In the first decade of the 21st century, pure HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and programming languages like PHP, Python, etc. are used to develop dynamic web applications. While using these programming languages, developers are required to write each code from scratch.
So, web application frameworks are introduced, enabling developers to focus more on building unique features rather than writing a basic syntax in the code. This article will explore the top 5 front-end and top 5 back-end web application frameworks. So, you know the best among all for your next web project.
What is a Web Application Framework?
A web framework is a pre-developed module or piece of software that provides a structure to build web applications. It contains a set of rules to build web applications. Using the web framework, developers can create a base for the project and write maintainable code.
The web framework provides a ready-made solution for starting web application development. It also contains libraries, tools, utility functions, pre-built components, and templates, making writing the code for large projects easier.
So, let’s look at the top 10 frameworks of 2023 for web app development.
Prominent Frontend Frameworks for Web Application Development
The frontend frameworks are also known as the client-side frameworks. The frontend frameworks are used to develop a frontend, meaning a visual design for the web application. It includes interactive dashboards, widgets, and interfaces for the best CX.
Creating responsive and attractive web applications becomes very easy due to frontend frameworks. Most frontend frameworks are built using JavaScript, as it is used to add behavior to the web page. Some of the popular front-end frameworks are as follows:
Angular
Angular was developed by Google in 2010, and it is also a JavaScript-based front-end framework. Angular is a robust framework for developing single-page static or medium-level web applications.
In the early days, developers could use JavaScript only with Angular. But nowadays, developers can also use TypeScript with Angular to improve type safety. The Angular framework is used by many well-known companies like PayPal, Microsoft, and more.
Pros
- Angular has two different ways for data binding, simplifying the updates between model and view.
- TypeScript support is one of the best features of the Agular framework.
Cons
- The size of Angular is large compared to other frameworks.
- Angular is not SEO-friendly by nature.
React
React framework was developed in 2013 by Facebook. Developers can create reusable components with React’s component-based architecture.
React is a state-based application, so it only updates the necessary parts of the web pages rather than reloading the whole web page. Adhering to the React Best Practices helps in optimizing the web application’s performance. React is known for its Virtual DOM, two-way data binding, speed, and many other developer-friendly features.
Pros
- The component-based architecture increases the reusability of the code.
- It increases the application performance using the states.
Cons
- Beginners should know JavaScript to learn React.
- You may need external libraries like Redux for advanced state management.
Vue
Vue is an open-source JavaScript framework. It is a very lightweight framework widely used to rapidly build interactive UIs of web apps.
The syntax of the Vue is straightforward, so beginners can quickly learn the Vue framework. It is mostly used to develop progressive web applications. The reactivity feature of Vue is compelling for updating the web page data reactively.
Pros
- The Vue has a small bundle size. So it compiles the application easily.
- The reactivity feature of Vue is more powerful than the states of React.
Cons
- It lacks some advanced features to build complex applications.
- It has a smaller community than React and Angular.
Ember
The Ember framework was introduced in 2015. It is widely used for application testing before deployment.
This framework is not limited to developing web applications. You can also develop the interface for mobile applications, games, e-commerce, etc. Its ‘ember-cli’ tool helps developers to set up the project easily. Today, Ember is used by Google, Heroku, etc.
Pros
- It can easily handle complex application structures.
- It contains built-in tools for effective web application development.
Cons
- Ember needs to provide more flexibility in using external tools and libraries.
Backbone
Backbone is a very lightweight front-end framework. It provides an architectural pattern to develop single-page applications.
This web framework divides the application structure into 3 patterns: model, view, and controller (MVC). Developers can easily connect the models of the application with the backend.
Pros
- Backbone allows building a smooth and interactive UI for the application.
- It is suitable for medium-sized applications as it is very lightweight.
cons
- It has limited features compared to the other frameworks.
Feature-rich Backend Frameworks for Web Application Development
Backend frameworks are used for server-side programming to build the backend or server for web applications.
The backend framework makes it easier to interact with the database, handle the web application data, and connect applications with third-party tools.
Here, we will discuss the top 5 backend frameworks.
Express
The Most popular backend framework is ExpressJS. Developers can use it with the NodeJS runtime environment to build the server for the application.
It contains various methods and libraries, which developers can use to add routing support, middleware support, etc., features to the application server. It also contains vast plugins to extend the functionality of the application server.
Pros
- It allows you to set up a server with very few lines of code.
- It is the best option for developing API and server-side applications.
Cons
- It is used with NodeJS only, and NodeJS is a single thread.
- The learning curve is required for asynchronous programming, as NodeJS uses it.
Django
Django is a backend framework used with Python. It is used to develop a backend as well as a frontend for web applications. In short, you can develop the whole web application using Django.
Also, Django has a wide range of built-in features like authentication, routing, security, database handling, etc. It is also a model, view, and container-type framework.
Pros
- Due to the extensive feature base, you don’t need to use many external libraries for basic functionalities.
- It provides strong security by default.
- You can easily integrate third-party applications like Paytm, Razorpay, and more with your Django project.
Cons
- It is not state based like React. You need to reload the page to update the web page data.
- Due to its comprehensive nature, it can’t be used for small projects.
Spring Boot
Spring Boot is a Java-based backend framework. It is a widely used tool to develop enterprise-level applications like e-commerce stores, etc.
Moreover, it provides auto-configuration, allowing to reduce the manual setup efforts. Also, it simplifies the development of the production-ready application. The companies like Wix, Billguard, etc., use the Spring framework.
Pros
- It allows to develop applications rapidly due to auto-configuration.
- Spring is best for building large-scale enterprise applications like Wix and Shopify.
Cons
- As it is used with Java, developers may need to write more code compared to other frameworks.
- It may be hard to learn for beginners.
Laravel
Laravel is developed using PHP and is an open-source framework. It is also based on the MVC (Model – view – container) model.
You can expand the default functionality of Laravel using its built-in packages. The code syntax in Laravel is elegant and more straightforward than in other frameworks.
Pros
- Its easy syntax increases the productivity of the developers.
- There is huge community support.
Cons
- Laravel is not efficient as Express or Django.
Ruby on Rails
Written in the Ruby programming language, Ruby on Rails is a fantastic backend framework favored by developers today. It is one of the oldest frameworks developed for web application development. However, it is still in demand.
Ruby framework is also a full-stack framework like Django. It allows developers to modify and scale the application easily and is best for complex and long-term projects.
Pros
- RoR contains a rich set of libraries and plugins.
- Its easy syntax encourages the developers to write clean code.
Cons
- For applications with high traffic, the performance of the Ruby application can be a concern.
Conclusion
In this dynamic world of web application development, choosing the right framework before starting the project is crucial. You may look more into each framework’s advantages and disadvantages and choose a particular web application framework according to your needs. However, a widely used framework for the front end is React, and for the back end is Express with NodeJS. If you want to choose a full-stack framework, you may go for Django or Ruby.