From 1427fa50a882fcb96aceed5dfe37208930da0472 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Alan Lee Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2026 10:25:13 -0700 Subject: [PATCH 1/7] Add React Native 0.85 blog post Add the release blog post for React Native 0.85 covering the new Animation Backend, DevTools improvements, Metro TLS support, Jest preset migration, and other breaking changes. Also adds missing author entries to authors.yml. --- website/blog/2026-04-06-react-native-0.85.md | 230 +++++++++++++++++++ website/blog/authors.yml | 28 +++ 2 files changed, 258 insertions(+) create mode 100644 website/blog/2026-04-06-react-native-0.85.md diff --git a/website/blog/2026-04-06-react-native-0.85.md b/website/blog/2026-04-06-react-native-0.85.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..7f1f3b5b1fd --- /dev/null +++ b/website/blog/2026-04-06-react-native-0.85.md @@ -0,0 +1,230 @@ +--- +title: 'React Native 0.85 - New Animation Backend, TextInput Selection Data, New Jest Preset Package' +authors: + [ + alanleedev, + CalixTang, + zoontek, + gabrieldonadel, + bartlomiejbloniarz, + coado, + zeyap, + SamuelSusla, + ] +tags: [announcement, release] +date: 2026-04-06 +--- + +# React Native 0.85 - New Animation Backend, TextInput Selection Data, New Jest Preset Package + +Today we are excited to release React Native 0.85! + +This release includes the New Animation Backend, adds selection data to TextInput `onChange` events, moves the Jest preset to a dedicated package, and includes many other improvements and fixes. + +### Highlights + +- [New Animation Backend](/blog/2026/04/06/react-native-0.85#new-animation-backend) +- [React Native DevTools Improvements](/blog/2026/04/06/react-native-0.85#react-native-devtools-improvements) +- [Metro TLS Support](/blog/2026/04/06/react-native-0.85#metro-tls-support) + +### Breaking Changes + +- [Jest Preset Moved to New Package](/blog/2026/04/06/react-native-0.85#jest-preset-moved-to-new-package) +- [Dropped Support for EOL Node.js Versions](/blog/2026/04/06/react-native-0.85#dropped-support-for-eol-nodejs-versions) +- [`StyleSheet.absoluteFillObject` Removed](/blog/2026/04/06/react-native-0.85#stylesheetabsolutefillobject-removed) +- [Other Breaking Changes](/blog/2026/04/06/react-native-0.85#other-breaking-changes) + + + +## Highlights + +### New Animation Backend + +React Native 0.85 introduces the new Shared Animation Backend, built in collaboration with [Software Mansion](https://swmansion.com/). This is a new internal engine that powers how animations are applied under the hood for both Animated and Reanimated. By moving the main animation update logic to React Native core, Reanimated is able to land performance improvements that weren't possible before, and can ensure that the update reconciliation process is properly tested and will remain stable with future RN updates. In Animated, you can now animate layout props with native driver (the [limitation once stated here](https://reactnative.dev/docs/animations#caveats) no longer applies). + + + + + + + +You can find more examples under [`react-native/packages/rn-tester/js/examples/AnimationBackend/`](https://github.com/facebook/react-native/tree/main/packages/rn-tester/js/examples/AnimationBackend). + +To opt in, enable `useSharedAnimatedBackend` and `cxxNativeAnimatedEnabled` in `ReactNativeFeatureFlags`. + +#### How to animate layout props + +With the new animation backend, you'll be able to animate Flexbox and position props with native driver in Animated. + +```jsx +import { + Animated, + View, + Button, + useAnimatedValue, +} from 'react-native'; +import {allowStyleProp} from 'react-native/Libraries/Animated/NativeAnimatedAllowlist'; + +allowStyleProp('width'); + +function MyComponent() { + const width = useAnimatedValue(100); + + const toggle = () => { + Animated.timing(width, { + toValue: 300, + duration: 500, + useNativeDriver: true, + }).start(); + }; + + return ( + <> + +