Unlock JavaScript: Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Frameworks!

Sitam Meur
10 min readAug 24, 2022

Brief Introduction

Javascript, commonly known as the website scripting language, is a portable, cross-platform computer language. It is widely used and famous for creating web pages. Both client-side and server-side development can be done using JavaScript.

JavaScript or JS one of the most popular web language

Brendan Eich created it in 1995 while working as an engineer at Netscape. LiveScript was created as a domain name but was later changed. Unlike most computer languages, JavaScript has no concept of input or output. It is intended to run as a script in the host environment and is the host environment that provides channels for interaction with external processes.

What is a framework and what does it mean?

JavaScript framework consists of several JavaScript code libraries designed to allow developers to access and use the script easily. Frameworks are collections of preassembled code intended to make development easy.

Top 10 most popular JavaScript frameworks

Can web apps be built without using a JavaScript framework?

Very certainly can. But unlike the framework, the development will be challenging and hassle-free. Code completion and advanced controls make writing easy even for experienced programmers.

Difference between libraries and frameworks

A set of rules that can be used to create objects or solve problems can be found in JavaScript frameworks and libraries. In both cases, the way the structure is put together is very different. We can request the library wherever we want. However, using the framework sets the standard. The framework focuses on the speed at which each piece of code is required.

In other words, when we utilize a JavaScript library, we are in control. When using frameworks, the framework is frequently used.

JavaScript and jQuery libraries

jQuery is one of the most popular JavaScript libraries and is still widely used today. It allows developers to write shorter, more concise code. Some of the elements that can be found in jQuery include:

Fig: jQuery

1.CSS manipulation
2. DOM and HTML manipulation
3. Event method in HTML
4. Animation and effects

This JS library uses four times more than other popular JavaScript libraries.
It supports many popular browsers such as jQuery, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, Android, and iOS.

1. Popular JavaScript front-end frameworks

(I) Angular

Angular is one of the most widely used tools for software development today and a component of the JavaScript ecosystem. In 2016, Google introduced it, and the programming community praised it enthusiastically.

Fig 1: Angular

Pros :

  • Performance: Angular apps are generally efficient, thanks to Angular’s practice of compiling ahead of time (AOT).
  • Scalability: Angular apps are designed to be scalable, which makes them ideal for large and complex projects.
  • Security: Angular apps are designed to be secure because of Angular’s built-in security features.
  • Testability: Angular applications are designed to be testable, making them easy to debug and maintain.
  • Community: Angular has a large and active community that provides support and assistance to Angular developers.
  • Documentation: Angular has extensive documentation that makes it easy to learn Angular and build Angular apps.
  • Strong TypeScript support: Angular is built on top of TypeScript, a superset of JavaScript with many benefits such as type safety, improved code execution, and better error checking.
  • Extensible: Angular is very extensible and new features and functionality are easily added.
  • Flexible: Angular can be used to build a variety of web applications, from simple one-page applications to complex business applications.
  • Up-to-Date: Angular is maintained and updated frequently, keeping it up to date with the latest web development standards.

Cons :

  • More advanced learning: Angular is a more advanced framework, which means it is more difficult to learn than other frameworks.
  • SPA framework: Angular is a single-page application (SPA) framework, meaning the entire application is loaded in the browser on the first page. This can make SEO Angular applications difficult because search engines cannot access and evaluate the application’s content.
  • Dependency hell: Angular apps can get complex and quickly become dependent on third-party libraries. This can make Angular apps difficult to maintain and update.
  • Bloated: Angular files can be very large because they often contain many Angular components and directives. This makes Angular apps load slower and increases the bandwidth needed to load apps.
  • Not suitable for all projects: Angular is not suitable for all projects. It is a complex framework and is best suited for large and complex projects. For smaller projects, other foundations may be a better choice.

(II) Vue JS

VUEJS is another well-liked JS framework that is frequently used to create cross-platform applications. It also aids in the development of effective single-page applications.

Fig 2: Vue. Js

Pros :

  • Simple to integrate. Vue has an easy-to-understand syntax that makes it simple for developers to learn and use.
  • Developers have a lot of customization and flexibility options with Vue, including the ability to select their assertion library, testing methodology, and other features.

Cons :

  • Absence of necessary plugins
  • Not recommended for large-scale scaling.

(III) Next JS

NExtJS is another commonly used JavaScript framework for the front end that is built by Vercel. It allows developers to create both static and dynamic websites and is used by multinationals around the world.

Fig 3: Next. Js

Pros :

  • Provides an original user experience.
  • Next.js provides built-in support for server-side rendering, making it easy to create highly performant and SEO-friendly web applications.

Cons :

  • Even though Next.js offers a lot of capability right out of the box, it might not be as flexible as some other frameworks when it comes to customization and setup.

(IV) React JS

REAC is a popular open-source framework for creating responsive and interactive user interfaces. It is also recognized as being SEO-friendly.

Fig 4: React. Js

Pros :

  • Very easy to understand and utilize. Includes a bundle of extremely useful utilities.
  • React is renowned for its great speed and performance, making it perfect for creating complex, real-time web apps.

Cons :

  • Continuous improvements require developers to stay up-to-date with new developments.
  • Utilized in conjunction with other frameworks.

There are also some front-end frameworks like Bootstrap, Gatsby JS, Svelte JS, and Ember JS in addition to these.

2. Popular JavaScript back-end frameworks

(I) Node JS

NODE is a JavaScript-backed open-source technology that operates outside of a web browser. It was developed in 2009 and makes it easier to build online apps around a single programming language as opposed to relying on several.

