An easy guide to best frontend framework
Best Frontend Frameworks 2023 – A Comprehensive Guide
A good UI can raise a website’s conversion rate by up to 200%- a study by Forrester states. No wonder why building an intuitive interface is the topmost priority for every business owner right now. A good user experience can help retain users and build positive relationships with leads and stakeholders, impacting a business’s overall revenue.
To build stunning interfaces, enterprises rely on frontend frameworks that streamline the development of interactive, user-centric websites and applications. Read on as we discuss and review the best front-end frameworks for web app development.
What are Frontend Frameworks?
Frontend frameworks come from two separate words, frontend + frameworks. The frontend is part of the website with which a user interacts and is the visual site of any web application. Frameworks are foundations upon which applications are developed. Together, frontend frameworks are software packages that provide pre-written/reusable code modules, standardized frontend technologies, and ready-made interface blocks, making the process of app and software development faster and simpler.
Frontend frameworks determine the structure, design, logic, behavior, and animation of every element of the software/application you interact with and see on-screen. These frameworks help developers to elevate user experiences and create sustainable web applications without the need to code every function from scratch owing to the presence of development instruments in a framework.
Why Use Frontend Frameworks?
If we have to give a simple, uncomplicated answer to the question, it would be to improve user experience. But if it wasn’t enough to convince you, here are some solid reasons why you should use frontend frameworks-
Accelerated development pace
Reusable components and templates shrink development time, allowing developers to update specific parts of pages without changing the entire design enabling faster launching of apps. These frameworks allow developers to use tested and bug-free libraries without investing a lot of time to find and fix bugs.
Reduced code length
Frameworks divide the code into modules and provide a component approach that allows developers to save time and effort by reusing once-developed components anywhere in the project.
Easy maintenance
Frameworks help break up an application into reusable and standalone components, allowing and simplifying quick changes that don’t affect the rest of the application. It empowers developers to maintain an app easily by using similar design patterns.
Two-way data binding
Some frontend frameworks support two-way binding that allows linking data and the view. Any data-related changes affecting the model are immediately generated to the matching view. Any changes made are reflected in the underlying without re-updating the DOM on your own.
Benefits of Frontend Development
You must be pretty convinced to try out frontend frameworks by now, and if you are still not, here are some major benefits of employing frontend UI frameworks-
More responsive features and applications
As mentioned, frontend frameworks use reusable components that empower web developers to develop an app with fast-reacting features. They offer great flexibility and allow developers to assemble applications quickly, enabling the app to react quickly with just a few clicks.
User-driven outcomes
Deploying modern frameworks will enable faster development of elements while curtailing the real-time needed in the development procedure. For instance, if you have a plan for which the backend is already set up, you can develop the frontend and put it all together in just a few days.
Cross browser support
Frontend frameworks fairly benefit developers. A web developer can attain everything from detecting all alterations in the browser to being fearless of losing the status of the web application.
Factors for Selecting the Best Frontend Framework
Here are some factors to keep in mind while selecting the best frontend framework-
Core Features
Going for an in-depth comparison of features between different frameworks is important for choosing the right one. You can read the documentation provided and look out for each set of their features. You can focus on support and functionality, management, templates, form processing, HTTP communication, validation, etc.
Usability
Usability is one of the most crucial factors you must watch out for while selecting the best frontend frameworks. The usability of any framework can be determined after trying it and not just by researching and going through the documentation. You can explore the CLIs, libraries, and plugins supported by the framework and use them in smaller projects for experimentation.
Integration capabilities
A good framework always has great integration capabilities. It doesn’t matter how loaded it is with features. A tool will always need integration with additional tools libraries. Several libraries focus on DOM manipulation, formatting time, data processing, and rich-text editing. Your framework should be capable of significant integration processes if you want to combine all such components in your project.
Popularity
Though high popularity may only sometimes translate to high efficiency, it is one of the factors to watch out for when selecting a frontend network. Popular frameworks have great community circles, so you will never find trouble getting help.
Let’s say, for instance, your web developers leave your project in the middle for some reason, and the framework they worked on is popular. You can quickly find a developer replacement. Even if the developers don’t abandon you, you might need more frontend developers to support the project. Choosing a popular framework will help you find developers easily.
Support for mobile development
Mobile support is imperative if you want to scale your application and appeal to a larger base of users, as most users prefer browsing from a mobile device for convenience. Look out for a frontend framework that supports mobile app development for your enterprise.
Best Frontend Frameworks
Here is a list of the most popular in-demand frontend libraries and frameworks for 2023 based on overall user satisfaction, company size, interest, ease of use, etc.
React
React is one of the most popular open-source javascript frameworks for developing interactive UIs. Facebook developed it in 2013 to fix code maintainability issues due to the constant addition of features in the app. React outshines all other frameworks because of its virtual Document Object Model and exceptional functionality. Many entrepreneurs declare it the best frontend framework and have a user community of over 3 million.
Pros-
1. Offers seamless reusability of components that promotes easy collaboration.
2. Virtual DOM offers exceptional performance.
3. Easy to learn and understand. It allows users to write components undertaking extensive classes.
4. The development tools are advanced and very useful.
Cons-
1. Difficult to make proper documentation due to constant updates in the framework impacting the learning curve for beginners.
