React JS library moving from Meta to the Linux Foundation

React, a popular open source JavaScript library for web and native user interfaces, will be transferred from Meta to the React Foundation, a new organization being formed under the Linux Foundation.

The new foundation will be the home for React, React Native, and supporting projects. With the React Foundation, React’s move to a neutral home helps ensure that React and React Native remain open, innovative, and community-led, said Jim Zemlin, executive director of the Linux Foundation, in a statement. Plans for launching the React Foundation were announced October 7.

The React Foundation is intended to help accelerate React momentum as one of the world’s most widely adopted open source technologies for front-end development, according to the Linux Foundation. Whereas React is a JavaScript library for building dynamic and interactive web applications, React Native extends React for cross-platform mobile applications. React is used by nearly 55 million websites, according to BuiltWith, a company that tracks the use of web technologies.

React was known as a Facebook-developed technology until the Meta name took over as company brand name in October 2021. Founding members of the React Foundation will include Amazon, Callstack, Expo, Meta, Microsoft, Software Mansion, and Vercel. The React Foundation will provide governance, manage core infrastructure, organize events, and launch new programs to expand global community collaboration. Seth Webster, head of React at Meta, will serve as the foundation’s executive director, the Linux Foundation said.