# Getting started
This guide will help you to correctly configure build and test tools to work
with React Native for Web. (Alternatively, you can quickly setup a local
project using the starter kits listed in the README.)
It is recommended that your application provide a `Promise` and `Array.from`
polyfill.
## Web packager
[Webpack](https://webpack.js.org) is a popular build tool for web apps. Below is an
example of how to configure a build that uses [Babel](https://babeljs.io/) to
compile your JavaScript for the web.
Create a `web/webpack.config.js` file:
```js
// web/webpack.config.js
// This is needed for webpack to compile JavaScript.
// Many OSS React Native packages are not compiled to ES5 before being
// published. If you depend on uncompiled packages they may cause webpack build
// errors. To fix this webpack can be configured to compile to the necessary
// `node_module`.
const babelLoaderConfiguration = {
test: /\.js$/,
// Add every directory that needs to be compiled by Babel during the build
include: [
path.resolve(__dirname, 'src'),
path.resolve(__dirname, 'node_modules/react-native-uncompiled')
],
use: {
loader: 'babel-loader',
options: {
cacheDirectory: true,
// The 'react-native' preset is recommended (or use your own .babelrc)
presets: ['react-native']
}
}
};
// This is needed for webpack to import static images in JavaScript files
const imageLoaderConfiguration = {
test: /\.(gif|jpe?g|png|svg)$/,
use: {
loader: 'url-loader',
options: {
name: '[name].[ext]'
}
}
};
module.exports = {
// ...the rest of your config
module: {
rules: [
babelLoaderConfiguration,
imageLoaderConfiguration
]
},
plugins: [
// `process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production'` must be `true` for production
// builds to eliminate development checks and reduce build size. You may
// wish to include additional optimizations.
new webpack.DefinePlugin({
'process.env.NODE_ENV': JSON.stringify('production')
})
],
resolve: {
// Maps the 'react-native' import to 'react-native-web'.
alias: {
'react-native': 'react-native-web'
},
// If you're working on a multi-platform React Native app, web-specific
// module implementations should be written in files using the extension
// `.web.js`.
extensions: [ '.web.js', '.js' ]
}
}
```
To run in development:
```
./node_modules/.bin/webpack-dev-server -d --config web/webpack.config.js --inline --hot --colors
```
To build for production:
```
./node_modules/.bin/webpack -p --config web/webpack.config.js
```
Please refer to the Webpack documentation for more information on configuration.
## Web entry
Create a `index.web.js` file (or simply `index.js` for web-only apps).
### Client-side rendering
Rendering using `AppRegistry`:
```js
// index.web.js
import App from './src/App';
import React from 'react';
import ReactNative, { AppRegistry } from 'react-native';
// register the app
AppRegistry.registerComponent('App', () => App);
AppRegistry.runApplication('App', {
initialProps: {},
rootTag: document.getElementById('react-app')
});
```
Rendering within existing web apps is also possible using `ReactNative`:
```js
import AppHeader from './src/AppHeader';
import React from 'react';
import ReactNative from 'react-native';
ReactNative.render(