How To Test Network Speed In React Native

In the fast-paced world of mobile applications, user experience is paramount. Applications need to load quickly and smoothly, or users might abandon them. This is especially true for business applications where reliability is key. At my company, we faced occasional issues where our customer applications would get stuck on the splash screen. Even though this happened infrequently, it was crucial to find a solution.

The Challenge

The challenge was clear: How could we ensure that our applications performed optimally, and if there was a network issue, how could we gracefully direct users to an offline mode rather than leaving them staring at a frozen screen?

The Solution: rn-speed-test

To tackle this problem, we decided to create a network speed testing package specifically for React Native. This package, aptly named rn-speed-test, would allow us to check network speed during the splash screen loading process.

rn-speed-test is a powerful tool for React Native developers. It provides a straightforward way to test network speed and make informed decisions about whether to switch the application to offline mode when the network speed falls below a specified threshold.

Package and GitHub URLs:

How It Works

Testing During Splash Screen: We integrated rn-speed-test into our React Native applications, specifically during the splash screen loading phase.
Setting Speed Thresholds: We configured the package to check the network speed and set specific speed thresholds. For example, if the network speed was slower than 1 Mbps, we would consider it too slow for a seamless experience.
Graceful Handling: If the network speed test failed or the speed was below the threshold, we implemented logic to gracefully direct users to an offline mode, where they could continue to use certain app features without a network connection.

Example Code:

pnpm add rn-speed-test
yarn add rn-speed-test
npm install rn-speed-test
Code language: plaintext (plaintext)

import { useState } from 'react';
import { View, Text } from 'react-native';
import RnSpeedTestProvider, { useRnSpeedTest, RnSpeedTestConfig,} from 'rn-speed-test';

const SomeComponent = ()=>{
  const { networkSpeed, networkSpeedText } = useRnSpeedTest();
  return(
    
      {networkSpeed||'calculating'}
    )
}

const App = ()=>{
  const [error,setError] = useState('');
  const config:RnSpeedTestConfig = {
    token: 'YOUR_TOKEN__HERE',
    timeout: 10000,
    https: true,
    urlCount: 5,
    bufferSize: 8,
    unit: 'MBps',
  };
  return (
    
      //  Rest of the app ...
    
  )
}
export default App

Code language: TypeScript (typescript)

Benefits

Improved User Experience: By testing network speed and reacting appropriately, we ensured that our applications provided a better user experience. Users weren’t left frustrated by frozen splash screens.
Enhanced Reliability: The reliability of our applications increased, and users could still access essential features even in low or no network conditions.
Reduced Abandonment: Users were less likely to abandon the app when they encountered network issues during the splash screen phase.

Conclusion

Creating rn-speed-test has been a game-changer for our company. It’s a clear example of how a simple, yet powerful package can make a significant difference in the performance and reliability of React Native applications.

If you’re a React Native developer looking to enhance the user experience of your applications, consider implementing network speed testing using rn-speed-test. It’s a step toward ensuring your users’ satisfaction and keeping your applications competitive in the market.

With “rn-speed-test,” you can say goodbye to stuck splash screens and hello to a smoother, more reliable application experience.