The React Foundation: A new chapter for React and React Native

This is an important moment for the entire React ecosystem.

A decade ago, Meta open-sourced React to make it easier to build great user interfaces. What started as a small internal framework has since become one of the most important open source projects in the world, powering millions of websites and applications across every major platform.

Two weeks ago, React entered a new era when it moved from being primarily maintained by Meta to being governed by a new, independent organization called the React Foundation. It’s happening now for a handful of reasons but, primarily, this is the byproduct of success.

React and React Native have become so big and important and the contributions from the community have become so substantial that it stopped making sense for Meta to own this alone.

The React Foundation creates a structure that will increase the pace of evolution in the React ecosystem. It’s fantastic that it’s happening right now, while we’re finding our footing in the AI revolution. And Expo is proud to be one of React Foundation’s founding members, alongside Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Vercel, Callstack, and Software Mansion.

The React Foundation is now the official home for React, React DOM, React Native, and related efforts like JSX. Its purpose is to coordinate and sustain the ecosystem rather than to control it.

It will:

• Maintain React’s infrastructure, including GitHub repositories, CI, and trademarks
• Organize React Conf and other community events
• Support the ecosystem through grants and programs for open source contributors and projects

It operates under the Linux Foundation, which provides a stable and neutral framework for large, community-driven projects.

React has grown far beyond the scope of any one organization. Thousands of engineers from hundreds of companies now contribute, not only through pull requests but also through the tools, libraries, and ideas that keep the ecosystem moving forward.

By moving React into a foundation, its governance becomes broader and more resilient. Decisions about its direction will be made through transparent processes led by the maintainers and contributors who build React every day.

That independence gives React room to keep evolving for everyone who depends on it, from individual developers to global teams.

React Native is the foundation of the Expo framework. Every improvement to React’s infrastructure, every grant that supports open source contributors, and every new collaboration that happens through the React Foundation ultimately helps everyone building with Expo.

This move also reinforces something we believe deeply at Expo: the future of app development is open and shared. Progress in frameworks, tooling, and developer experience comes fastest when it is built in the open and supported by a healthy, collaborative community.

With a formal foundation and more voices at the table, React and React Native can continue to push the boundaries of what is possible across web, mobile, and beyond. We are excited to help shape that future.

Meta is committing five years of funding and engineering support to ensure a smooth transition, but the long-term vision is for React to be sustained by the community that depends on it. The React Foundation will give developers a way to participate in that future, not just as users but as stewards.

Expo’s mission has always been to make building great apps easier, faster, and more accessible. That mission is inseparable from React’s success. We are honored to play a part in this next chapter, and we are grateful to everyone in the React community who has made this moment possible.

The React Foundation is good news for all of us. It is a sign that the React ecosystem is healthy, maturing, and ready for what comes next.