Business

Hydrogen React vs Hydrogen Remix

By Christy Bella | March 11, 2024

By 2025, global eCommerce sales are expected to hit 7 trillion US dollars. An ever-changing business landscape and the constantly evolving customer demands.

Over the past decade, the eCommerce world has been transformed by the explosion of mobile commerce, the arrival of social commerce, and Amazon’s dominance over the market.

So, how can online retailers respond quickly to technological changes and stay on top of new trends? What can eCommerce platforms like Shopify do to meet the demands of modern consumers?

Enter headless commerce.

This article will dive into the key differences between Hydrogen React and Hydrogen Remix. But first, let’s briefly outline just what headless eCommerce is.

Hydrogen React vs Hydrogen Remix

What is Headless eCommerce?

eCommerce stores are made up of two key components. The “front end” is customer-facing; it’s what your customers see and interact with and includes your user interface, product pages, etc. Whereas the commerce engine serves as the back-end, managing product information, inventory, pricing, and the order processing.

In traditional eCommerce systems, the front-end and back-end are tightly integrated. Headless commerce decouples the front end of an eCommerce platform from the back end.

Because the customer-facing side of the site is decoupled from the technical side, headless offers businesses an almost unlimited level of flexibility, which is vital in today’s market. With this flexibility, brands can create unique customer experiences.

Now, let’s discuss Shopify’s answer to headless eCommerce.

Shopify Hydrogen & React

React is a front-end library that is now the go-to framework for modern web development within the JavaScript community.

For both web and mobile applications, Shopify uses React as its default language. Millions of merchants use Shopify’s Admin, which is powered entirely by React and GraphQL, while all new Shopify apps are built using React Native.

Shopify Hydrogen React is a powerful combination of Shopify’s Storefront API and React, enabling developers to create custom storefronts that are both performance and scalable. It provides a set of reusable components, hooks, and utilities that simplify the process of building rich and engaging storefront experiences.

Hydrodgen 2.0

After releasing the Hydrogen framework for React, Shopify has diligently tested and studied the technology, looking for ways to improve it.

A couple of months after releasing Hydrogen, Shopify acquired Remix, an open-source, full-stack framework that’s all about one thing: improving online user experiences.

Then in February of 2023, Shopify announced updates at Shopify Editions Winter ’23, with the launch of Hydrogen 2.0. One of the major changes in Hydrogen 2.0 was the transition from a custom-built framework to Remix.

Remix is a major improvement over Shopify’s custom React framework and allows hydrogen-built stores to benefit from a large ecosystem of Remix docs, plugins and system integrators.

With Remix now integrated into the Hydrogen stack, Shopify hopes to see an easier, more enjoyable experience for developers, leading to even faster, higher-performing websites.

Key Features and Benefits of Hydrogen 2.0

Shopify Hydrogen 2.0 marks a significant leap forward for ambitious e-commerce entrepreneurs. This upgraded framework delivers a trifecta of benefits: enhanced performance and scalability, improved developer experience and flexibility, and advanced customization options and theming capabilities.

1. Performance and Scalability Boost:

Enhanced performance and scalability for seamless handling of increased traffic.
Optimized code and infrastructure for faster loading and effortless order management.

2. Developer Experience and Flexibility:

Improved developer experience with more tools for creating exceptional online stores.
Flexible and robust framework enabling easy customization and functionality extension.

3. Advanced Customization and Theming:

Introduction of advanced customization options and theming capabilities.
Empowers merchants to create visually stunning and fully branded online stores.

4. Faster Page Load Times and Enhanced User Experience:

Optimized store speed ensures customers can browse and make purchases without delays.
Delivers an exceptional user experience with blazing-fast performance.

5. Increased Agility and Quick Iteration:

Agility to respond rapidly to changing market demands.
Effortless iteration, experimentation, and refinement of your store.

6. Seamless Integration with Third-Party Tools:

Integration with a wide range of third-party tools and services.
Empowers expansion of online store functionality, from marketing to customer support.

With Shopify Hydrogen 2.0, developers can build an online store that functions flawlessly, reflects your unique brand identity, and captivates your customers. This powerful framework empowers you to achieve your e-commerce goals and reach new heights of success.

Unleash the Power of Shopify Hydrogen

Shopify Hydrogen opens doors to a whole new world of e-commerce possibilities. With its boundless design options, rapid store loading times, and the ability to craft personalized shopping journeys, Shopify Hydrogen is the key to unlocking your e-commerce potential. However, to fully harness its power, you need the right development team at your side.

Look no further than the Fourmeta UK, your trusted Shopify development partner. With a proven track record of success and a deep understanding of Shopify Hydrogen, we are equipped to transform your vision into a thriving online store. Our team of experts will guide you through every step of the process, ensuring that your store delivers dynamic experiences and lightning-fast web speed.