Top 15 front-end development frameworks for 2022

Anyone who comes up with an idea for  mobile or web development will need to learn the terminologies of software development. Be it mobile app, website, or customer software for an operating system like Windows or Mac, understanding these core terminologies will give you opportunities to streamline the development process from start to launch.

At the core of it all, there are three important interfaces for an application: front-end (what the users see and interact with), back-end (what the admins use to manage the application), and APIs (what connects and channels data between front-end and back-end.

In this article, we shall discuss what front end development means, and why it is so important before you start your application development journey. We’ll also help you decide which front end technology to choose for building your application, and why making the right choice is crucial for its success in the short and long run.

1. What is front-end development?

To understand front-end development, you’ll need to understand your users. It’s a client-side development, mostly employing web and mobile technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, for users to interact through their screens. The biggest challenge you will face when deciding front-end development is its constantly changing and evolving systems. You will have to decide on hiring developers who can work with evolving technology, learning new ideas, and implementing them without breaking the system.

A user focused front-end development is at the heart of it all. Users should be able to read and access various types of information on a variety of devices and screen sizes and resolutions. Most users today have at least two devices in front of them while accessing information.

A skilled front-end developer will be able to ensure that a website or mobile app is correctly visible and aligned for different browsers, operating systems, and mobile phones. It requires careful planning of user-experience and user-interface design.

1.1 Front-end development frameworks for Web Development

1. React.js is used for building interactive user interface designs.
2. Vue.js offers greater flexibility, allowing dynamic web applications development.
3. Angular is a go-to option for enterprise-based dynamic web applications.
4. jQuery is for building desktop based javascript applications.
5. Svelte is for small projects with limited user base using minimal code. 
6. Django is used for building web applications using Python.
7. Ruby on Rails is primarily used for building high-performance web applications.
8. Bootstrap is a popular framework for building responsive web designs.
9. Express.js is for building web and mobile applications for cross platform.
10. Laravel offers the industry’s best object-relational database and mapper. 
11. Flask comes with standard functionalities and allows any number of libraries and extensions using Python. 
12. Ember.js offers a complete solution for data management and application flow.
13. Backbone.js offers ready building blocks for client side development. 
14. SemanticUI is for building lightweight, responsive, and seamless user experience.
15. Foundation offers seamless css features for mobile app development. 

2. How to choose a front-end development framework?

Choosing the right tools for your project will ensure long term planning and strategies. It will also help you save on time and reduce cost of development. Here’s a checklist to help you choose the right front-end development framework quickly. Front-end frameworks are based on HTML, CSS, Javascript, and WebAssembly. 

2.1 Popularity of framework

Front development perspective, it is probably best to choose a battle-tested tool that is popular among developers. If a framework is relatively new, there are fewer developers who specialise in it, making them hard to find, and irreplaceable. Here are some questions to ask before choosing the framework based on its popularity.

 By far, ReactJS and AngularJS are the most popular front-end development frameworks based on the data collected from the community at Stackoverflow; Flutter and React Native for mobile app development. Try comparing the technologies you have in mind and see which works best for your needs. 

2.2 Faster coding time

When it comes to choosing the right front-end framework, make no mistake that you will need to change your front-end quickly and efficiently as per customer demand. This includes adding new features, new interfaces, and displaying new and updated data to your users quickly. Choosing a framework that is easier to code, something that provides ready functionalities that developers can use without having to custom-code everything is a no brainer. For example, check Vue for a simpler and faster front-end development. 

2.3 User-interface designs

Now that websites are nothing less than fully functional applications, your users will require a better user experience and interface instead of just displaying information. Having a framework that offers beautiful user-interface and user-experience will be a feather in the cap. Users should be able to find a solution to their problems instantly. Some frameworks offer ready designs that you can incorporate into your projects without having to do it all from scratch. For better user experience designs check Angular.JS

2.4 Device friendly

Your users could be on their mobile devices or desktop. Choosing the front-end framework that is responsive and ready for multiple devices gives you an opportunity to become accessible at multiple channels. For example, Bootstrap is a CSS framework built for responsive design. 

2.5 Scalability and support

Every application, even if it’s primarily built for desktop, eventually needs to become responsive and mobile-friendly. Users like to access information on the go, which requires you to choose a framework that is scalable and offers mobile support. Although mobile apps were to be first developed natively for separate platforms, the scenario has changed, offering a cross-platform approach that uses single code based on multiple operating systems and ecosystems. 

Not sure which framework is right for you? Get in touch with us today to know more about which framework is perfect for your project.