The world of web development is ever-changing, and each year a new crop of frontend frameworks emerges to create the foundation for modern applications. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, knowing about all these frameworks is an essential skill for any developer who wants to be up-to-date in today’s fast-paced world.
What Are Frontend Frameworks?
A frontend framework is a software library that can be used by developers to build user interfaces (UI). You might have heard them referred to as UI or templating frameworks. These tools help developers create interactive websites faster than if they had to write everything from scratch every time they start a new project on their own.
One of the most important aspects of web development is selecting which frameworks are best for each project. In this article, we will cover some of the top frontend frameworks used in web development today, as well as their benefits and downsides so you can make an informed decision about which one works best for your team.
React.js
One of the top frontend frameworks is React.js — a JavaScript library that is used for building user interfaces that focus on the view layer of an application. It was created by Meta (Facebook) and has become popular as a framework to build large web applications. React.js is one of the most popular web frontend frameworks used in the development of the Facebook website, in addition to other major sites like Netflix, Airbnb, and Pinterest.
Pros of React.js
- React.js has a very simple application programming interface (API) that makes it easy to learn how to use it successfully.
- When developers already know JavaScript, they can quickly understand and start creating web applications using React.js.
- There are plenty of instructions, training materials, and documentation included.
- React.js is open source and anyone can use it for free.
- It has a large community of developers who can help you if you get stuck, so it’s easy to find help when you need it.
- React.js is lightweight, meaning that it won’t slow down your site or app. This makes it great for mobile devices, which are often slower than computers.
- It’s used for server-side rendering and allows pages to load faster since they are pre-rendered before they reach users’ browsers.
- Because React.js uses a virtual Document Object Model (DOM) instead of updating the actual DOM, you can make changes to your website without having to reload it every time, which helps speed up development and have a smooth and consistent performance. Moreover, when using React.js, you can reuse a component (that has already been built) in your code.
Cons of React.js
- The learning curve for React.js can be steep if you’re new to web development or JavaScript programming. React.js developers need to relearn and update their skills constantly to be able to use new updates of the framework.
- The documentation is extensive, but it can be hard to find what you’re looking for when you’re just starting.
- React.js uses JSX (JavaScript XML) which is sometimes difficult for developers to understand.
Digi-Tip: When you want to develop single-page apps with rich and interactive user interfaces in less time, you can consider using React.js.
Vue.js
Vue.js is considered the simplest frontend framework that provides virtual DOM, two-way binding, and component-based programming. Compared to Angular.js, Vue is not complex and smaller in size. Vue.js is lightweight and can be used in any project, from large applications to single-page web apps, or even mobile apps. Major companies that use Vue.js are Xiaomi, Adobe, Gitlab, etc.
Pros of Vue.js
- Once you have a JavaScript background, you can easily use this framework.
- It is designed to be incrementally adaptable and can grow with your project.
- You can develop simple and small, as well as dynamic and complex applications.
- It is minimal, fast, and flexible with a simple syntax.
- Vue offers many powerful features that allow you to customize your application the way you want, including data binding, virtual DOM, routing — the list goes on.
Cons of Vue.js
- It has a small community since it’s still evolving.
- Vue doesn’t have as much documentation as some of its competitors, so it can be difficult to find answers if you get stuck somewhere along the way.
- You may find that many plugins are in Chinese which is an obstacle for those who don’t know Chinese.
Angular.js
One of the best frontend frameworks is Angular.js which is a TypeScript-based open-source front-end web application framework, maintained by Google and the community, that assists with the development of single-page applications. Angular.js is designed to make setting up a web application easy and efficient. The companies that use Angular.js are Forbes, Microsoft Office, Gmail, etc.
Angular.js provides two-way binding that automatically updates both model data and view when any changes occur.
Pros of Angular.js
- It has a large community for support.
- In Angular.js, we can easily import/require any module from another file which makes our development process faster and easier than in other frameworks.
- As mentioned above there is real-time model-view synchronization thanks to two-way binding which means that you can make changes to your applications easily.
