Top 6 Front-End Frameworks for Web Development in 2021

Having an online presence has kind of become a necessity for the majority of businesses these days.

However, while building websites, developers can get puzzled about which framework to pick. Frameworks are an essential element of web development. As the requirements of web applications rise, the sophistication of the technology rises with it. These frameworks can be leveraged to build rich and browser-compatible web applications and websites.

As there are several web development frameworks available, web developers can often be confused as each has its own distinct inventory. It is mandatory to choose the framework carefully as the entire workability of the website depends on it. But, what are the top frameworks available for front-end development and which to choose? Let’s dive in and check out!

Based on the recent studies and surveys, here is the explicit list of the most popular front-end frameworks. These are based on the determinants such as ease of use, awareness, salary range, and show of interest. Know more about: web design & development company.

1. React

Developers consider React as one of the best web development frameworks although it is more like a library. React, developed by Facebook, was the first framework to adopt a component-based architecture.

Websites built on React are growing in popularity for a number of reasons. A few reasons being its ease of use, reusability of code, and quick rendering. If you’re looking to expand your React skills and grow your career in full-stack development, check out these premium programs and free projects to build and add value to your resume.

Pros

• An open-source library with a large variety of tools.
• Virtual DOM improves both the work of the developer and the user experience.
• Reutilization of components for saving time.
• Easy to learn.

Cons

• Initially while learning React, developers might find it difficult to comprehend the concepts of JSX.
• This framework can only be used to develop the UI part of the application.
• Lack of documentation due to momentous pace development.

2. Angular

Without mentioning Angular, the list of the top front-end frameworks for web development would be incomplete.

Originally released in 2016, Angular is a single framework based on TypeScript. It was developed by Google to bridge the gap between the increasing demand for technology and the traditional concepts that demonstrated the results.

Similar to ReactJs, this framework is used to build user interfaces on the front-end, and in contrast to it, Angular is unique due to its two-way data binding feature.

Companies like BMW, Xbox, and Forbes use Angular for their applications.

Pros

• Large Ecosystem.
• Its refactoring services and improved navigation make coding easier.
• Large community- developers can seek help from the community easily if they face any issues.

Cons

• The wide range of traits and built-in functionalities make Angular a rather difficult language to learn.
• The CLI documentation is not reasonably explained.
• Dynamic applications can dawdle sometimes and may not work as expected.

3. Vue.js

This is a simple and straightforward framework that was developed by combining the existing front-end framework’s best features.

It is not as complex as Angular, making it quite easy to learn. Also, as compared to Angular, the size of vue is much smaller and it offers component-based programming, Visual DOM, and two-way binding.

This framework allows a developer to build both dynamic and small web apps easily. Though it is versatile, Vue JS is not so popular amongst large companies as most of these companies still use Angular. However, the companies that use Vue are Xiaomi, 9gag, etc.

Pros

• Presence of a virtual DOM.
• Simplicity and clarity.
• Code reusability and simple integration.
• Extensive and detailed documentation.

Cons

• Reduced developers community.
• Code irregularities due to flexibility.

4. jQuery

jQuery is one of the first front-end frameworks launched in 2006. In spite of being an old framework, it is still popular and widely used. It is easy to use and reduces the necessity to script an extensive range of JavaScript codes.

With the addition of JQuery Mobile, one can easily build mobile applications, which was not possible in the beginning.

Pros

• It is the simplest framework.
• jQuery can be used to deploy dynamic applications.
• The flexible DOM allows easy addition and removal of components.
• The open-source platform simplifies HTTP requests.

Cons

• In the longer run, the lightweight interface of JQuery may lead to issues.
• Though it allows the development of dynamic applications, it is quite slow.
• Various progressive alternatives are available other than jQuery.

5. Ember.js

Emberjs, developed in 2011 is a component-based framework. Similar to Angular, it also provides two-way data binding. This framework is meant to maintain the increasing demand for modern technologies.

Though it is one of the hardest frameworks to learn, it is still utilized by some of the largest corporations like Apple and LinkedIn the reason being it allows developers to build complex mobile applications and multifaceted web applications.

Pros

• One of the fastest frameworks available.
• Offers two-way binding.
• It is backward compatible. Despite new updates, the previous versions of applications will still work perfectly.

Cons

• Difficult learning curve.
• Slow updates and a complex syntax.
• Large framework for small applications.

6. Semantic-UI

Though Semantic UI is relatively new to the frameworks business, it has been creating waves in recent times. The popularity of this framework is on a surge globally as many developers and users are already employing its compelling features in their projects. Moreover, it provides simple functionalities and a remarkable user interface.

Semantic UI was invented by Jack Lukic and is supported by jQuery and LESS. It uses natural semantics that make the whole code understandable.

Pros

• Rich UI modules and receptiveness.
• Newest front-end frameworks.
• Exceptional functionality.
• Less complex as compared to other frameworks.

Cons

• Not suitable for developers with no knowledge of JavaScript.
• Large packages.
• Smaller community.
• Less browser compatibility.

Final Thoughts

The above are some of the top front-end frameworks available in the market. However, with the ever-evolving technology, there might be some other frameworks available to us shortly.

The ones that are already available are expanding their sources deeper in the market with frequent updates and the addition of better features. Hence, front-end developers will have plenty of frameworks to learn and work with.