The best Javascript UI framework to use in 2023
Tags: javascript, react, angular, vue
Published: 2023-12-19 10:33:04

Untill we achieve singularity with AI and all coding is handled with AI there will always be a war for the browser. And we've come to where the real war is, this is where the major players stake their claim, there's no shortage of frameworks in this particular category all trying to shove so many options into our faces.

Maybe we developers are just black and red ants in a Jar while these Tech companies creating these frameworks are shaking the Jar we're inside causing us to constantly be at each other's neck over which one is the best, you all know where I stand when it comes to this section but I'm going to be as unbiased as possible, for simplicity and time's sake we will only consider the four major Javascript UI frameworks, let's start in no particular order with Svelte.

### Svelte

[Svelte](https://svelte.dev/) is a cybernetically enhanced way of building web applications, what this simply means is that Svelte provides quite a unique way for us to build a web app by shipping as a compiler. Yes, you heard that right, all of the Svelte code you write gets compiled down into a Javascript executable and this has some amazing benefits, first, the compiler can perform some optimization before spitting out the final executable and this can result in performance gains as with the case in apps built with Svelte.

You generally write less code than you would in most other frameworks and your bundle size is also considerably smaller than bundle sizes from other frameworks. Whereas Angular uses handlebars templating syntax, and React uses JSX, svelte has its templating syntax although it's a bit similar to that of Vue and a bit like JSX. Svelte does not make use of any Shadow DOM and there is built-in reactivity, it's also incredibly simple to create a stateful variable, just prefix it with a `$:`. 

Svelte also comes baked in with its custom store and that's if you want to go into advanced state management. However everything is not all rosy with Svelte, first it has a considerably less ecosystem of third-party libraries and plugins when compared to frameworks like React, and Vue. Second although Svelte is well-loved and appreciated in the Javascript ecosystem. Svelte's ecosystem within that Javascript ecosystem is not that big when compared to its rivals but it's worth a shot.

### Angular

[Angular](https://angular.io/), the very first Javascript framework I learned. I remember how I felt when I started working with Angular, untouchable. Fast forward over three years later and I hate using Angular, and I would say for the very same reason that I did like it so much back then. You see Angular is a robust framework and it is the only framework in this category that enforces a particular application structure on you. Angular supports typescript out of the box which is a good thing if you're on to some complex web app development but can become a nightmare when you want to do something simple. 

Angular also has a built-in reactivity with two-way data-binding, it also comes with a complete state management solution (Store) by default. Angular also supports test-driven development out of the box so you can do unit and end-to-end tests, Angular also possesses a built-in Router that is capable of all your needs. Angular ships with a full-blown CLI for generating components, modules, interfaces, and test files. Angular is suitable and very much used amongst large teams and corporations. 

Angular has a steep learning curve because if you don't know how to use Typescript, you have to learn it first. And this will take some time, when you're done with Typescript, you now have to come back to learn Angular, which is what I did when I was getting started. Another thing that we can all agree on is that sometimes, Angular is an overkill for most applications, Think using a sledgehammer to kill a fly, some times you just want something simple.

### Vue

[Vue](https://vuejs.org/) is a framework that is often labeled as the best Javascript UI framework on Twitter. Vue is incredibly easy to get started with, in fact it is the easiest on this list to get started with. You can just use a script tag with a link to a Vue.js CDN and you are ready to start using Vue. This is one of the biggest perks of Vue. It is incredibly easy to learn with their focus on incremental learning. Vue is a robust framework for building UI applications that give developers the best part of working with Angular and React as a single tool. 

This does not mean that Vue does not have its own identity, Vue Js has a robust ecosystem of third-party plugins, libraries, and a huge community behind it. Vue has a built-in store but you have to opt into it explicitly to use it. Reactivity in Vue is so easy to set up and handling animations on your component or page is what we dream of in React. Vue also ships with a router but you also have to opt into it, Vue has a CLI for setting up projects that will make all of these configurations for you based on your prompt. 

Vue has been adopted graciously by the community and has found a nice place amongst some developers however I feel like Vue's Identity is somewhat obscured and that has largely kept it in the shadow of React and Angular but no doubt it's one of the best Javascript frameworks out there. There's an amazing ecosystem of developers and third-party plugins for your Vue app so you can go from simple to highly complex with Vue.

### React

The king of all Javascript UI frameworks, this is the framework other frameworks want to be like when they grow, they will not say it outright but we know. [React](https://react.dev/) has taken this war by storm from the very first day it came into the fray and since then it has not looked back. React is plain Javascript, try to beat that! The learning curve for React for developers is incredibly short. Some people even know how to use React without understanding how Javascript works fundamentally. 

React is a component-based UI library that provides developers with the tooling, support, and third-party plugins and libraries to build their applications the way they want them! The only thing React provides to you is the React DOM and all other tools are installed as needed. This gives developers the freedom to express themselves the way they want. The introduction of functional components was another major blow to its rivals, hooks then took React a step further and cemented its status. Now signals are here and React does not look like it's slowing down. 

The community behind React is impressive with over 184k starts on Github, and over 1.8M million weekly npm installations. The ecosystem of third-party plugins for your React application is quite impressive. React is head and shoulders high above every other on this list, and is deservedly King!

###  Solid.js

[Solid.js](https://www.solidjs.com/) like Svelte is quite new when compared to React, Angular, and Vue however it might be that pocket Hercules we've all been ignoring because we are so addicted to other frameworks. Solid.js is an interesting framework that deserves to be a part of this discussion. Solid.js pioneered the concept of signals when other Javascript frameworks made reactivity and state management a nightmare for developers, a factor that has contributed to the growth of Solid. Solid.js is incredibly easy to adopt and it aims for a simpler syntax and learning curve compared to other frameworks. It emphasizes the use of pure Javascript functions and avoids concepts like hooks.

Solid.js is also really concerned about the performance of your application and thus it avoids the potential pitfalls that come with using things like a Virtual DOM, coupled with the unique way Solid manages reactivity you get a framework that allows you to build apps with flash-level speed. I hope your users will also realize that the App is now .0005secs faster. 

Jokes aside Solid also supports SSR out of the box? The only framework in this category that can do this without incorporating any meta-framework on top of it. Solid.js components are highly composable and reusable, promoting modularity and maintainability in your codebase. 

As good as Solid.js may seem some flaws have kept it in the shadows for so long, As a relatively new framework, SolidJS has a smaller community and ecosystem of libraries and tools compared to established frameworks like React and Vue. Solid might be easy to learn but there's also a learning curve, especially with signals. It's a concept that's quite new to some developers.

What's your thought on Javascript UI frameworks, do you agree with me that React is the King or do you think it should not be the king, who deserves the crown? Did I do justice to other frameworks on the list? Are there frameworks you think should be on this that I omitted? 

Please let me know and also share your thoughts on the state of Javascript UI frameworks using the comment section, I look forward to reading your thoughts and opinions. If you want to learn React for free then you can check out my [React for Javascript Developer](https://youtube.com/@netcreed?si=2TKCDsUwGXpArhnk), It contains over 15 videos designed to help you get started with building web applications with React.