React Native for Windows is a framework for building native Windows applications using React and JavaScript.
The project extends Meta's React Native framework to Windows platforms by adding support for the Windows 10 SDK, enabling developers to build apps for PCs, tablets, 2-in-1 devices, Xbox, and mixed reality devices. It leverages the learn-once-write-anywhere philosophy of React Native, allowing developers familiar with JavaScript and React to target Windows without learning platform-specific languages. The framework currently uses a Paper renderer built on UWP XAML with native Composition integration, and is transitioning toward a new Fabric renderer that targets Windows App SDK Win32 applications while maintaining the ability to host XAML islands for advanced native controls.
Developers should choose this tool if they want to write Windows applications using React and JavaScript while maintaining code familiarity across platforms. It suits projects targeting Windows 10 and later devices, from consumer PCs to Xbox and mixed reality platforms. The framework is particularly valuable for teams already invested in React development who need to extend their applications to Windows without adopting entirely different tooling or languages.
The project maintains a substantial base of real-world adopters, as evidenced by the fact that almost all open issues are raised by outside users rather than the core team. Maintainers typically respond to new issues and pull requests within a few days. Work in the issue tracker is dominated by enhancement requests, New Architecture development, and component parity improvements, reflecting ongoing efforts to expand capabilities and align with React Native's architectural evolution.