Fig 5: Node. Js

Pros :

  • Increases the efficiency of developers. Node.js is renowned for its great performance and scalability, making it perfect for developing large-scale, real-time online applications that need high throughput and low latency.
  • Node.js has a large and active community of developers and users, which has resulted in a vast ecosystem of libraries, tools, and frameworks.

Cons :

  • Node.js only supports a single thread, which might be problematic for applications that are CPU-bound.
  • The quality of the codes is impacted by the constant need for callbacks.

(II) Spring boot

SPring-boot software is used to help in microservice development. Microservice designs enable programmers to independently operate several services.

Fig 6: Spring boot

Pros :

  • Increases productivity. Spring Framework ecosystem, which offers a wide range of libraries and tools. Because of this, it serves as a very effective and versatile tool for developers.
  • Reduces development time. With the help of Spring Boot, developers can rapidly and easily design web apps without having to perform a lot of configuration or setup work.

Cons :

  • Inefficient deployment could result in larger files.

(III) Express JS

EXpress JS is an application framework used with Node JS. It is a ready-to-use option for swiftly creating web pages and apps.

Fig 7: Express. Js

Pros :

  • Express is a popular choice for web application development because of its great performance and quickness.
  • Express has an easy-to-understand syntax that makes it straightforward for developers to learn and utilize. Is accessible to even novices.

Cons :

  • While Express has a lot of features and capabilities that help create online apps, it might not have all the capabilities needed for more complex use cases. To get the required outcomes, developers might need to incorporate additional libraries or frameworks.

There are also some back-end frameworks like Laravel, and Micronaut in addition to these.

3. Popular JavaScript testing frameworks

(I) Mocha JS

MOcha JS helps in both front-end and back-end testing, which runs on Node.js. Since this runs sequentially, accurate reporting is possible.

Fig 8: Mocha

Pros :

  • Very adaptable and has a lot of side-tool support. Developers can choose their own testing approach, assertion library, and other features as well.
  • Provides support for numerous browsers and is backed by a very active support community.

Cons :

  • Needs extensive configuration. Despite having a wide range of customization options, Mocha can be difficult to set up and configure, especially for developers who are unfamiliar with testing frameworks.
  • Could provide more flexibility than is required.

(II) Jasmine

JAsmine is a free, open-source behavior-driven development (BDD) testing framework for JS.

Fig 9: Jasmine

Pros :

  • Very adaptable. It is well known for having an easy-to-understand syntax that is simple to learn and use for developers.
  • Jasmine offers developers a lot of customization and flexible possibilities.

Cons :

  • Jasmine has a committed user base, but its community is smaller than some other testing frameworks. Because of this, finding resources and assistance for Jasmine's development may become more challenging.

(III) Jest

JEst is a popular JavaScript testing framework that is developed and maintained by Meta (formerly Facebook).

Fig 10: Jest

Pros :

  • Very easy to use and implement. Its intuitive interface and clear documentation make it simple to write and run tests.
  • Works flawlessly with Angular, Node, Typescript, Vue, React, and more. It offers a wide range of features, including snapshot testing, code coverage reporting, and built-in mocking.

Cons :

  • Jest can be slow for developers who need to quickly test their code because it takes a while to run on large projects. There are techniques to improve Jest’s performance, though, such as parallelizing test execution or running tests only when necessary.

Conclusions

The best JavaScript front-end, back-end, and testing frameworks must now be crystal clear to you. When utilized properly, JavaScript frameworks can dramatically change how developers approach development and testing.

Working with frameworks will undoubtedly reduce the intensity of work and make website and web app development entertaining and engaging if your team is continually constrained by strict deadlines and back-to-back projects.

Top 5 JavaScript web frameworks by Popularity and Usefulness
Vue, Angular, React, Node, Ember.

Questions frequently asked about JavaScript frameworks

1. How many JavaScript frameworks ought to be familiar to a web developer?

Learning and working on a single framework will not advance your career as a developer. You should begin by learning JavaScript in general, as this will provide you with a strong foundation. Start with a couple of the more significant ones, such as Angular, Vue, and Node, and proceed to the less significant ones afterward.

2. What are the top frameworks for newcomers to JavaScript? What are a few of the most well-liked ones?

The best frameworks for JavaScript novices include those that are SPA-based, such as Vue, Angular, and React. These are worthwhile to master and can make it simple for developers to obtain employment.

3. How should a JS framework be chosen?

Before you and your team begin the development procedures, you must make the best choice. If you choose a random framework, you probably won’t make it past the halfway point without becoming stuck and might even have to restart.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages, as well as the features, of each of the aforementioned frameworks before selecting one.

4. How much time may be saved by utilizing JavaScript frameworks?

When you master a JavaScript framework, you can speed up your job. The majority of seasoned developers concur on this.

In addition to speeding up the development process, these reduce the likelihood of mistakes and defects and entice additional developers to participate in the project.

5. The fastest JavaScript frameworks: which ones?

One of the quickest JavaScript frameworks on the market is vue.js. One of the JS frameworks that is often used in the industry nowadays for its quickness is React.

6. How simple is it to change your JavaScript framework?

It may be simple to switch between them at first when developing an app or website. Running two programs in two different frameworks side by side and gradually switching between them is the easiest approach to accomplishing this. Although doing this takes time,

Therefore, it is best to choose a framework and conduct a study before you begin producing.

That wraps up our comprehensive guide to JavaScript. This guide only scratches the surface of what JavaScript can do, so I encourage all to continue exploring and learning more. The official JavaScript documentation is an excellent resource for diving deeper into the language and its various features.

Thanks for reading, and keep learning, and keep programming!

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Sitam Meur

Technical Writer with a Passion for Code | Formerly @codedamn | CA @Coding Ninjas | Ex-Doubt Solver @infinity learn | Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science