React is a Library but also a framework here's why?

The terms "library" and "framework" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings in software development.

Library:

A library is a collection of pre-written code that provides specific functionality. It consists of a set of functions, classes, or modules that you can use in your code to perform specific tasks. Libraries are generally more focused and provide a specific set of tools or utilities that you can incorporate into your application as needed. When you use a library, you have more control over the flow of your application, and you decide when and how to use the provided functions.

Framework:

A framework, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive and structured software environment that provides a foundation for building applications. It often includes a set of rules, conventions, and tools that guide the overall architecture and flow of your application. Frameworks usually dictate how your application should be structured and how different components should interact. Developers build their applications by writing code that fits within the framework's structure, and the framework takes care of handling various aspects like application flow, data management, and more.

React:

React is commonly referred to as a "library" for building user interfaces, specifically for creating dynamic, interactive web applications. However, it's often treated as a "framework" due to the way it influences the overall architecture and structure of applications. React provides a declarative way to create user interfaces by composing UI components and managing their state. It encourages a component-based approach, which can give the application a more organized structure, similar to what you might find in a framework.

Additionally, React doesn't dictate the entire architecture of your application like some traditional frameworks do. It's more focused on the view layer of your application, leaving other decisions such as state management, routing, and data fetching to be handled by other libraries or tools. This flexibility allows developers to choose the best tools for their specific needs, leading to the perception that React is both a library and a framework.

Therefore, React is often treated as a framework due to its strong influence on the architecture and structure of applications, even though it primarily provides library-like functionality for building user interfaces. The lines between libraries and frameworks can be blurry, and the terminology can vary depending on the perspective and context.

Also we can say if a code is written on react it's difficult to switch it to vue or angular therefore sounding it more as framework rather than a library.

1. Architecture Influence: React's component-based architecture encourages developers to structure their applications in a specific way. While it doesn't enforce the entire application structure like some traditional frameworks, this architecture can lead to a certain degree of coupling between components. This can make it non-trivial to switch to a different technology without substantial rewriting.

2. State Management: React leaves state management decisions to the developer. However, the way state is managed within React components can be tightly tied to React's own paradigms. If a significant portion of the application relies on React-specific state management patterns (like the use of React's Context API or third-party state management libraries like Redux), switching to a different technology might require rethinking and refactoring this aspect.

3. Integration with Ecosystem: React is part of a larger ecosystem that includes tools and libraries specifically designed for React development, such as the React Router for routing and various UI component libraries. These tools might be optimized for use with React, and transitioning to a different technology might necessitate changing these components and tools as well.

4. JSX: React uses JSX, a syntax extension for JavaScript, which allows you to write HTML-like code within your JavaScript code. JSX is tightly integrated with React's component system, so transitioning to a different technology might require converting JSX code to the templating language used by that technology.