Top Mistakes to Avoid When building React Native Apps
Published: 2022-04-27 12:14:53

React Native has gained a lot of popularity in recent years as an excellent way to develop cross-platform mobile apps.
React Native allows you to create apps using JavaScript and the React framework, making it incredibly easy to build your app and get it into the hands of users quickly.

Moreover, as the below chart depicts, React Native has constantly been thriving over the last few years. It has become a great choice amongst entrepreneurs to use React Native for cross-platform development apps.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/z91m825ycjyz027enwwv.png)

But when developing React Native apps, it’s important to be aware of common mistakes made during the development process so you can avoid them and produce the best possible app for your users.

Below are some common pitfalls that you should watch out for to have a more successful project and avoid wasting time and money.

You will easily learn to avoid common React Native development mistakes when building your mobile application by following these tips.

#Top Mistakes to Avoid While Developing React Native Apps

**1. Incorrect Estimation**

Incorrect estimation is one of the significant mistakes to avoid in React Native apps. This happens when you make assumptions about how much time a task will take and then underestimate the total time it will take to finish.
As a result, you procrastinate and put off the task until the last minute. This can lead to rushed and unfinished work, which can impact the quality of your app.
Not to make a mistake, it’s essential to be realistic about how long tasks will take. Give sufficient time to complete the task, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re struggling.

**2. Not Using Coding Best Practices**

With coding React Native apps, it’s important to follow coding best practices. This ensures that your code is maintainable and easy to understand.
Some of the best practices to follow are:
Using a consistent coding style
Indenting code correctly
Using short variable and function names
Using comments to explain your code

**3. Mutation of State Inside the Render Function**

Mutation of state inside the render function is a mistake that can lead to bugs and errors in your code. The reason for this is that the render function should be a pure function, which means that it must return the same output for the same input.

If you mutate the state inside the render function, it can cause the output to be different each time it’s called, which can lead to problems.

To avoid this mistake, only mutate the state inside the setState function. This function is designed to handle state changes, and it will ensure that the component is updated correctly.

**4. Avoiding Errors**

If you don’t handle errors properly, it can lead to several problems, including crashes and data loss. When developing React Native apps, it’s important to remember that things can go wrong and that you need to be prepared for this.

One way to handle errors is to use the “try-catch” statement. This will catch any mistakes and allow you to deal with them appropriately. Another significant way to handle errors is to use the “console. error” function.

This will print out an error message to the console, which can help debug purposes. You can also [hire React Native developers](https://www.valuecoders.com/hire-developers/hire-react-native-developers?utm_source=hire_react&utm_medium=guest_blog&utm_campaign=Dev_io&utm_id=NKY) to build efficient React Native apps.

**5. Not Optimizing React Native Images**

React Native uses the native image formats on each platform, which means your images will be automatically optimized for performance. However, you can still do some crucial things to optimize your images further.

One way to optimize your images is to use the “require” function. This function will ensure that your images are only loaded when needed, improving performance.

Another significant way to optimize your images is to use the “image-size” module. This module can help you resize your images so that they’re the appropriate size for each device.

**6. Not Keeping Up With the Updates**

Another mistake to avoid in React Native apps is not keeping up with the updates. As React Native is constantly evolving, there are often new features and bug fixes that come with each update.

If you don’t keep your app up-to-date, you risk missing out on important changes that could improve your app’s performance.

To stay up-to-date, check the React Native release notes regularly. You can also subscribe to the React Native mailing list to receive notifications when new versions are released.

**7. Avoid Writing a Unit Test**

One mistake to avoid in React Native apps is not writing unit tests. Unit tests are important because they help to ensure that your code is working as expected.

Without unit tests, you risk introducing bugs into your code that could impact your app’s performance.

There are several significant ways to write unit tests for React Native development apps. One popular method is to use the Jest testing framework. Jest is a JavaScript testing library that’s designed specifically for React applications.

Another popular way to write unit tests is to use the Enzyme testing utility. The enzyme is a JavaScript testing utility that makes it easy to test React components.

**8. Constraints in abstraction layer**

When coding React Native apps, it’s essential to follow best practices. This will help to ensure that your code is maintainable and easy to understand.

One of the best practices to follow is to keep your abstraction layer thin. The abstraction layer is the layer between your code and the native platform. Keeping this layer slim is essential because it can impact your app’s performance if it’s too thick.

You should only include the necessary code to keep your abstraction layer thin. For example, if you’re using a third-party library, you should only have the code that you need to use that library.

Including unnecessary code in your abstraction layer will make your code more difficult to maintain and impact your app’s performance.

**Also Read: [The 20 Best React Native App Development Companies In 2021](https://www.valuecoders.com/blog/technology-and-apps/the-best-react-native-app-development-companies-in-2021/?utm_source=Top_react&utm_medium=guest_blog&utm_campaign=Dev_io&utm_id=NKY)**

**9. Not Considering the File Size**

Another mistake to avoid in React Native apps is not considering the file size. When coding for React Native, it’s important to keep the file size small. This is because large files can impact the performance of your app.

There are several crucial ways to reduce the file size of your React Native apps. One way is to use compression tools, such as gzip. Another way to reduce the file size is to minify your code.

Minifying your code will remove any unnecessary characters, such as whitespace, from your code. This can help to reduce the file size by up to 50%.

**10. Not Using a Performance Monitoring Tool**

One mistake to avoid in React Native apps is not using a performance monitoring tool. Performance monitoring tools are crucial because they help you identify potential performance issues in your code.

Without a performance monitoring tool, you could introduce bugs into your code that could further impact your app’s performance.

There are a number of performance monitoring tools available, but one of the most popular is React Native Debugger. React Native Debugger is an open-source debugger for React Native apps.

It includes features such as a component inspector, network inspector, and JavaScript console. Another popular performance monitoring tool is the Expo DevTools extension.
Expo DevTools is a Chrome extension that provides a number of features, such as an element inspector and JavaScript console.

**11. Not using a style guide**

When coding React Native apps, following a style guide is important. This will help to keep your code consistent and easy to read. There are a number of style guides available, but one of the most popular is the Airbnb style guide.
Following a style guide is important for a number of reasons.
It ensures that your code is easy to read and understand.
It avoids errors in your code.

It makes it easier for others to contribute to your codebase.

**Concluding Thoughts**

Now I hope you have a better hold over common mistakes to avoid in React Native app development. All the above-discussed points are very important to consider while coding for React Native apps.

If you keep these things in mind, it would be easier for you to avoid any potential performance issues in your app.
Moreover, it’s relatively significant to hire React Native developers to help you with your React Native app development project to make it successful.

You can also contact any [React Native development company](https://www.valuecoders.com/best-react-native-development-services-company-india?utm_source=react_com&utm_medium=guest_blog&utm_campaign=Dev_io&utm_id=NKY) to hire dedicated React Native developers.