What Is a JavaScript Framework?
Without JavaScript frameworks, the web wouldn’t look as it does today. Nor would developers be able to create as many websites as quickly and as easily. In this post, we’ll define JavaScript frameworks and understand their uses and benefits. But before we get to that, let’s take a closer look at JavaScript.
What Is JavaScript?
Javascript is one of the best-known programming languages for web development around. It’s a server-side scripting language. More specifically, it’s used by developers to add complex features to web pages, like displaying information dynamically within a page.
Javascript can do a lot of things on a web page, including displaying animated graphics (whether we’re talking about 2D or 3D graphics), provide interactive maps (think Google Maps), or displaying notifications and comments without page reload (think social media).
Developers can add Javascript code just about anywhere within the HTML code of a web page, which makes it a versatile and powerful language.
What is a JavaScript Framework – Explained
A JavaScript framework is essentially a collection of pre-written code libraries that developers can use to build a website or app framework faster. The purpose of a web framework, including JavaScript frameworks, is to speed up development times and reduce the number of repetitive routine tasks that developers have to do.
When it comes to coding a website or web app, developers have two choices—they either write the entire code from scratch or use a framework to speed up the process.
Imagine a business owner who wants to open a new shop. She has already rented a space but needs to create an attractive storefront. Which approach would be faster and more cost-effective—making herself all the materials she needs or getting some of them ready-made?
It’s important to make the distinction between a JavaScript framework and a JavaScript library. A framework consists of multiple libraries arranged to form a structure to which developers can add their code. A library, on the other hand, is more of an individual solution to a particular problem.
What is a JavaScript Framework – Advantages
The benefits of JavaScript frameworks extend from developers to clients and ultimately to end-users. That’s because web frameworks (whether they are made for JavaScript or not) streamline the entire web development process.
Saves Time
JavaScript frameworks save developers time and help them get more work done with less effort. By maximizing their productivity, frameworks help developers complete projects faster.
Focus on What Matters
By reducing repetitive coding tasks, JavaScript frameworks enable developers to focus on the features that are the most important and polish the websites and apps they create.
Can Reduce Costs
Coding a website or web app from scratch is almost always more expensive than building it using a JavaScript framework. Many top frameworks are open-source, meaning that developers don’t have to pay for them.
Community Support
Leading JavaScript frameworks are maintained by an active community of developers who can answer questions and help solve development problems. When using a framework, developers can tap into the experience of other developers to implement the features they want and overcome any problems.
What is a JavaScript Framework – Limitations
Using a JavaScript library may also have limitations. For example, these frameworks can be large which makes them bulky for small projects and may lead to performance issues in some cases. Also, for very large projects, developers may want the full control that comes with building their entire code from scratch.
What is a JavaScript Framework – Final Thoughts
JavaScript frameworks like AngularJS, React, or Vue.js help power a wide range of websites on the internet, including Google, Facebook, and Airbnb projects. Today, developers have a wide range of JavaScript frameworks to choose from, and this ultimately translates to benefits for their clients and end-users.
Additional JavaScript Framework Resources
- Angular – The modern web developer’s platform
- React – A JavaScript library for building user interfaces
- Vue.js – The Progressive JavaScript Framework
- Svelte – Svelte is a radical new approach to building user interfaces.
