40+ React Native Interview Questions for Tech Interview Preparation

Reading up on common interview questions is an indispensable part of tech interview prep. React Native’s interview questions range from the benefits of using React Native to the tools required to build an app in RN. Thus, understanding and preparing well for such interview questions is crucial.

React Native is an open-source UI framework based on JavaScript developed by Meta Platforms, Inc. It is one of the most popular software frameworks among developers to build native Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac OS apps. FAANG, and other top tech companies, often include interview questions related to React Native when hiring developers, as nearly 8,000 companies use this framework.

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In this article, we will cover:

• Why Is React Native So Popular?
• Types of React Native Commands
• React Native Interview Question Categories
• Beginner React Native Interview Questions and Answers
• Intermediate React Native Interview Questions
• React Native Interview Questions for Experienced Candidates
• React Native FAQs

Why Is React Native So Popular?

React Native is a software framework used for writing real and native mobile applications and desktop applications for iOS, Android, and Windows. It is becoming increasingly popular as it is used to build successful apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Airbnb, Skype, Walmart, Tesla, and many more. 

Here’s why it has been a favorite among developers in FAANG companies:

• React Native lets developers build apps faster, with no excessive recompiling.
• RN works independently from the UI. It is used in combination with HTML and CSS to maintain high performance without compromising on capability.
• It can be used for multiple platforms and lets developers copy databases from one platform to another.
• With Hot Reload, developers can keep the app running during the implementation of new versions and updates.
• React Native can efficiently merge native components in Objective-C, Java, and Swift and bind them together for faster and more efficient performance.

Types of React Native Commands

Here are some basic React Native commands you should know before you sit down for a React Native interview:

1. Start a new project
   You can bootstrap a react native application using Expo or create-react-native-app to start a new project:

react-native init [PROJECT-NAME]
cd [PROJECT-NAME]

2. Running the app in an iOS emulator
   It starts the iOS emulator and runs the newly installed app in it:

react-native run-ios

3. Running the app in an Android emulator
   It starts the Android emulator and runs the newly installed app in it:

react-native run-android

4. Linking dependencies to native projects
   Used to link libraries with dependencies in the native code created for React Native:

react-native link [LIBRARY-NAME]

5. Clear bundle
   This command is used to clear an existing bundle and create a new one:

watchman watch-del-all

6. Support decorators
   Since JavaScript XML does not support decorators by default, this command is used for installing the Babel plugin to make them work:

npm install babel-plugin-transform-decorators-legacy --save

npm install babel-plugin-transform-class-properties --save

7. Exporting APK to run in a device
   This command gives you an unsigned, shareable APK that you can use for testing purposes:

react-native bundle --dev false --platform android --entry-file index.android.js
--bundle-output ./android/app/build/intermediates/assets/debug/index.android.bundle
--assets-dest ./android/app/build/intermediates/res/merged/debug

React Native Interview Question Categories

Interview questions at React Native could range from the benefits of using React Native to the tools required to build an app in RN. 

The difficulty level of these questions will depend on your work experience in this domain and the position you are applying for. In this article, we have covered React Native interview questions for beginners, intermediate, and experienced candidates.

Beginner React Native Interview Questions and Answers

If you are just starting out in React Native app development, or if the position you are interviewing for requires 0-1 year of experience working in this domain. Here are a few examples:

1. What are native apps?
   Native apps are built for and written in languages specific to certain platforms. Native iOS apps use Objective-C and Swift, while native android apps run on frameworks such as Java or Kotlin. They are built using specific IDEs depending on the operating system. 
2. What is JSX?
   JSX is short for JavaScript XML and is a javascript extension. It is used to create React Native user interfaces.
3. What is ListView?
   It is a core component of React Native that displays vertical scrolling lists.
4. What do you understand about Virtual DOM?
   Virtual DOM represents an in-memory tree of the actual DOM. It consists of lightweight elements and is a declarative way of representing DOM for an application. It enables updating the UI freely whenever there is a change of state.
5. State some ways to style a react native component.
   A React Native component can be styled using StyleSheet, Inline Styling, and Styled Components.
6. What would you say is the basic difference between RNT and RCT?
   An RCT is a native React library provided by Facebook. RNT is a native file prefix for custom codes written in Android or iOS.
7. Name the components of RN.
   The core components of React Native are View, States, Style, Props, ScrollView, and Text.

