JSX vs TSX In React Native

Rahul Saini

22 November 2024

In this blog, we will explore the key differences between JSX vs TSX in React Native and understand when to use each.

Introduction

“JSX vs TSX in React Native” are syntax extensions used to build UI components in React Native. JSX uses JavaScript, while TSX integrates TypeScript, adding type safety and enhancing code reliability.

Understanding JSX (JavaScript XML)

JSX is a JavaScript syntax extension that enables HTML-like code within JavaScript, enhancing UI readability. It’s fundamental in React and React Native to combine UI with logic.

Understanding TSX (TypeScript XML)

TSX is like JSX but allows for TypeScript’s type-checking in React Native. This provides better error detection and ensures type-safe code for building robust, scalable mobile components.

Key Differences

Type Safety

JSX: Does not enforce any type of checking. It’s purely JavaScript, so you won’t get compile-time errors if you pass incorrect data types.

import React from 'react';
import { Text, View } from 'react-native';

const Greeting = ({ name }) => {
  return <Text>Hello, {name}!</Text>;
};

export default function App() {
  return (
    <View style={{ flex: 1, justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center' }}>
      <Greeting name={123} /> {/* No type-checking, "123" allowed even if it’s not a string */}
    </View>
  );
}

import React from 'react';

import { Text, View } from 'react-native';

const Greeting = ({ name }) => {

return <Text>Hello, {name}!</Text>;

};

export default function App() {

return (

<Greeting name={123} /> {/* No type-checking, "123" allowed even if it’s not a string */}

</View>

);

}

At runtime, this code shows an error.

Show RunTime Error

This React Native code accepts any value for the name prop in Greeting, allowing non-strings like 123 without compile-time errors, potentially causing runtime issues.

TSX: Enforces type safety, requiring you to define the type of each prop. This helps catch errors during compile time.

import React from 'react';
import { Text, View } from 'react-native';

type GreetingProps = {
  name: string;
};

const Greeting: React.FC<GreetingProps> = ({ name }) => {
  return <Text>Hello, {name}!</Text>;
};

export default function App() {
  return (
    <View style={{ flex: 1, justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center' }}>
      <Greeting name="John" /> {/* Only accepts strings as defined by GreetingProps */}
    </View>
  );
}

import React from 'react';

import { Text, View } from 'react-native';

type GreetingProps = {

name: string;

};

const Greeting: React.FC<GreetingProps> = ({ name }) => {

return <Text>Hello, {name}!</Text>;

};

export default function App() {

return (

<Greeting name="John" /> {/* Only accepts strings as defined by GreetingProps */}

</View>

);

}

This code shows an error at compile time.

Language Type

JSX: Written in JavaScript, allowing flexibility in data types without type restrictions. It enables quick development but without the safety of enforced types.

TSX: Written in TypeScript, with strict type-checking that enforces the use of specified data types. This improves code reliability and prevents incorrect data types.

Code Maintainability

JSX: Without type-checking, large projects can become difficult to maintain as they grow, especially when tracking prop types and component structures.

TSX: Type annotations make the codebase easier to maintain, as they provide clear expectations for data types, improving readability and making refactoring simpler.

When to Use

Use JSX if:

You’re working on a small or prototype project where speed matters more than type safety.
Your team members are new to TypeScript and primarily familiar with JavaScript.
You don’t need strict type-checking for props and state.

Use TSX if:

You’re building a large-scale React Native app with complex state management and props.
You want to reduce runtime errors by catching issues during the compilation stage.
Your project has many contributors, and you want to enforce type consistency across components.

Conclusion

JSX is best for simple JavaScript projects in React Native, while TSX provides type safety for complex apps. Choose based on your project’s needs and desired code reliability.

Thanks for reading this blog.

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