React Native remains one of the most in-demand frameworks for building cross-platform mobile apps. Whether you’re preparing for an interview or sharpening your development skills, knowing the most frequently asked React Native questions can give you a big advantage.
Based on insights from Indeed, Medium, igmGuru, and Webandcrafts (2025 updates), here are the 20 most asked React Native questions — explained in simple words.
1. Why use React Native over ReactJS?
ReactJS is for web, while React Native builds native mobile apps. The key reason to use React Native is its cross-platform support, allowing you to write code once and deploy on both Android and iOS.
2. What is React Native?
React Native is an open-source framework by Meta that lets you build native mobile applications using JavaScript and React. Instead of rendering web views, it renders actual native components.
3. What are the core components of React Native?
Some core components include:
- View – like a
<div>for layout - Text – for displaying text
- ScrollView – scrollable container
- FlatList / SectionList – optimized lists
These components are the building blocks of any RN app.
4. How does JSX work in React Native?
JSX is JavaScript XML. It lets you write UI elements like <View> and <Text> in a way that feels like HTML, but under the hood, they map to native components.
5. What is the difference between props and state?
- Props → Passed from parent to child, immutable.
- State → Managed inside a component, can change over time.
6. How do you style React Native components?
You use JavaScript objects with StyleSheet. Layouts are handled with Flexbox, similar to CSS in the web world.
7. ScrollView vs FlatList – when to use?
- ScrollView → For small lists with limited content.
- FlatList → For long, dynamic lists, offering better performance.
8. What is AsyncStorage used for?
AsyncStorage is like a mini database to store key-value pairs (e.g., login tokens, preferences). It persists data even after the app restarts.
9. How do you create a new React Native project?
Two ways:
- React Native CLI →
npx react-native init MyApp(full control) - Expo CLI →
npx create-expo-app MyApp(easier setup, more built-in features)
10. How do you handle navigation in React Native?
The most popular solution is React Navigation, which provides stack, tab, and drawer navigators. For deep linking, you can configure custom URL schemes or Android intents.
11. What is the React Native Bridge?
The Bridge is the communication layer between JavaScript and native code (Java/Kotlin for Android, Swift/Obj-C for iOS). It’s what allows React Native to feel “native.”
12. How are animations handled?
You can use:
- Animated API (built-in)
- Reanimated library (better performance, complex gestures)
Animations make apps more interactive and are frequently asked in interviews.
13. How do you optimize performance in React Native?
- Use PureComponent or
React.memo - Avoid inline/anonymous functions
- Optimize large lists with FlatList’s
getItemLayout - Use debugging tools like Flipper
14. Context API vs Redux vs MobX – which to use?
- Context API → Simple global state (light apps)
- Redux → Predictable state management (complex apps)
- MobX → Reactive state management (less boilerplate)
15. How do you test React Native apps?
- Jest → For unit tests
- React Native Testing Library → For UI tests
- Detox → For end-to-end testing
16. What is InteractionManager?
InteractionManager lets you run tasks after animations or interactions are complete, keeping the UI smooth.
17. How do you handle platform-specific code?
You can use:
- Platform module (
Platform.OS) - Different files like
MyComponent.ios.jsandMyComponent.android.js
18. How do you prevent memory leaks?
- Clean up timers and subscriptions inside
useEffectreturn functions - Unmount components properly
19. What is Hermes, and why use it?
Hermes is a lightweight JavaScript engine optimized for React Native. Benefits include:
- Faster startup
- Reduced memory usage
- Smaller app size
20. How do you reduce app and bundle size?
- Remove unused dependencies
- Enable Hermes
- Compress images
- Lazy load components
Final Thoughts
These 20 React Native questions represent the most common topics asked in interviews and discussions in 2025. Mastering them will help you not only crack interviews but also become a more efficient React Native developer.
Pro tip: The best way to learn is by building small apps—a todo app with AsyncStorage, a chat app with navigation, or an animated login screen.
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