Frontend development is creating the visual and interactive elements of a website or web application. It involves making the user interface that visitors see and interact with using a variety of programming languages, frameworks, and tools.
Frontend developers are in charge of ensuring that the website or application is user-friendly and intuitive to use. They use web languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. So they specialise in developing and designing the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of websites and web applications.
Frontend web development has several benefits:
So frontend developers collaborate closely with backend developers to ensure that the frontend and backend systems are integrated and work smoothly together. In essence, frontend development is concerned with creating a seamless and engaging user experience for visitors to a website or application.
A framework is a software that makes it easier to build and keep up with big projects. Frameworks are groups of basic software modules with ready-to-use code that developers can use to solve common programming problems. They also tell you how to build the architecture of the app. You start with a basic structure you must add to and change based on the requirements.
Front end frameworks include utility programs, code libraries, scripting languages, and other types of software that make it easier to build and deploy a large software product. With frameworks, developers don't have to start projects from scratch. Instead, they have a base to build other features specific to the project.
Your frontend framework should adapt to user needs as technology advances. Your frontend framework should do these:
Consider these factors when choosing a frontend framework for your project:
What are the most used frontend frameworks? Some of the most popular frontend frameworks include React by Facebook, Angular by Google, Vue.js, and Svelte. These frameworks help developers create interactive and dynamic web applications with modern user interfaces more efficiently.
But let's take a closer look at some of the most popular frontend frameworks on the market today to help you make an informed decision when selecting the best tool for your next project.
According to the State of JS 2023, the leading frameworks regarding frontend developers' usage are React and Angular.
Here we can also notice which frontend frameworks are more interesting to developers:
Moreover, here are the front end framework downloads per year. Hint: React, jQuery and Vue have the most downloads in 2024:
Here are the top 10 frontend frameworks:
React is a popular frontend framework developed by Facebook. It is a declarative, efficient, and flexible JavaScript library for building user interfaces. React's key features include JSX, a syntax extension that allows you to write HTML-like code in JavaScript, and virtual DOM, a lightweight in-memory representation of the real DOM that improves performance by minimising updates.
React is suitable for building large and complex applications, including single-page applications (SPAs), e-commerce, and social media platforms.
When to use:
When not to use:
Famous brands using React include Facebook, Netflix, Airbnb, Uber, and Instagram.
Angular is a powerful front-end framework developed by Google. It is a TypeScript-based open-source framework for building web applications. Angular's key features include two-way data binding, dependency injection, and a modular architecture that allows you to organise your application into reusable components.
Angular is suitable for building complex enterprise-level applications, including large-scale e-commerce platforms and financial and healthcare systems.
When to use:
When not to use:
Famous brands using Angular include Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Intel.
Vue.js is a progressive frontend framework developed by Evan You. It is a lightweight and easy-to-learn JavaScript library for building user interfaces. Vue's key features include reactive and composable data bindings, a virtual DOM, and a component-based architecture.
Vue is suitable for building small to medium-sized applications, including blogs, forums, and personal websites.
When to use:
When not to use:
Famous brands using Vue include Alibaba, Xiaomi, GitLab, and Xiaomi.
jQuery is a popular frontend library developed by John Resig. It is a lightweight and fast JavaScript library for simplifying HTML document traversal and manipulation, event handling, and animation.
jQuery is suitable for adding interactivity and animation to existing websites or building small-scale applications.
When to use:
When not to use:
Famous brands using JQuery include Google, Microsoft, and IBM.
Preact is a fast and lightweight frontend library developed by Jason Miller. It is a smaller, faster alternative to React offering a similar API and feature set. Preact's key features include a virtual DOM, component-based architecture, and server-side rendering.
Preact is suitable for building small to medium-sized applications that require excellent performance, including mobile applications and e-commerce websites.
When to use:
When not to use:
Famous brands using Preact include Lyft, Uber, and Grammarly.
Ember is a frontend framework developed by Yehuda Katz. It is a robust and opinionated JavaScript framework for building ambitious web applications. Ember's key features include two-way data binding, a component-based architecture, and a powerful CLI for generating code and managing dependencies.
Ember is suitable for building complex applications that require high scalability, including enterprise-level systems and business applications.
When to use:
When not to use:
Famous brands using Ember include Microsoft, Square, and LinkedIn.
