React Native is a popular cross-platform mobile framework used by developers worldwide. As more establishments and startups seek cost-effective and time-efficient ways to enter the app domain, React Native has emerged as a major preference. According to a 2020 developer survey, 42% of software developers utilized React Native.
However, delivering a high-performing, offline-first app that can scale anytime puts extreme pressure on a React Native Developer. It can be challenging to choose the right database for React Native that fits the relevant technology stack. In this blog, we have compiled a list of databases for React Native app
development. These databases may match your needs, such as scaling easily with your user base or supporting offline development capacities. But before we discuss the best local databases for React Native app development, let’s highlight the factors you should consider.
Considerations for Selecting a Database for React Native App Development
When choosing a database for your React Native app, there are several factors to keep in mind:
I. Memory Handling
Proper data handling is crucial to prevent app crashes. Most databases clear their cache at set intervals to ensure sufficient memory is available for smooth app operation.
II. Complexity of Data
For many apps, data is stored in the form of key-value pairs or a JSON structure. It’s important to select a database that can handle more complex data structures like full documents or objects.
III. Managing Data Conflicts
Apps with collaborative features may experience data conflicts. Look for databases that provide conflict management rules and explore how they handle syncing and conflicts.
IV. Syncing Data Offline
Users expect apps to work offline or with slow internet connectivity. Choose a database that allows for data synchronization when users reconnect to the internet.
V. Concurrency
As app popularity grows, developers must manage large amounts of data and user requests. Consider the concurrency method used by various React Native local databases.
VI. Ease of Use
Choose a React Native database that’s easy to integrate and simplifies the development process for your team.
Best Local Databases for React Native App Development
1- Realm: An Object-Oriented and High-Performing Database
Realm is an open-source database that is 10 times faster than relational databases. It supports complicated data types for real-time and offline apps, and it has its own search engine. Developers choose Realm to enhance the performance of their React Native applications with vast data. It has proven to fix queries better than SQLite and other databases. Realm is a favorable and best choice for large-sized apps.
Advanced version of Realm costs $1750 every month, but its basic version is free. Its pro version features Realm Studio and some other great features for enterprises.
Benefits of Realm
- Synchronization keeps running in the background for saving user interaction.
- It features a great set of APIs.
- It utilizes various encryption standards for every mobile platform.
- Realm is offline-friendly with Redux offline.
2- Firebase: A Google-Owned NoSQL Database
Firebase is a Google-owned database having NoSQL. It is ideal for applications that require offline data updating and data synchronization. Firebase features performance-tracking tools that will help you assess bugs in your application. It gives you full access to data removal from the Google server whenever required. The assessment procedure done by Firebase is ISO 27001 and SOC1, SOC2, and SOC3.
Firebase is free for using up to 1GB and then you have to pay $25 for storing almost 2.5GB of data.
Benefits of Firebase
- It can address users’ roles that will help you fix controls on file.
- You can combine Firebase with any app easily.
- It caches the data on devices to offer offline access to users.
- It helps synchronize the data throughout different platforms.
3- SQLite: A Lightweight Database for Local Storage
SQLite was originally built to offer users the capacity of making local storage databases for mobile apps. Its performance quality is debatable, but greater results can be accomplished for people who have encountered amazing database development. SQLite source code is free for everybody to utilize for any reason, and it is in the public domain.
Benefits of SQLite
- It saves data in the cross-platform database file.
- You can allow the offline persistence in an app using its storage.
- It is ACID compliant; hence, executes nearly all SQL standards.
4- PouchDB: An Open-Source JavaScript Database
PouchDB is an open-source JavaScript database that preserves data in JSON format and enables all CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) functions to be queried and mutated using a simple JS API. It helps secure data easily for a React Native app. It has an in-built authentication system for React Native and it provides features like password storing in the harsh form with the PBKDF2 crypto algorithm for protecting encrypted keys from
degraded attacks.
Benefits of PouchDB
- It helps sync data with any supported server.
- PouchDB is made with CouchDB protocols and supports both offline and online capacities.
- It supports SSL, which implies that you can encrypt data easily with AES256.
- It helps replicate data like a pro.
5- Async Storage: A Local Storage Framework
Async Storage is a local storage framework that enables developers to store data locally and retrieve it between reboots
of an application. This database features React Native in-built; hence, you can use it without any more deployment. Even
after you have closed the device or app, Async Storage comes in handy when you need to save the data the app has to use.
Benefits of Async Storage
- It is accessible whenever required.
- It is in-built with React Native.
6- WatermelonDB: Optimizing React Native Database
WatermelonDB is designed to optimize the React Native database by using SQLite as its foundation. It provides excellent performance for React Native Database and can handle thousands of records in just a minute. According to Github’s official statement, it is optimized for creating complex apps that focus on real-world performance.
Lazy loading is a feature that helps to manage data persistence on slower devices. WatermelonDB can handle highly cached and multithreaded asynchronous functions. Furthermore, it cannot load any quests unless it is requested in the first place.
Benefits of WatermelonDB
- Static typing with flow
- Offline-first system by synchronizing your engine.
- Simple data plugging into components.
- Automatic rendering of the UI when changes are made in the database.
7- Vasern: Lightweight and Fast React Native Database
Vasern is a lightweight, open-source, and fast database used for developing React Native apps. Its API is not only utilized for local data storage but also for syncing and cloud storage across the app’s users. The design and structures of Vasern got inspiration from different open-source databases.
Benefits of Vasern
- Fast operation
- Developer-friendly end-to-end database synchronization
- Open-source database
- Concentrates on app performance and consistency.
Summary:
Choosing the right local database for your React Native application is critical for the success of your app. You should make a list of your requirements and not compromise on any of them. Hire an expert React Native developer to help you choose the right database. Several factors, such as data complexity, memory management, offline data synchronization, and the number of data, should be considered while selecting a database.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can you choose a database for your React Native application?
The choice of a suitable React Native database depends on various factors, such as data complexity, memory management, offline data synchronization, and the amount of data.
2. Which are the local databases in React Native app development?
Some popular local databases for React Native include Realm, Firebase, SQLite, PouchDB, Async Storage, WatermelonDB, and Vasern.