2. Beginners might need help understanding the complexities of JSX.
3. It only offers frontend solutions.
Best for-
Building interfaces for single-page applications.
Not suitable for-
React is only recommended if you have hands-on experience with JavaScript.
Angular
Angular was officially launched in 2016 and is a framework based on TypeScript. Google developed it to address the increasing demands of technology and conventional concepts. It offers a unique two-way data binding feature, which means real-time synchronization between the model and the view. Any model change is instantly reflected on the view and vice versa. It is a great app for developing multi-page and progressive web apps.
Pros-
1. Offers in-built functionality to update changes made in the model to the view and vice-versa.
2. The components are reusable and easy to maintain with the help of dependency injection.
3. Features like two-way data binding reduce the amount of code to a great extent.
4. It has a large community of developers for learning support.
Cons-
1. The learning curve is steep, but its large community makes it easier for beginners to learn about concepts and technology.
2. Due to its complex structure, sometimes dynamic apps don’t perform well.
Best for-
Browser-based applications, enterprise-based applications, and dynamic web apps.
Not suitable for-
Small teams as it is a complex framework.
Vue.js
Vue.js is popular for its simplicity and straightforward approach toward frontend building. Unlike Angular, it is not complex and smaller in size. Two of the major advantages of this framework are- visual DOM and component-based, which is also a 2-way binding.
Vue.js is a versatile framework that web designers use to make smaller front-end components or even an entire single-page application. It offers enough flexibility to encompass several libraries and collaborate.
Pros-
1. Simple and straightforward to use. Programmers who have javascript background can easily get started with Vue.js.
2. Detailed and extensive documentation.
3. Supports typescript.
4. Offers good flexibility in designing the app structure.
Cons-
1. Has a relatively small community.
2. Unstable components.
3. Most plugins are written in Chinese, so there is a language barrier.
Best for-
It is a great app for flexible design structures, allowing developers to design everything from scratch, and it is also suitable for giant projects.
Not suitable for-
If you choose the framework thinking there would be a good support community, there are better options than this.
Preact
Preact is a JavaScript library that positions itself as a faster 3KB alternative to React containing a similar ES6 API. Despite the size difference, it still offers the same modern API and functionalities as React. It is a popular framework and renders the fastest virtual DOM library.
Preact allows developers to use existing React packages, and developers need not learn a new library from scratch due to its compatibility with React. It’s fine if you start a new project or develop an existing one. Preact is time-saving and effective that prioritizes speed and performance.
Pros-
1. Allows developers to get highly interactive apps and pages in under 5 seconds.
2. Utilizes the benefits of react-style elements in the old sites founded on Backbone and jQuery.
3. Minimizes code, enabling quicker loads.
4. It is portable and embeddable, making it a good option for building apps without complex integration.
5. Features a powerful, dedicated CLI that can create new projects easily.
Cons-
1. Does not support the React prototype.
2. Small community offering little support for learning.
3. Performance and maintenance issues.
Best for-
When you want to utilize a lightweight framework, Preact is a good choice.
Not suitable for-
If you are looking for a framework that supports displaced functional elements, there are better choices than Preact, as it does not offer the functionality.
Svelte
Svetle is a modern web framework and the newest of all frontend frameworks. Unlike frameworks like React and Vue.js, it has made a difference by placing the work into accumulated steps instead of putting them in the browser. It transcribes the code in synchronization with the application’s state to update the Document Object Model (DOM).
Pros-
1. Faster than other frameworks like Angular or React.
2. It is the most modern one of all frameworks.
3. Simple, lightweight, and uses existing JavaScript libraries.
4. Better reactivity and scalable framework.
Cons-
1. A small community for support.
2. Yet to gain popularity.
3. Lack of tooling.
Best for-
Small app projects for small teams because it does not have big community support
Not suitable for-
Bigger projects as it needs more tooling and community.
Foundation
Foundation was developed by Zurb and is mainly intended for enterprise-level development of agile and responsive websites. It is a fairly challenging framework for beginners to get started with. It features GPU acceleration for ultra-smooth animations, switch mobile rendering features, and data-interchange attributes where it loads lightweight segments for mobile and heavy sections for larger devices.
Pros-
1. Offers flexible grids.
2. Allows developers to create stunning-looking websites.
3. HTML5 form validation library.
4. Personalized user experience for different devices and media.
Cons-
1. Steep learning curve.
2. Limited community forums and support platforms.
3. Has more popular competitors like Bootstrap.
Best for-
Foundation is a good option if you are aiming for styled open-source, CSS components and a mobile-friendly frontend framework.
Not suitable for-
Beginners as it is difficult to modify the code and increases the complexity because of its customization competence.
Semantic UI
Semantic UI is on the newer side of frameworks on its way to becoming one of the most popular frontend frameworks worldwide. It was invented by Jack Lukic, released in 2014, and supported by LESS and jQuery. It uses natural language that makes the entire code self-explanatory, making the user interface intuitive and simple in terms of functionality and usability. It is beginner-friendly, allowing freshers to grasp the framework quickly.
