Expo
Also called Expo SDK
- Part of
- React Native Glossary
- Also known as
- Expo SDK
- Mentioned in
- Communication LayerContinuous Native GenerationDevelopment BuildEASExpo RouterMetroNative ModuleReact Navigation
- Updated
What is Expo in React Native?
Expo is a framework and toolchain built on React Native. It supplies routing, native modules, build services and updates so teams do not assemble that stack themselves.
Expo is a framework built on top of React Native. React Native gives you the renderer and the JavaScript-to-native bridge; Expo adds the parts every app ends up needing — routing, a large library of native modules, build infrastructure, and update delivery.
The React Native documentation now recommends starting new apps with a framework, and Expo is the one it points to. In practice npx create-expo-app is the default entry point for newcomers.
What you get beyond bare React Native:
- Expo Router — file-based navigation
- The Expo SDK — vetted native modules (
expo-camera,expo-notifications,expo-sqlite) that version together - EAS — hosted builds, store submission, and over-the-air updates
- Continuous Native Generation —
ios/andandroid/folders generated from config rather than hand-maintained
A common misconception is that Expo restricts you to its own APIs. That stopped being true with development builds: any native library works.