Working with JavaScript? Explore Top JavaScript Frameworks to Ease the Development Project

JavaScript is one of the best programming languages today, powering 97.9% of the websites. As a multi-paradigm programming language, JavaScript can work with four development styles;

• Event-driven
• Functional
• Object-oriented
• Prototype-based

Plus, we have seen an evolution in its usage as well. Earlier, JavaScript was used only for client-side programming, but it is also used for server-side programming. Due to this, JavaScript has gained the badge of “language of the web” even when there are several other programming languages available.

According to the Stack Overflow survey, 64.96% of the respondents agreed that they are using JavaScript and its frameworks for their development tasks. And this figure represents a small fraction of the surveyed developers.

With JavaScript’s capabilities and popularity, there are bound to be numerous frameworks and libraries built with the technology. However, the real question, which we will be addressing here today, is which are the top JavaScript frameworks. But first, let’s go through some basics.

What are JavaScript Frameworks?

All JavaScript frameworks can be included in the category of web frameworks. A web framework is an abstraction having generic functionality, but it can be modified or selectively changed by user-written code as per the requirements. Similarly, a JS framework is written in JavaScript, allowing programmers and developers to manipulate the in-built functions to build a customized application.

From websites to applications, developers are proactively using frameworks as it makes working with JavaScript smoother, faster, and easier. The functions and services provided by these frameworks make applications responsive, leading to a better customer experience.

Must Read: Progressive Web Apps Build Modern and Offline Apps: A Complete Guide

Top JavaScript Frameworks You Must Know About 

We scanned through the list of frameworks developers loved in 2021 as listed by the Stack Overflow survey. The top 10 frameworks of 2021 were;

1. ReactJS
2. NodeJS
3. Express
4. Angular
5. Vue.Js
6. Flask
7. Django
8. Spring

Some of these frameworks are based on JavaScript, and others are based on different programming languages. Coming to the top ones in 2022, which are specifically based on JavaScript, divided on the basis of frontend and backend functionalities.

Frontend Frameworks

• Angular

  Angular is popular in the development community for building single-page applications (SPAs). Its capabilities, like extending HTML into the application and interpreting the attributes to perform data binding, have helped Angular become a popular choice among developers.

  Working with Angular means you will get the benefits of open-source technology, along with smart functions like;

  • Two-way data binding
  • Easier DOM manipulation

  Angular also converts the templates into readable and editable code that is also optimized for JavaScript virtual machines. It is enabled with code splitting due to the new component router making the applications built with this technology faster and smoother.

  In addition to these capabilities, Angular has in-built templates creating simple and powerful UI templates syntax. The Angular Command Line (CLI) aids with faster development, testing, and deployment, allowing businesses to outrun their competitors and reach the market first.

  In a nutshell, Angular is an impressive JavaScript web framework possessing pertinent capabilities. Developers can leverage these capabilities to create high-performance interfaces boasting complex animations, structures presented in a user-friendly manner, and working with speed.

  Even though Angular is a popular framework, its usage has not increased since May 2021. However, React.Js has seen a substantial improvement in its usage statistics. Let‘s find out more about React.Js.

• React.Js 

  The State of JS survey of 2021 ranked React.Js at the top of the list of best front-end JavaScript frameworks. In terms of usage, the framework has maintained its top spot since 2016.

  React.Js is developed and maintained by Facebook. When one of the best digital channel organizations is managing a framework, we can expect nothing less than an incredible technology allowing developers to build stellar solutions.

  With React.Js, we can build fast user interfaces for interactive and engaging applications. Solutions built with React.Js are known to use data efficiently as it updates all the occurrences across all the libraries at once. The Virtual DOM allows even faster updates to the web view component.

  Working with ReactJS is super easy because it divides the page or project into multiple components. And with each component working as a separate entity having separate logic and design, the development becomes easier and more accessible, and reusing the code is also easier.

  React.Js works with Virtual DOM, which divides the data into modules, and each module has a node connected to each independent UI element. Due to this, only one part of the page reloaded and not the entire website, making the solution work faster.

• Vue.Js 

  Vue.Js is a lightweight and fast-response JavaScript framework boasting a wide gamut of benefits and services. Using Vue.Js, we can create high-end and performant single-page applications, and it is also suitable for cross-platform development.

  Like React.Js, Vue.Js also works with Virtual DOM, making the end result faster and smoother on all fronts. The reason for including Vue.Js in the list of top JavaScript frameworks is its functionalities.

  Vue.Js is enabled with reactive two-way data binding allowing manipulation of values associated with HTML attributes. This makes adding CSS transitions to the solution built with this technology makes it easier.

  Also, when measuring Vue.Js with other frameworks capable of working with API and design, Vue.Js is simpler and can build minimal or simple applications in one day. When users switch between pages, they need not refresh the page because of Vue Routing, which makes navigation easier and faster.

• Svelte 

  The 2021 results of the survey conducted by the State of JavaScript have ranked Svelte at 2nd in terms of Satisfaction and 4th in terms of Usage. Using Svelte, we can create fast-performing and static web applications. It’s an open-source framework, which means we can take the raw code base and modify it according to the requirements to create interactive user interfaces.

  Technically, Vue Svelter is a web framework like React and Vue. Rather, it’s a compiler-as-a-framework that transforms Svelte Code into vanilla JavaScript. This leads to faster performance and brings smoothness into the application.

