React Native Best Practices
Overview
Performance optimization guide for React Native applications, covering JavaScript/React, Native (iOS/Android), and bundling optimizations. Based on Callstack's "Ultimate Guide to React Native Optimization".
Skill Format
Each reference file follows a hybrid format for fast lookup and deep understanding:
- Quick Pattern: Incorrect/Correct code snippets for immediate pattern matching
- Quick Command: Shell commands for process/measurement skills
- Quick Config: Configuration snippets for setup-focused skills
- Quick Reference: Summary tables for conceptual skills
- Deep Dive: Full context with When to Use, Prerequisites, Step-by-Step, Common Pitfalls
Impact ratings: CRITICAL (fix immediately), HIGH (significant improvement), MEDIUM (worthwhile optimization)
When to Apply
Reference these guidelines when:
- Debugging slow/janky UI or animations
- Investigating memory leaks (JS or native)
- Optimizing app startup time (TTI)
- Reducing bundle or app size
- Writing native modules (Turbo Modules)
- Profiling React Native performance
- Reviewing React Native code for performance
Priority-Ordered Guidelines
| Priority | Category | Impact | Prefix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FPS & Re-renders | CRITICAL | js-* |
| 2 | Bundle Size | CRITICAL | bundle-* |
| 3 | TTI Optimization | HIGH | native-*, bundle-* |
| 4 | Native Performance | HIGH | native-* |
| 5 | Memory Management | MEDIUM-HIGH | js-*, native-* |
| 6 | Animations | MEDIUM | js-* |
Quick Reference
Critical: FPS & Re-renders
Profile first:
# Open React Native DevTools
# Press 'j' in Metro, or shake device → "Open DevTools"Common fixes:
- Replace ScrollView with FlatList/FlashList for lists
- Use React Compiler for automatic memoization
- Use atomic state (Jotai/Zustand) to reduce re-renders
- Use
useDeferredValuefor expensive computations
Critical: Bundle Size
Analyze bundle:
npx react-native bundle \
--entry-file index.js \
--bundle-output output.js \
--platform ios \
--sourcemap-output output.js.map \
--dev false --minify true
npx source-map-explorer output.js --no-border-checksCommon fixes:
- Avoid barrel imports (import directly from source)
- Remove unnecessary Intl polyfills (Hermes has native support)
- Enable tree shaking (Expo SDK 52+ or Re.Pack)
- Enable R8 for Android native code shrinking
High: TTI Optimization
Measure TTI:
- Use
react-native-performancefor markers - Only measure cold starts (exclude warm/hot/prewarm)
Common fixes:
- Disable JS bundle compression on Android (enables Hermes mmap)
- Use native navigation (react-native-screens)
- Preload commonly-used expensive screens before navigating to them
High: Native Performance
Profile native:
- iOS: Xcode Instruments → Time Profiler
- Android: Android Studio → CPU Profiler
Common fixes:
- Use background threads for heavy native work
- Prefer async over sync Turbo Module methods
- Use C++ for cross-platform performance-critical code
References
Full documentation with code examples in references/:
JavaScript/React (js-*)
| File | Impact | Description |
|---|---|---|
| js-lists-flatlist-flashlist.md | CRITICAL | Replace ScrollView with virtualized lists |
| js-profile-react.md | MEDIUM | React DevTools profiling |
| js-measure-fps.md | HIGH | FPS monitoring and measurement |
| js-memory-leaks.md | MEDIUM | JS memory leak hunting |
| js-atomic-state.md | HIGH | Jotai/Zustand patterns |
| js-concurrent-react.md | HIGH | useDeferredValue, useTransition |
| js-react-compiler.md | HIGH | Automatic memoization |
| js-animations-reanimated.md | MEDIUM | Reanimated worklets |
| js-uncontrolled-components.md | HIGH | TextInput optimization |
Native (native-*)
| File | Impact | Description |
|---|---|---|
| native-turbo-modules.md | HIGH | Building fast native modules |
| native-sdks-over-polyfills.md | HIGH | Native vs JS libraries |
| native-measure-tti.md | HIGH | TTI measurement setup |
| native-threading-model.md | HIGH | Turbo Module threads |
| native-profiling.md | MEDIUM | Xcode/Android Studio profiling |
| native-platform-setup.md | MEDIUM | iOS/Android tooling guide |
| native-view-flattening.md | MEDIUM | View hierarchy debugging |
| native-memory-patterns.md | MEDIUM | C++/Swift/Kotlin memory |
| native-memory-leaks.md | MEDIUM | Native memory leak hunting |
| native-android-16kb-alignment.md | CRITICAL | Third-party library alignment for Google Play |
Bundling (bundle-*)
| File | Impact | Description |
|---|---|---|
| bundle-barrel-exports.md | CRITICAL | Avoid barrel imports |
| bundle-analyze-js.md | CRITICAL | JS bundle visualization |
| bundle-tree-shaking.md | HIGH | Dead code elimination |
| bundle-analyze-app.md | HIGH | App size analysis |
| bundle-r8-android.md | HIGH | Android code shrinking |
| bundle-hermes-mmap.md | HIGH | Disable bundle compression |
| bundle-native-assets.md | HIGH | Asset catalog setup |
| bundle-library-size.md | MEDIUM | Evaluate dependencies |
| bundle-code-splitting.md | MEDIUM | Re.Pack code splitting |
Searching References
# Find patterns by keyword
grep -l "reanimated" references/
grep -l "flatlist" references/
grep -l "memory" references/
grep -l "profil" references/
grep -l "tti" references/
grep -l "bundle" references/Problem → Skill Mapping
| Problem | Start With |
|---|---|
| App feels slow/janky | js-measure-fps.md → js-profile-react.md |
| Too many re-renders | js-profile-react.md → js-react-compiler.md |
| Slow startup (TTI) | native-measure-tti.md → bundle-analyze-js.md |
| Large app size | bundle-analyze-app.md → bundle-r8-android.md |
| Memory growing | js-memory-leaks.md or native-memory-leaks.md |
| Animation drops frames | js-animations-reanimated.md |
| List scroll jank | js-lists-flatlist-flashlist.md |
| TextInput lag | js-uncontrolled-components.md |
| Native module slow | native-turbo-modules.md → native-threading-model.md |
| Native library alignment issue | native-android-16kb-alignment.md |
Attribution
Based on "The Ultimate Guide to React Native Optimization" by Callstack.