Top Frameworks for Web Development
The present-day digital age offers a lot of opportunities for business. However, no business can make progress nowadays without a well-structured website. It attracts a wider audience and generates more leads and conversions.
Therefore, web application development is in great demand. It becomes more effective with the use of a functional modern web framework. Such frameworks help overcome existing business challenges and make the process of web app creation easier.
This article explains the importance of productive frameworks designed for frontend and backend structure of the website to deliver the best results. We want to present the best frameworks for efficient use.
What Are Frameworks for Web Development?
There are multiple frameworks that help developers create high-end software with the help of different programming languages. Their aim is to make the entire software development project easier and more straightforward. These programs provide the foundation for building efficient software and automating the biggest part of the application creation process.
That considerably contributes to time-efficiency. Due to them, developers do not have to start making a website or app from scratch, so they can concentrate on the structure without too much care for low-level details and repetitive functions.
The concept of frameworks is often confused with that of libraries. They are quite similar as reusable pieces of code but not interchangeable. The difference is not always clear but it does exist. Frameworks predetermine the app’s architecture, while libraries contain sets of packages for specific operations and tasks.
With the best framework, web developing becomes easier because it facilitates the process by allowing experts to re-use generic modules. In addition, such processes become less routine, so developers can focus on individual components. They choose the most appropriate framework that possesses such essential characteristics as:
━ higher performance that enhances the loading capacity of a website;
━ error reduction due to externally integrated or pre-built testing algorithms to check the code for errors;
━ provision of faster development owing to pre-written templates and customizable objects to fulfill complex programming tasks;
━ security and reliability provided by bunches of ready-made components that are regularly updated to ensure the continuity of the process;
━ flexibility used for micro function development and support of frontend and backend programming for more complex projects.
Types of Frameworks for Web Development
There are two basic types of web frameworks - frontend and backend ones.
Front End Web Development Framework
A front end web development framework relates to a client-side part and is applied to developing the user interface. Such frameworks usually utilize JavaScript, CSS, or HTML programming languages.
The objective of this type of framework is to help in development of the UX/UI web design that refers to templates, SEO optimization, user interaction management, code snippets, and other user-related elements.
Backend Web Development Framework
A backend web development framework is used for building the hidden part of the app that supports its functioning. Such programs are usually based on .NET, Python, PHP, Java, or Ruby programming languages.
The function of backend frameworks is to support the connection with a server and database. It helps route protocols, create website’s logic and architecture, provide data security, and ensure authorization options.
Differences Between Frontend and Backend Frameworks
Here are the main differences between these two types of frameworks:
1. The frontend interacts with users, while backend refers to internal app’s functioning processes.
2. The frontend frameworks provide pre-written code models, reusable templates, support user interaction and offer custom integrable elements, while the backend ones are responsible for encryption, authorization, database operations, and a variety of components used for connecting frontend to backend features.
3. The basic characteristics of the frontend framework involve UI/UX web design and SEO optimization for better scalability and app performance, while the key features of the backend framework imply handling servers, site architecture design, security, managing databases, and URL routing.
4. The main languages used for the frontend programming are CSS, jQuery, HTML, JavaScript, and others, while in backend frameworks Ruby, Python, .NET, PHP, JavaScript, and several others are prevalent.
5. The best frontend frameworks involve Bootstrap, Ember, React, Angular, and Vue, while the most used backend frameworks are Ruby On Pails, ASP.NET Core, Django, Express, and Spring.
Therefore, let’s look in more detail at these best frameworks for web development.
Best Frameworks for Web Development
The list of frameworks for effective website design that can be customized for app development includes the following ones:
1. React
This frontend framework is introduced by Meta (Facebook) as a JS library. It can be used for developing both websites and single-page applications for desktops and mobiles. It easily integrates with other libraries and frameworks to perform operations related to API interaction, routing, or state management.
Among the pluses of React, let us mention its virtual DOM for quick document manipulation. The complicated structure of the framework can be considered as its main drawback.