  Svelte or SvelteKit compiles the code into smaller components and independent JavaScript modules. This ensures that the browser has to work at a minimum leading to a faster loading time and enhanced performance.

  Svelte usage has increased from 8% in 2019 to 20% in 2021. One reason for this increased usage is less code required to build applications, which decreases the time spent on building the solution.

• Ember.Js 

  Ember.Js has a wider application area, which is one of the reasons why we have included it in the list of top JavaScript frameworks. It’s a reliable platform that is compatible with two-way data binding and can handle complicated user requests, and manage to provide impressive user interfaces.

  Working with Ember is easier, and it leads to creating usable web applications that are easier to use for the users. At its core, the developers will get to work with HTML and CSS development models.

  It has an in-built debugger, Ember Inspector, that helps with testing and debugging the applications built with this technology.

• Preact 

  Preact is billed as a fast alternative to ReactJs, working similarly to a modern API. The Preact library is closer to DOM while providing the thinnest possible abstraction of the Virtual DOM. While working with Preact.Js, a web application development company can benefit from its direct execution in the browser without having to complete transpilation steps.

  Primarily, it’s a UI framework but is smaller in size, and its was launched for a specific purpose;

  “To provide high performance and memory-efficient solutions while being closely compatible with React. 

  More importantly, PreactJs has quickly gained the position of one of the top JavaScript frameworks due to its minimalistic nature and low memory usage while providing fast & higher performance.

  Due to its smaller size, improved performance, and proximity to React, developers start the development with React, but at the production time, they move to Preact.

• Polymer 

  Polymer is considered to hold the future of web development in its hand. Do you know why? Launched by Google, Polymer.Js has mature and stable framework properties essential to building large-scale applications. With Polymer, developers can curate their own HTML elements and then compose them into complex and scalable applications that can also be scaled as and when required.

  Working with Polymer is great, but some of its features are too advanced for the development system we have today. In other words, Polymer is ahead of its time. A number of technologies added in Polymer are still in the process of standardization.

  Hence, we won’t find them in present-day browsers. But, to compensate for these not-in-demand functions, Polymer provides Polyfills, which are basically JavaScript codes providing features that cannot be built into today’s browsers. Developers can download the code base and integrate the same into the source code.

• Backbone

  The last of the best front-end JavaScript frameworks on our list is Backbone.Js, which is also one of the most popular development technologies. Backbone is primarily used to build single-page applications, and its is popular because of three reasons;

  • Easy to learn
  • Easy to use
  • Easy to understand

  Backbone’s introduction was done for one purpose, “to reduce the amount of coding and still provide advanced level functioning with reduced complexity.”

  To achieve this, the framework ensures that all the server-side functions required to build the application are fulfilled through API.

Backend Frameworks

• Node.Js 

  NodeJS is a scalable, event-driven JavaScript runtime used for building scalable network-oriented applications. Built on the V8 engine under an MIT license, Node.Js has impeccable capabilities for building server-side applications. However, the unique backend architecture pattern also enables developers to build client-side applications.

  Its open-source and asynchronous nature is further helpful in creating event-driven applications using NodeJS. Working with Node.Js can generate dynamic page content and create & manage files on the server. It can be used to collect form data and even manage the database.

• Next.Js

  Next.Js is based on React, and it is a server-side rendering framework popularly used by software developers. With Next.Js, developers mostly leverage the “Build Once, Run Everywhere” system enabling them to create applications for mobile and web.

  It provides a simple implementation and development system that is used for building React-based applications. It is a fast-performing technology fitted with automatic code-splitting and prefetching functionalities, which is crucial for improving load times and making pages load instantly.

• Express.Js

  Based on Node.Js, Express.Js is an open-source backend JavaScript framework. The most common use of Express.Js is to build APIs and web applications. Express.Js is fast, minimalistic, and enjoys incredible community support.

  These are some of the reasons why it has become a part of the MEAN and MERN stack. These are the development tech stacks used by several leading web app development companies for performant and high-yield solutions.

  Among the several capabilities of Express.Js, the rapid server-side coding ability stands out as it helps developers complete complex development tasks quickly and efficiently.

• Gatsby.Js

  Gatsby.Js has become popular in the industry as a static-site generator. It’s a modern and flexible framework compatible with GraphQL. Besides having these core development properties, Gatsby.Js is an SEO-friendly technology.

  We have added it in the list of top JavaScript frameworks because of a peculiar attribute. Gatsby.Js does not have a server-side rendering function. Rather we are building the solution; it generates HTML code on the client-side.

  Overall, websites built with Gatsby.Js provide faster performance relative to other technologies performing the same function. Its high-end security feature is another reason for adding it to the top back-end JavaScript frameworks.

Conclusion

Web frameworks simplify the work and process of web application development. JavaScript frameworks have the same purpose and help programmers build performant solutions. Frameworks provide access to documentation, libraries, and additional resources to provide impressive and memorable customer experiences to the end-users.

While working with a framework is easier, choosing the best one for your project is not as easy as it seems. Since all the front-end JavaScripts frameworks are unique and provide different capabilities, it is important to choose the one that satisfies the project requirements.

Make sure to look at the frameworks’ learning curve, functionalities, offerings, and in-built capabilities. As a leading web app development company, it is essential to make the smart move and identify the best offerings of every JavaScript framework.