Best Frontend Frameworks To Use For Web Development
Tags: webdev, frontend
Published: 2023-06-19 12:24:34

The digital world has come a long way in replicating physical experiences and interactions. One such tool that makes this possible is the [frontend web development](https://www.uptech.team/services/frontend-development-services) frameworks. From the defunct YUI (Yahoo! User Interface) to modern frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js, developers have a wide range of options to choose from. Their choices are often based on their skills, project requirements, target audience, and, more specifically, the capabilities of the frontend development framework to create a seamless user experience.


In this article, I will share some frameworks that have become popular because of their reliable features. Read on! 


## What is a Frontend Framework?

In plain English, frontend frameworks are a set of pre-defined tools, resources, and components that developers use in transforming data into a graphical user interface (GUI) on the web. It allows developers to present graphics, typography, and other elements that will be visible and accessible to the user in a visually appealing and user-friendly way.


Right from the emergence of the web, CSS, HTML, and JavaScript have been the fundamental pillars of frontend frameworks. Frontend web developers rely on them to weave their digital wonders and create captivating user interfaces for mobile and web applications. Apart from providing ready-to-use components for developers, the most popular frontend frameworks today, such as React and Angular, are open-source and community-driven.
Most renowned frontend frameworks, especially those mentioned later in this article, have common features despite their different approaches and implementation details. These features include:

- Component-based architecture
- Support for state management
- UI rendering and templating
- Cross-browser compatibility
- Integration with backend APIs
- Data flow management
- Reusable code
- Open source with a rich ecosystem of plugins, libraries, and third-party integrations


## Top 4 Best Frontend Frameworks

From the analysis of different studies, the four frontend frameworks mentioned below dominate the list of best frameworks developers have relied on in the past few years.

### 1. React
React is a JavaScript framework; hence it is popularly known as React.js. Developed by Facebook in 2013 as a proprietary framework, React has since become open source and has consistently been among the top choice of JavaScript developers for the frontend development of single-page web or mobile applications. A Statista survey published in Q3 of 2022 showed that [42%](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1124699/worldwide-developer-survey-most-used-frameworks-web/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20survey%2C%2047.12%20percent%20of%20respondents%20reported%20to%20be%20using%20Node.js%2C%20while%2042.62%20percent%20were%20using%20React.js.) of developers use React.js. 


With its flexible and scalable components, Reach js is an excellent framework of choice for individuals or businesses expecting a significant influx of website visitors and seeking a reliable platform to manage the increased traffic. Its Virtual DOM allows developers to build large-scale applications with constantly changing data.


[React 18](https://react.dev/blog/2022/03/29/react-v18) is the latest version of the frontend development framework. It includes Concurrent Rendering, a groundbreaking feature that enables simultaneous and uninterrupted processing of multiple components. It also comes with automatic batching functionality that streamlines the processing of multiple operations and provides improved performance.


Notable companies, including Airbnb, Dropbox, Walmart, and Pinterest, have incorporated React into their web development processes. In contrast, React js typically require a steep learning curve for new developers because of the complexities of JSX.


### 2. Angular  

Google’s Angular first came to the scene in 2010, with TypeScript recommended as the programming language for web development. As the only frontend framework based on TypeScript, Angular has maintained its popularity and established itself as a robust and comprehensive solution for web application development. Used by millions of developers today. Angular ranked fifth in Statista’s list of most-used web frameworks in 2022, coming after Node.js, React.js, jQuery and Express.


Angular is notable for its two-way automatic data synchronization. This feature allows developers to seamlessly connect the changes they make in the data model with the corresponding updates in the view. In November 2022, Angular v15, the latest version, was released with enhanced TypeScript and JavaScript interoperability and new features such as Image Directive.


Renowned companies that use Angular for their web applications and platforms include Forbes, Upwork, Deutsche Bank, Mircosoft, and IBM.

### 3. jQuery 
According to a 2022 Statista survey, jQuery is the third on the list of most-used web frameworks globally. An analysis of the top 10 million most popular websites also reveals that jQuery is used by [77%](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/JQuery) of the websites.


Introduced in 2006, jQuery was among the earliest and most influential JavaScript libraries. It changed how developers use Document Object Model (DOM), providing multi-browser compatibility and other powerful features such as lightweight footprints. The following description from the jQuery Foundation better explains the capacity of the framework;


“jQuery is a fast, small, and feature-rich JavaScript library. It makes things like HTML document traversal and manipulation, event handling, animation, and Ajax much simpler with an easy-to-use API that works across a multitude of browsers.”
What’s more, jQuery is widely used in building desktop JavaScript apps. However, this frontend development framework may not be the most suitable choice for building large-scale applications.

### 4.  Vue.js
Vue.js was launched in 2014 by Evan You, a former Google staff. The usage of this frontend framework is still growing steadily, and so is its community of developers. There is also a notable increase in its adoption for both small-scale and large-scale projects. This is evident in its usage by Alibaba and Xiaomi, two giant Chinese companies. 


Besides, Vue.js has become an alternative to popular JavaScript frameworks because it provides flexible options and is uncomplicated to learn and use. Whether you’re building web and mobile applications or progressive web apps (PWA),Vue.js helps in managing developments of varying complexity with a straightforward approach. Its top features include two-way binding, Virtual DOM, component-based architecture, directives, Vuex for state management, Vue Router for client-side routing, etc.

## Summary
The software development market is never static because of the ever-evolving nature of technology and the increasing demands of users and businesses. As such, choosing the best frontend frameworks may be subject to the requirements of the time. As of 2023, however, the four frameworks mentioned above are among the most As of 2023, the four frameworks discussed above are among the most sought-after and in-demand frameworks in the software development world.