More Beginner Interview Questions for React Native Developers

Listed below are some more beginner interview questions for React Native developers with 0-1 years of experience: 

1. What does Render () mean in RN?
2. Tell us about the advantages of building native apps compared to hybrid apps.
3. State a style property that increases the tappable area around an element.
4. What do you understand about Redux?
5. State a few popular apps that use React Native.
6. What is the fundamental difference between React Component and React Element?
7. How will you test if a node_modules will run on React Native or not?
8. What, according to you, are the best user interface components for RN?
9. What storage system is used in React Native?
10. What options do you have for storing persistent data in an RN app?
11. Can you merge a native Android code or iOS in React Native?
12. How can you use an XHR module in React Native?
13. How does RN deal with responsive screen sizes?
14. How do animations work in React Native?
15. Does a browser IDE exist for React Native?
16. What is Flex?

Intermediate React Native Interview Questions

These questions are aimed at React Native engineers with 1-2 years of experience. Here are some examples:

1. What are the steps of installing and creating a React Native application?
2. What is a state, and when can you use it in React Native?
3. What tools can you use to debug React apps?
4. Which strategy will you use for optimizing a long list of items on FlatList?
5. What is the function of a TouchableHighlight?
6. What are the steps of re-rendering a FlatList?
7. What are the advantages of FlatList over scrollview?
8. Describe how you will keep animations from getting blocked on the JavaScript thread.
9. How will you prevent memory leaks?
10. What is the basic difference between Xamarin and React Native?

React Native Interview Questions for Experienced Candidates

Advanced React Native interview questions are asked when you are interviewing for a senior position or if you have more than 2 years of experience working on React Native projects.

1. Build a React app that says “Hello World!”
2. What is the significance of InteractionManager?
3. What is Fabric?
4. What are the main features of dumb components?
5. Explain HOC in the context of React Native.
6. What will happen if you modify a module that only exports React components in Fast Refresh?
7. Explain the use of a Render Props Pattern.
8. State the 3 principles of Fabric Architecture.
9. What do Smart/Container components do?
10. Explain the process of re-architecture of React Native.
11. Which JavaScript engine is used by React native?
12. Explain the purpose of a Gesture Responder System.
13. What is meant by Presentational/Dumb components?
14. Explain the difference between ShadowDOM and VirtualDOM?
15. Why do you need to install Watchmen when setting up a development environment for React Native on MacOS?

Want to practice coding interview questions and answers for your upcoming tech interview? Visit the Problems page.

React Native FAQs

Q. What is React Native used for?

A. React Native is an open-source UI software framework created by Meta Platforms, Inc. It is a popular JavaScript-based framework that allows you to build natively-rendered applications for Android, Android TV, iOS, macOS, tvOS, Web, Windows, and UWP by enabling developers to use React together with native platform capabilities.

Q. What is the salary for React Developers?
A. According to Talent.com, the average compensation of React developers in the US is $120,000 per year. If you want to learn how to negotiate a salary package, talk to experts and recruiters from FAANG+ companies at Interview Kickstart to leverage your skills and up your negotiating power. 

Q. Is React in demand?
A. Yes! With over 31.3% of specialists using React Native worldwide, it is one of the most popular frameworks among FAANG+ companies. (Source: Stackoverflow)

Q. Which companies use React Native?
A. The top companies using React Native are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Airbnb, Paypal, Netflix, and Uber, among others, so you can see why the framework is so much in demand these days. Here are some tips to crack the interview rounds like a pro.

Q. What are the top skills a React Native developer should have?
A. Here are some soft and hard skills you must have to increase your chances of getting hired as a React Native Developer in a top tech company.
Hard Skills: JavaScript, native iOS and Android Development, basic React assumptions, debugging tools, performance optimization skills
Soft Skills: Communication skills, open-mindedness, curiosity, problem-solving approach, constructive criticism

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