Salesforce has been making enhancements with its Lightning components over the years to keep it up-to-date and highly modernized, and the latest advancement is the launch of Salesforce Lightning Web Components (LWC).
A step up from Aura components, LWC is a lightweight framework built on the latest and greatest web standards. It uses JavaScript Frameworks (such as Node.js and React), making coding easier for non-Salesforce developers. Plus, it’s built on open source technology.
Let’s take a closer look at how LWC stacks up to Aura, some of its great features, and why we think you’re going to like it.
Can Lightning Web Components and Aura Components Co-exist?
One question we often hear from clients about Lightning Web Components is a variation of, “But we already have Aura components. Can we use them both?” And yes, you can. Because LWC is technically a subset of the Aura framework, the two types of components can co-exist without causing any major headaches. Both can work in sync with each other, and your system will run as smoothly as it did before you installed LWC.
However, we advise our clients to start coming up with a plan to transfer some (if not all) of your Aura components to LWC in the near future. You don’t need to shift them all at once, but you should at least start with those that would benefit most from the increased performance LWC has to offer.
Features and Benefits of LWC
If you’re already familiar with the tools and components of Aura, good news! LWC will be an easy transition for you. LWC involves minimal custom coding, saving developers a ton of time and effort. Other great features and benefits include:
- Better component performance thanks to the fact that most of the code is recognized by the web stack and web browser engine.
- Capability to compose apps using less code, since most of the elements required to create a component are part of the web stack and web browser engine.
- Enhanced performance of the apps built using LWC, because they are inclusive of modern web standards.
- Simple, straight-forward migration of classic Aura components to LWC (when you’re ready to make that move, of course).
Why Use LWC Over Aura Components?
Our recommendation isn’t based solely on the fact that LWC is the “latest and greatest” thing—it really does offer some advantages when compared to Aura components alone. Here are the top three reasons we suggest using LWC over Aura.
Increase Speed
Who doesn’t have the need for speed, right? For those wanting to make Salesforce Lightning faster than ever, LWC delivers. As a bonus, Lightning web components are not only nice and quick, but using them can even boost the speed of your Aura components as well! (That’s because LWC tackles most of the Lightning Component Library, giving more slack to Aura to handle what it needs to.)
Boost Productivity
Thanks to increased app performance, LWC can lead to increased team productivity. They’ll be able to build apps at lightning speed (pun definitely intended), while you optimize operations across the company.
Wider Access to Developer Talent
Since Salesforce built Lightning Web Components on open source technology, using LWC means you’ll be able to recruit from a larger talent pool of developers than if you worked with Aura alone. The use of open source tech has really closed the gap between community innovation and CRM app development, and we’re excited to see what other innovations the future has in store for us.
Getting Started with Salesforce Lightning Web Components
Here’s the good news: if you’re already using Aura-based components, there’s no need to panic. The Aura framework isn’t going to vanish overnight. That being said, Salesforce LWC is the future of Lightning development. So if you’re starting to build new functionality based on that framework, it really is in your best interest to use LWC.
Salesforce Lightning Web Components is the future, and our senior-level Salesforce consulting team can help get you there. Contact us today to learn more.
