Frontend, or CSS, frameworks are software designed to help developers with the appearance and functionality of their websites and apps. It involves using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript elements to create a fully functioning website or app.
What are the best frontend frameworks to use?
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React
Released by Facebook in 2011, this framework uses a virtual Document Object Model (DOM) and one-way data binding. Benefits of React include:
- Easy to learn
- User-friendly
- Integration capabilities with other JavaScript software
- High performance
React may be easy to learn, but it relies solely on JavaScript and utilizes JSX syntax, which can be challenging to understand. However, this framework is used by top-notch companies like Netflix, Pinterest, and Reddit.
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Vue.js
Like React, Vue.js uses a virtual DOM but with two-way binding. It was created to be a simplistic version of another framework—Angular. Some of its pros are:
- Fast performance speed
- Beginner-friendly
- Aids SEO
- Wide range of tools to use
Vue.js is, on the other hand, small, created by private developers, and is limited in its applications. Alternatively, it’s excellent for single-page projects but can’t handle the complexity of larger ones. 9gag and Alibaba are companies that implement this framework in their sites.
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Angular (also known as Angular2+)
It’s TypeScript-based and has an open-source structure. Its predecessor, AngularJS, was released by Google in 2009 before the current version was updated in 2016. This framework:
- Uses a hierarchal dependency injection function
- Extremely versatile, reusable, and easy to manage
- Two-way data binding for synchronous changes
However, some of the biggest downsides of using Angular are its enlarged file size, a difficult learning curve for beginners, and small SEO applications. Google implements this framework in many of its systems, but companies like LEGO, BMW, and UPS use it as well.
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Svelte
This framework has transitioned to a compiler over time. When it was released in 2016, it quickly became popular due to its TypeScript base, open-source structure, and JavaScript functionality. Advantages of Svelte include:
- Requires minimal coding
- Optimized for SEO
- Simple format
- No virtual DOM
It’s still considered a fairly new framework, meaning its tools and support are limited. The New York Times and Godaddy are among several top companies that have incorporated it into their systems.
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jQuery
A veteran in the world of JavaScript frontend frameworks, jQuery has continued to be updated. This has kept it in the list of top frameworks to use with benefits like:
- Strong, supportive community
- Web browser compatibility
- Easy, minimalistic structure
The largest issue with jQuery is how large the file size can be. Nonetheless, it’s used by companies such as Microsoft, Twitter, and Uber.
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Ember
With a stable MVVM open-source structure, this 2011 framework uses two-way data binding alongside other advantages. For example:
- Quick server-side rendering
- Organized, active community
- Use of templates to reduce coding
- Type- and JavaScript compatible
Its structure makes it hard to customize or understand for beginners. Businesses that use a complex structure in their systems like Netflix, LinkedIn, and Apple Music will find this more useful.
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Backbone.js
This framework is free under the MIT software license and has advantages in:
- 100+ extensions to choose from
- Easy to learn
- Can have small file sizes
Unfortunately, two-way data binding isn’t included in its structure, and some developers see it as becoming obsolete. It’s good for small and large projects and is used by Pinterest and Trello.
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Semantic UI
Released in 2014, Semantic UI comes with an enthusiastic community that has quickly developed and expanded on the framework. Some benefits are:
- Simple organic code
- Integration capabilities with most frameworks on this list
- Large selection of themes
Extensive knowledge of JavaScript is almost required to utilize this framework, but its interface designs are seamless. As it becomes more popular, developers will join businesses like Snapchat in implementing it into their systems.