2. Angular
This is one of the top web development frameworks utilized by many outstanding web development companies. Angular was launched in 2009 as a frontend framework. It used JavaScript at first, but after its transformation in 2016, it changed its programming language to Typescript. The framework helps develop dynamic web pages. It involves directions, libraries, controllers, and other multiple elements that make it more difficult to learn than other frameworks.
Angular uses the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, and it is especially efficient in creating single-page apps that are pretty high-performing.
Its numerous Angularjs services, two-way data binding, and time efficiency are the most well-appreciated advantages, while slower processing can be considered its drawback.
3. jQuery
It is an open-source JavaScript framework and library applied for creation of user interfaces in apps. It can boast its cross-browser compatibility and is very simple in use. The interaction between the framework’s syntax structure and DOM elements is very easy. Therefore, it is used for developing animations and other effects. The framework is pretty compact because it has many plugins to add functionalities to it. The big benefit of jQuery is its backing by a wide open-source community, and its clear structure provides easy documentation. However, you will need a special JavaScript file for jQuery functioning, and that is believed to be its significant drawback.
4. Vue.Js
Vue.Js is popular among developers who use it for building single-page apps and user interfaces. The frontend framework operates with the Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) architecture. It is not extended because its multiple tools and features are available as separate plugins. Vue can be quickly integrated with third-party solutions and instruments if needed. The program is easy to learn, and it provides time-saving characteristics. These are its indisputable pluses. However, the framework doesn't have support from Microsoft or Google, and its tools are not quite stable, and these are its drawbacks.
5. Ember
It has deserved its reputation as the best JavaScript framework due to a variety of out-of-the-box characteristics for developing amazingly functional apps. Ember is widely used by Netflix, Microsoft, Google, and other large technology companies. The frontend framework utilizes the Model-View-ModelModel (MVMM) architecture and applies the prominent JS practices for web app development. Ember provides high performance, and its documentation is well-maintained. It offers efficient code debugging, too. Among the minuses, a steep learning curve is the biggest one. Ember cannot be used for smaller project design, either.
6. Django
It is an outstanding Python-powered framework for both backend and frontend development. The framework supports the Model-View-Template (MVT) architecture for faster app development. The framework is well-appreciated by such big corporations as NASA, Instagram, and Discus for the backend functionality. The main functions of Django involve authentication, messaging, and in-built validation. The framework allows for developing large business projects. Gjango enjoys the huge community support, boasts well-organized documentation, and apps created with its help are always robust and secure. Among its drawbacks, slow processing and steep learning curve are the most apparent ones.
7. Express JS
This Node.js API can create complex web applications, and it is a very powerful and flexible backend framework. It is known for its in-built features that involve templating, routing, server-side scripting, and third-party integrations. That allows for designing apps that are pretty functional. The framework is perfect for API development. The minus is in a high learning curve.
8. Ruby On Rails
It is one of the oldest backend frameworks based on the Ruby language of programming. More than 800 thousand websites have been developed with its help so far. The program uses sophisticated algorithms utilized in complex projects. There are potent libraries and instruments that are useful in developing cloud-based apps, such as GitHub, Airbnb, Groupon, or Hulu. The development runs fast because most processes are automated. The drawback is in its slow processing.
9. Flask
This framework is Python-based. It is a backend instrument for building high-performing apps that are always lightweight and robust. Flash is a micro-framework but it contains all the libraries and functions to develop apps from scratch. Its main characteristics are a built-in web server, unit testing support, Unicode support, a debugger, RESTful request dispatching, and WSGI compliance. All of them make Flask pretty flexible, scalable, lightweight, and featuring adequate documentation. Its disadvantages are higher maintenance and limited tools. In addition, it is hard to use with complex apps.
10. Laravel
It is a PHP-based backend framework that features the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture. It offers multiple packages that allow for its extension and adaptation. The framework comes with relevant documentation, cache backends, integrated mail services, and the newest PHP features.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best framework for website development is crucial. Each framework represented here has unique features, so you need to pick out the proper one for the requirements of your project quite carefully to obtain the desirable outcomes.
Remember that the right choice of frameworks play an important role in achieving the project’s success, so you may need to discuss your doubts and hesitations within the expert community.