Backbone is a lightweight and flexible frontend library developed by Jeremy Ashkenas, who also created CoffeeScript and Underscore.js. It is a minimalist JavaScript library for building single-page applications (SPAs) and providing structure to web applications.
Backbone's key features include a simple API, event-driven architecture, and the ability to work seamlessly with other libraries and frameworks.Backbone is suitable for building small to medium-sized applications that require flexibility, including simple e-commerce websites and social media platforms.
When to use:
When not to use:
Famous brands using Backbone include Walmart, Airbnb, and SoundCloud.
Svelte is a modern and innovative frontend framework developed by Rich Harris, the graphics editor at The New York Times. It is a component-based framework that compiles your code into highly optimised JavaScript code that runs faster than traditional frameworks. Svelte's key features include reactive data binding, virtual DOM, and simple syntax.
Svelte is suitable for building small to medium-sized applications that require excellent performance, including mobile applications and simple e-commerce websites.
When to use:
When not to use:
Famous brands using Svelte include The New York Times, Netflix, and Square.
Semantic-UI is a frontend framework that provides a set of pre-built UI components and styles that follow a semantic naming convention. It is a modern and intuitive framework that simplifies the development of responsive and accessible user interfaces. Semantic-UI's key features include a simple syntax, responsive design, and cross-browser compatibility.
Semantic-UI is suitable for building small to medium-sized applications that require a simple and intuitive user interface, including blogs and personal websites.
When to use:
When not to use:
Famous brands using Semantic-UI include Amazon, Twitter, and GitHub.
Foundation is a front-end framework developed by ZURB. It is a flexible and responsive framework that provides a set of pre-built UI components and styles. Foundation's key features include a grid system, a component-based architecture, and cross-browser compatibility.
Foundation is suitable for building small to medium-sized applications that require a responsive and flexible user interface, including e-commerce websites and mobile applications.
When to use:
When not to use:
Famous brands using Foundation include eBay, Mozilla, and National Geographic.
Regarding performance, all of the top front end frameworks are highly optimised and efficient. However, some frameworks are better suited for specific types of applications.
When it comes to ease of use, all of the top frontend frameworks have their learning curves, but some are easier to use than others.
The learning curve for each frontend framework varies, depending on the application's complexity and the developer's level of expertise.
All the top frontend frameworks have strong and active communities, providing developers with a wealth of resources and support.
Frontend frameworks are essential for building modern, responsive, interactive web applications. They offer a standardised frontend development approach, improving code efficiency, consistency, and maintainability.
This article explored the top frontend frameworks, including React, Angular, Vue, JQuery, Preact, Ember, Backbone, Svelte, Semantic-UI, and Foundation. We have discussed their features, benefits, use cases, and drawbacks, providing you with the necessary information to make an informed decision.
Choosing the right frontend framework for your project depends on several factors, such as requirements, developer expertise, future scalability, and community support. Consider these factors before ensuring that your project meets your expectations and achieves your goals.
Overall, the frontend framework you choose will impact your development process and the outcome of your web application. With this knowledge, you can decide which frontend framework best suits your project's needs and constraints. By using the proper frontend framework, you can improve your productivity, create a more efficient and maintainable codebase, and deliver a better user experience to your users.
Here you can discover some of the projects where Imaginary Cloud worked with front-end development.
What is a front-end framework?
A frontend framework is a collection of pre-written code that provides a structure for building web applications. It includes tools, libraries, and design patterns that enable developers to create interactive and responsive user interfaces for web applications.
What are the most used front end frameworks?
The 2022 Stack Overflow survey found that React was the most widely used frontend framework among developers.
Which frontend framework to use in 2025?
some of the popular frontend frameworks to use in 2025 are React, Angular, Vue.js, jQuery, and Preact.
How do I choose the right frontend framework for my project?
Choosing the right frontend framework depends on several factors, such as project requirements, developer expertise, future scalability, and community support. Consider your project's needs and constraints, such as the size and complexity of the application and the required level of interactivity and responsiveness. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each framework and choose the one that best meets your project's specific needs.
Content writer with a big curiosity about the impact of technology on society. Always surrounded by books and music.
Web developer focused on the front-end side of things, but I am also interested in RESTful application programming interfaces.
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