Pros-
1. Modern and new framework.
2. Offers out-of-the-box functionality.
3. Beginner friendly and easy to learn.
4. Rich UI components and responsiveness.
Cons-
1. Beginners must know JavaScript to get started.
2. It needs to be more efficient to develop custom requirements.
3. Offers large packages.
Best for-
Lightweight practice and developing a smooth design for interactive user interfaces.
Not suitable for
Beginners who do not know JavaScript.
Backbone.js
Backbone.js is one of the easiest frameworks, allowing developers to build single-page quickly. It is based on the MVC pattern, where you can build projects requiring dissimilar types of users. The collections can be utilized to differentiate the models.Backbone.js is one the best choices as its REST API compatibility delivers smooth synchronization between the two.
Pros-
1. One of the fastest frameworks.
2. Easy to learn.
3. Features a lightweight framework.
Cons-
1. Does not offer a readymade structure.
2. You must transcribe a boilerplate code to communicate for a view to model and vice versa.
Best for-
Client-side model for faster updates and code reusability.
Not suitable for-
Teams targeting a complete dynamic solution in one framework should not consider Backbone.js.
Ember.js
Ember.js was developed in 2011, presenting a two-way data binding similar to Angular. It is intended to meet the increasing demands of modern-day technologies. Developers can build complex mobile and web applications seamlessly with their conventional structure. One of the framework’s shortcomings is that it has steep learning because of its rigidity. It is a relatively new framework that is under-explored in many ways.
Pros-
1. One of the fastest frameworks.
2. Well-organized and easy to learn
3. Two-way binding.
4. Extensive and detailed documentation.
Cons-
1. Small, less popular community.
2. Steep learning curve.
3. Heavy framework for small applications.
Best for-
If you want to build modern applications with a rich user interface.
Not suitable for-
Smaller development team since the framework requires experience in business logic to solve complexities.
jQuery
jQuery was introduced in 2006 as one of the earliest frontend frameworks. Despite being around for quite a while, it is still relevant in today’s tech world. It minimizes the need to write extensive JavaScript while offering simplicity and ease of use. It has a large supportive community and is used to manipulate CSS and DOM and optimize a website’s functionality and interactivity.
Pros-
1. Facilitates dynamic content
2. Simplified HTTP requests.
3. Flexible DOM is flexible for adding or removing elements.
Cons-
1. Slow working capabilities.
2. Obsolete APIs of the document object model.
Best for-
Developing desktop-based JavaScript applications.
Not suitable for –
Developing a large-scale application.
The Low Code Road to Frontend Development
Learning a new framework can be challenging. Additionally, you must invest time and money in learning or hiring developers who already understand the frameworks. If you are looking for a convenient and flexible alternative to building intuitive frontends within a fraction of the time, producing the same, if not better, results, low code is the answer.
Low code platforms are graphical-based with drag-and-drop elements into an intuitive editor. It offers a combination of no-code with manual coding, making them more flexible that can be used by people of all technical backgrounds. Its short learning curve, flexibility, and development speed make it popular among enterprises and developers, making it the best alternative to building stunning interfaces without learning complex frameworks.
DronaHQ for Frontend Development
DronaHQ is a low code platform that allows developers and business users to create enterprise-ready solutions effortlessly in just a few clicks. With reusable code and pre-built templates, DronaHQ implements changes on the go, accelerating digital transformation. We are constantly evolving to adapt to the current technological landscape and take pride in offering out-of-the-box solutions like immediate app deployment and hosting, easy third-party apps, databases, API integration, and more.
Have a look at our top features-
Pixel perfect designs-
DronaHQ offers 100+ responsive, reusable, and powerful components that let you seamlessly create attractive frontends with pixel-perfect designs by simply dragging and dropping elements.
Layouts and screen types-
Users can utilize multiple layouts, screens (page or screen, menu, popup, tray, panel, form multi-row, form repeat), and navigation options to design the perfect frontend.
UI control editor-
DronaHQ offers a UI control editor that enables users to tailor their UI components as per the need and requirements of their project.
Control Designer-
DronaHQ offers a no code control designer with fully responsive controls, custom rules and logic. You also get to access a ready-control marketplace to easily customize your app the way you want.
Branding-
Create standalone versions of your apps with your own branding like name, logo, and so on with our white label option for Android, iOS, and Web Apps.
Backend configuration
Users can use our dedicated connectors for Postgres, MySQL, REST, Oracle, Google Sheets, and more to build custom UI layers on top of your disparate data sources.
Database and API connectors-
Connect to your choice of database, unify disparate systems into one single platform, and collaborate with stakeholders and employees across apps in just a few clicks.
Web+mobile output
Create an attractive frontend that can be accessed from any device. Publish, manage, update, and embed with any device (Android + iOS), and access specific settings easily.
Enterprise-grade security
DronaHQ is SOC II, and ISO 27001 certified to ensure your data is always secured and protected. With a user management interface, configure your own SSO and give each user the exact permission they need to complete their task.
JavaScript customization
Write JavaScript anywhere to extend your apps’ functionality, manipulate and transform data, and extend your frontend components.
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