Cons of Angular.js
- Angular.js is complex and takes time to learn. It is not exactly beginner-friendly, since it’s geared more toward experienced developers who are familiar with frameworks like React.js or Vue.
- It’s harder to maintain than other frameworks because Angular.js uses two-way data binding which can cause issues if you don’t know what you’re doing.
- Angular.js is not as performant as other frameworks, especially when it comes to dynamic apps.
Digi-Tip: You can use Angular.js whenever you want to build multi-page and progressive apps, as well as enterprise-based applications.
Ember.js
The next popular JavaScript framework is Ember.js. It is designed to provide an API that helps you build large websites efficiently. Ember.js has some great features, like fast rendering, two-way data binding, and many add-ons and plugins. The companies that use Ember.js are LinkedIn, Twitch, Square, etc.
Pros of Ember.js
- Supports both TypeScript and JavaScript.
- It has an effective debugging system.
- You can create complex applications.
- It has well-maintained and proper documentation.
- It has two-way data binding.
Cons of Ember.js
- It has a challenging syntax which suggests a hard learning curve.
- It doesn’t have a large community.
- The framework’s updates come slowly.
- It’s considered heavy for small apps.
Semantic-UI
Semantic-UI is a lightweight framework that helps to create user interfaces. It uses JQuery and CSS to create spontaneous user interfaces. It became popular thanks to its simple features and functionalities, as well as a good user interface. The companies using Semantic-UI include Snapchat, Kmong, etc.
Pros of Semantic-UI
- The main advantage of using this framework is that it allows you to build web applications faster and with less code than other frameworks do.
- Another advantage of Semantic-UI is its flexibility. You have the tools for the configuration of themes.
- It has high responsiveness and rich UI components, as well as simple functionality and an intuitive user interface.
Cons of Semantic-UI
- It doesn’t have a large community since it’s growing and developers need to know JavaScript to use it.
- You need to have proper skills for building your custom configurations.
jQuery
jQuery — a small JavaScript library makes things like HTML Document Object Model (DOM) traversing and manipulation, event handling, HTML document traversing, and Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax) much simpler with an easy-to-use API. The major companies that use jQuery are Walt Disney, Edward Jones, etc.
Pros of jQuery
- jQuery is a fast and efficient way to add functionality to your website.
- There are lots of plugins and themes that can help you build out the features you want.
- You can add animations and other effects to elements on your webpage.
- It’s an open-source library that can simplify HTTP requests.
Cons of jQuery
- You can develop dynamic applications with it but at a slower speed.
- Its DOM API is outdated.
- It’s unsuitable for complex applications.
Backbone.js
This framework is mostly used to develop single-page applications swiftly. It works on the Model View Controller (MVC) framework and makes saving, creating, and destroying data easy. The companies that use Backbone are Racepoint Global, AMC Networks Inc, etc.
Pros of Backbone.js
- Has a lightweight framework and is easy to learn.
- It’s fast and easier to learn.
- It has proper documentation.
- There are many extensions available.
- There are fewer HTTP requests.
Cons of Backbone.js
- There is no two-way binding for data.
- Developers have to write boilerplate code.
- Architecture is sometimes unclear.
Preact
Preact is a 3kb alternative to React.js that supports the same API.
Preact was created to overcome some limitations in the size and performance of React.js. The library uses modern JavaScript syntax and provides an API that mirrors React’s component lifecycle methods. It’s smaller in size but can develop high-speed and complex applications.
Pros of Preact
- Preact is a lightweight alternative to React.js, and it’s easier to understand than React.js. If you already know JavaScript, you can start using Preact without learning a new syntax.
- Preact is fast and has fewer features, which means it has fewer things that could slow down your page.
- Maximizes memory usage.
- It’s lightweight (3kb).
Cons of Preact
- Has a smaller community.
- This framework doesn’t support React.js prototypes and context.
Check this blog out before selecting one of the most well-known frontend frameworks. And if you want to create your own website or app, opt for our web development services, where Digilite’s skilled developers are always ready to make every effort to deliver a navigable and functional interface.
