React is a library, not a framework, focused solely on building user interfaces. Unlike frameworks like Ember.js that include everything needed for applications, React requires additional packages for routing, data management, testing, and deployment.
Understanding this distinction is crucial for block development since React provides the UI layer while other systems handle data management. WordPress combines React with Redux and its own data module to create the complete block editor experience.
This modular approach allows WordPress to integrate React for interfaces while maintaining control over data flow, state management, and the overall application architecture through its own specialized systems.