react-lua is Roblox's own translation of React 17 into Luau. If you have ever built UI with React on the web, you already know how to build Roblox UI with this. It powers a lot of Roblox's own interfaces, so it is production grade.
What is react-luau?
A comprehensive, but not exhaustive, translation of ReactJS 17.x into Luau. This is a read-only mirror.
A comprehensive, but not exhaustive, translation of ReactJS 17.x into Luau. React Luau is a declarative library for building user interfaces. It's a highly-tuned translation of ReactJS and currently based on React 17. Declarative: React makes it easy to create interactive UIs. Design simple views for each state in your application, and React will efficiently update and render just the right components when your data changes. Declarative views make your code more predictable, simpler to understand, and easier to debug. Component-Based: Build encapsulated components that manage their own state, then compose them to make complex UIs. Since component logic is written in Luau instead of managed with Roblox's Instances, you can easily pass rich data through your code and keep the state out of the data model. Tuned for Roblox: Luau is not Javascript, so we deviate from ReactJS in certain places for a more ergonomic programming experience in Luau and with Roblox's wider programming model. For example, React Luau introduces Bindings, a form of signals-based state that doesn't re-render, for highly-efficient animations driven by React. Learn how to use React Luau in your project.
The facts, straight from GitHub
- Repository: Roblox/react-luau
- 533 stars and 43 forks, with 13 open issues
- Written mainly in Luau
- Licensed under MIT
- Started in 2023, last updated 2026-07-10
Grab it with: git clone https://github.com/Roblox/react-luau.git
Check the README for how to install: most Roblox projects are distributed through Wally or as rbxm models you drop into Studio.
Frequently asked questions
Is react-luau free to use?
It is released under the MIT license, so it is free to use. Read the license text for the exact terms before you ship anything based on it.
Is the project still maintained?
Yes, the last update was pushed on 2026-07-10, so the project is alive and moving.
What do I need to know before diving in?
The project is written mainly in Luau, so some familiarity there helps a lot. Start with the README, then browse the open issues to see what the rough edges are. That is usually the fastest way to understand the real state of any repository.
Where do I get help if I am stuck?
Open an issue on the GitHub issue tracker, check existing discussions, and of course post right here in this topic. Someone in the Roblox community has probably hit the same wall before you.
Over to you
Have you tried react-luau? Are you running it, forking it, or did you rage quit halfway through the setup? Reply below with your experience, your questions or your own favorite alternative. If there is enough interest we can put together a community guide for it.