Top 10 React UI Component Libraries
Introduction
To create a website or application, the UI (User Interface) must be divided into functional units and then created individually. These units are commonly referred to as components. A component can be any functional part of the UI, such as a menu, carousel, table, loader, chart, or paginator, but the most common example of a component is a button.
Beginners make each new component from scratch because they don’t understand why they’re being made. Components are designed to be reused. As a result, rather than creating a button from scratch, the developer will be able to reuse the button he has already created as a component elsewhere. When developing the application, it is a good idea to immediately think in this direction.
However, in this manner, developers waste a significant amount of time dealing with design rather than focusing on the functionality of the components. This method of application development works well for small projects but not for large ones. As a result, different UI component libraries can be used to accelerate development on larger projects. UI component libraries significantly reduce development time by providing a large number of pre-built components with the same design.
To enable the creation of single-page applications, React relies on components. Because React is so popular and has such a large community, there are a plethora of UI component libraries created specifically for React.
In this article, we will look at the top 10 React UI component libraries.
1. Ant Design
Ant Design, abbreviated as AntD, is a React library and enterprise-class UI for web applications. It is one of the most popular React UI component libraries.
It includes a plethora of high-quality pre-built components for creating interactive user interfaces. Ant Design is written in TypeScript, which adds to the appeal of this UI component library.
AntDesign is used to build websites such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu. It’s no coincidence that these sites were built with Ant Design, the library has Chinese roots.
Official website: Ant Design GitHub: Ant Design GitHub project 83.2k stars, 37.1k forks
2. Material UI (MIU)
Material UI is one of the most widely used React UI component libraries. Because of its minimalist design and simplicity, MIU is widely used and frequently used as a go-to option. Another reason for this library’s popularity is the variety of components it offers. In addition to components, it offers a variety of themes that aid in the development of a website or web application.
MIU has excellent documentation and is simple to use, which is very important and has undoubtedly contributed to the library’s global acceptance. Some things are provided for free, while others must be purchased.
This UI component library has an excellent structure and is designed to be apply to any type of web application.
Official website: MUI GitHub: MUI GitHub project 83k stars, 28.6k forks
3. Semantic UI
Another well-known React UI component library is Semantic UI. To be fully compatible with React, the library is jQuery-free. It’s similar to React Bootstrap. It has over 50 components and allows developers to create their web designs.
For beginners, Semantic UI can be quite challenging. It includes semantic components that aid in the creation of responsive HTML layouts. It can also be used with Angular in addition to React.
Semantic UI has comprehensive documentation and allows for customization and theme creation.
Official website: Semantic UI GitHub: Semantic UI GitHub project 50.3k stars, 5.1k forks
4. Chakra UI
Chakra UI provides reusable React and React Native components. It includes more than 50 components for designing layouts, forms, data displays, feedback, typography, overlay, disclosure, navigation, media, and icons.
Chakra UI also allows you to create your components, which is very interesting and appealing, and it also allows for customization. This approach allows this library to be unique across projects.
For beginners, it provides the ability to create simple components that can be used to solve real-world design problems, making the React UI component library simple to learn.
Official website: Chakra UI GitHub: Chakra UI GitHub project 30k stars, 2.7k forks
5. React Bootstrap
React Bootstrap, as the name implies, is a UI component library similar to the original Bootstrap except that it is built in React and has a few differences. Because the emphasis was on using React, it was important to leave out jQuery during development.
Because Bootstrap is the most popular CSS framework and React is a JavaScript framework, the two work well together. If you like Bootstrap and build applications with React, React Bootstrap is an excellent choice.
React Bootstrap provides both free and paid themes. The good news is that you can create your Bootstrap themes.
Official website: React Bootstrap GitHub: React Bootstrap GitHub project 21.3k stars, 3.4k forks
6. Blueprint UI
Blueprint UI is typically used to create complex interfaces for displaying large amounts of data and for desktop applications.
It provides a large selection of packages-separated components, so in addition to classic (CORE) components, it also provides special components such as DATETIME, ICONS, SELECT, TABLE, TIMEZONE, and POPOVER.
Blueprint UI, unlike most other UI component libraries, does not provide themes, but almost all design elements can be customized.
Official website: Blueprint GitHub: Blueprint GitHub project 19.5k stars, 2.1k forks
7. Fluent UI
Fluent UI was formerly known as Fabric React, and Microsoft is the company behind this React UI component library, which it uses in its products. The advantage is that this UI component library works with desktop, Android, and iOS devices.
Microsoft websites such as Office365, Azure DevOps, OneNote, and others use Fluent UI. It has excellent documentation that is updated regularly as new versions of this React UI component library are released.
If you like Microsoft products, Fluent UI is the way to go.
Official website: Fluent UI GitHub: Fluent UI GitHub project 14.3k stars, 2.4k forks
8. Reactstrap
Reactstrap is similar to the previously mentioned React Bootstrap. Both use React but in different ways. Reactstrap was created a few years after React Bootstrap to be a simpler and lighter variant, so it initially has fewer features than React Bootstrap.
This React UI component library has the advantage of being simple to use and learn. The disadvantage is that it has fewer features than similar React UI component libraries. Reactstrap is essentially a React component that already has Bootstrap applied to it so we don’t need to do that.
Reactstrap is used to create responsive websites and web applications, and it includes a variety of customizable components. Allows for the use of plugins and themes.
React Bootstrap or Reactstrap?
Reactstrap is a better choice for beginners, but React Bootstrap is a better choice if you already have experience with React and want more control over Bootstrap components.
Official website: Reactstrap GitHub: Reactstrap GitHub project 10.4k stars, 1.3k forks
9. NextUI
NextUI is a React UI component library designed for front-end developers of all skill levels. You can easily create websites and applications with NextUI, whether you are a beginner or a professional developer. NextUI is a modern React UI component library with beautiful components that is simple to use and fast.
NextUI components support server-side rendering, which is an advantage of this React UI component library. It is also compatible with Next.js.
It allows for simple customization of the available default themes. There are several methods for customizing components. It’s very simple to switch between light and dark UI modes.
NextUI is a relatively new React UI component library, but it already has a sizable GitHub community.
Official website: NextUI GitHub: NextUI GitHub project 8.5k stars, 459 forks
10. Grommet
Grommet is a React UI component library focused on mobile. Unlike minimalist UI libraries like Material UI and AntDesign, Grommet provides slightly more interesting components and themes.
This React UI component library is primarily concerned with responsive design in web applications. Grommet, unlike other React UI component libraries, provides two useful tools Grommet Designer and Grommet Themer.
Grommet Designer is used to create components, whereas Grommet Themer is used to customize basic elements such as fonts and colors.
Grommet has its component library on Storybook, and each component has its code sandbox.
Grommet has a vibrant community, and many large corporations, including Netflix, Uber, and Samsung, have used it.
Official website: Grommet GitHub: Grommet GitHub project 8.1k stars, 995 forks
Conclusion
Web applications or websites can be created without using React UI component libraries or other UI libraries, but the process would be much longer and more complex. UI component libraries were created to facilitate and accelerate the development process of web applications, particularly when using React, which relies on the use of libraries.
If you’re just getting started with React UI component libraries, stick to the most popular and lightweight. You can more easily switch to more advanced and demanding ones after gaining some experience than if you started with them right away.
If you already have experience with such libraries, concentrate on learning the popular ones that you haven’t used before. Follow which React UI component libraries are most commonly used in projects and teams if you work as a developer.
Because such libraries have numerous advantages and are widely used, every developer should be familiar with at least a few React UI component libraries.
We invite you to follow us on social networks so you can keep up with all our latest projects and news.