about transforming complex data challenges into elegant solutions that drive business value.
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