Angular vs. React: What’s the Difference?

Angular and React are open-source tools for creating user interfaces in web development. However, their similar functionalities essentially end there. Angular is a comprehensive front-end framework for web applications, while React is a library that allows you to build interactive user interface (UI) components. 

Whether you’re just starting or an experienced developer, it’s important to know the differences between Angular and React, what they are used for, and when you might use one over the other. After all, both are in high demand. According to the 2024 Stack Overflow Survey, Angular and React are among the top four web technologies professional developers consistently use [1]. They are both among the most desired as well, with 62.2 percent of developers admiring React and 53.4 percent admiring Angular [1]. 

Discover more about Angular versus React, as well as the best uses for each and their advantages and disadvantages. 

Angular vs. React: What is the difference?

Angular and React are both JavaScript development tools that offer similar functionalities, but it’s their approach to web development that sets them apart from each other. Both use a component-based architecture, with self-contained, reusable pieces. Their primary purpose is to provide developers with pre-built code and functionalities to streamline their front-end web development. However, React is a smaller, more flexible library for user interface (UI) development, typically in single-page applications (SPAs). Angular is a full-fledged framework that offers UI development as well as other functionalities to build large-scale applications.

Angular is more structured. Its components are larger and more opinionated, delivering more instructions as you build and deploy code. On the other hand, React’s components are more focused and narrower in scope. They mostly stick to interpreting data into user interfaces and allow you the flexibility to create your own structures.

Since React is more focused, it mainly deals with UI and client-side development. It’s more lightweight and needs other frameworks for an application to complete functions like server-side rendering or data fetching. Angular comes with more pre-built functions, allowing a more structured framework to complete heavier and often more stable development projects.

What is a framework vs. a library?

Both frameworks and libraries offer pre-built code that developers can reuse to make building and deploying code easier. However, the difference between a framework and a library comes down to what’s included. A framework is a complete structure that offers a foundation and relevant tools to build your application. Libraries are components with pre-written code to help perform specific tasks. Think of a framework as a recipe for creating something, and a library as a specific tool used as you follow that recipe.

What is Angular?

Angular is an open-source development tool that Google first created in 2016. It’s important to note that Angular is different than AngularJS, which was its precursor before Google created Angular to keep up with React’s popularity. 

Angular uses TypeScript, a superset of JavaScript, as its primary language and contains a large suite of libraries to build full applications. It is a full-fledged opinionated framework, so it comes with more structure, directions, and pre-built tools to help you deploy code. This means you can use it for interactive UI development and other functionalities such as routing, server-side rendering, form control, and rendering data.

What can you use Angular for?

Angular can develop SPAs as well as scalable web and mobile applications. Since it is a complete framework, it helps developers create full products.

Many enterprise organizations use Angular to build their websites, management systems, developer tools, or retail sites. Some examples include:

• Google Fonts

• Grubhub

• Otter.ai

• Google Cloud console

• Amtrack

• JetBlue

Advantages and disadvantages of Angular

Angular is a more structured framework, which makes it better suited for companies looking for a more opinionated and streamlined development tool. Some advantages include:

• Scalability: Since Angular is more streamlined, it allows larger teams to scale their development and more easily maintain applications as they grow. The structure gives developers a clear path to implementing code and creates a standardized workflow among your team.

• More built-in tools: Angular comes with numerous built-in libraries, so you don’t have to rely on third-party libraries and tools to complete most of your work. Some helpful tools include command-line interface (CLI) and UI component libraries.

• Two-way data binding: Angular allows for two-way data binding, where components can share data. That ensures data correctly syncs between model and view components. 

• TypeScript: Angular uses TypeScript, which many developers consider to be more reliable and efficient than JavaScript.

• Dependency injection: Angular comes with dependency injection, which allows classes to receive an object as a parameter instead of constructing it. This may allow for more reusable code and easier testing.

Some disadvantages include:

• Steeper learning curve: Since Angular is a more complete framework, it can take longer to learn its ins and outs. 

• Difficult to add to existing projects: While integrating Angular into existing projects is possible, it can often be messy and pose compatibility challenges.

• Less flexibility: Angular’s opinionated framework means you have more rules to follow. That may allow for less flexibility in your structure compared to a framework like React.

What is React?

React, also known as ReactJS, is an open-source JavaScript library that focuses on UI development. It is a tool to build reusable and interactive UI components that make up your website or application. Facebook (now Meta) developed it in 2013 and still maintains it.

React is a front-end tool and mainly focuses on creating user interfaces for SPAs. That means developers use it alongside other tools like Next.js to create a larger framework. According to the 2024 Stack Overflow Developer Survey, it is the second most popular web technology among professional developers, with roughly 42 percent of respondents using it extensively [1].

What is React used for?

Developers use React for the same purposes as Angular. You can use it to create user interfaces for web pages, while React Native is for mobile and desktop app development. However, you must use React in tandem with other technologies to build full apps.

Some companies that use React include:

• Facebook

• Amazon shopping and Kindle

• PlayStation App

• Shopify

• Discord

• Airbnb

Advantages and disadvantages of React

Since React is a library, it allows for more flexibility and control in your applications. It’s often better suited for smaller teams or teams that need to move faster. Some advantages include:

• More flexibility: You can use React with several different tools and structure your project in your own way. This often allows for more control as you build your architecture.

• Virtual DOM: React is declarative, which simplifies development. Instead of interacting with the real Document Object Model (DOM), you tell it what state you want it to be in, and it will match the DOM appropriately. This allows for more efficient code that is easier to debug. 

• Ease-of-use: Developers consider React beginner-friendly, and it doesn’t have as steep of a learning curve as some larger frameworks like Angular.

• Faster development and UI: Since React uses virtual DOM and is component-based, it often speeds up development and provides a faster UI. A faster UI may help with SEO on websites and provide a better user experience. 

• Large community: React has a large community following, which gives you plenty of support if you’re starting out or have any questions. React has roughly 235,000 stars on GitHub versus 97,700 for Angular [2, 3]. 

Some disadvantages of React include:

• Limited tools: Since React is a library, it doesn’t come with a comprehensive suite of pre-built tools. You’ll have to use other libraries and frameworks to complete your projects, which could potentially feel like you’re navigating a maze.

• More room for error: While structuring your project yourself can be beneficial, it also presents more room for your application’s code to be messy. 

• Harder to maintain: Since developers can create their own architectures with React, it can lead to inconsistencies across projects. This may make larger applications harder to scale and maintain.

React vs. Angular: How to decide

Deciding between React and Angular typically comes down to what your project is, its scale, and, maybe most importantly, your team’s knowledge. Since both serve similar functionalities, it’s essential to find the best fit for your needs and the tool that works best for your specific knowledge. A faster, leaner project might benefit from React, while a more structured or stable project may benefit from Angular. 

If you’re looking to start your career in development and are not sure which to learn, discover which one your preferred industry uses more. Many enterprise companies use Angular, while more nimble organizations often use React. 

Learn more about development tools on Coursera

Angular and React are front-end development tools to help build and maintain code. However, the functionalities and approaches they take are slightly different. Discover more about web development libraries and frameworks, along with the basics of front-end development in Meta’s Front-End Developer Professional Certificate. You can learn more about React and programming with JavaScript in this beginner-friendly, nine-course series. You’ll have the opportunity to develop job-ready skills and earn a career certificate to add to your resume once you complete the course.