JavaScript is an extremely popular prototype-based scripting language that is one of the core technologies of the World Wide Web. It provides for enhanced user interfaces and dynamic websites. JavaScript can, for example, check information entered into a form to ensure it conforms to what is expected by a database.
JavaScript should not be confused with Java. While both are used to write computer software that can run inside a web browser, they are unrelated programming languages; Java offers a lot more than a programming language.
There are a wide range of open source JavaScript frameworks that are available to help speed up the development process of websites. The purpose of this article is to help newcomers to JavaScript narrow the field to a manageable number to explore. The frameworks offer a wide range of features, such as Document Object Model querying and manipulation, Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax) request handling, and an interface widget library being a few examples.
To provide an insight into the quality of software that is available, we have compiled a list of excellent JavaScript frameworks. All of the software featured here is released under a freely distributable license.
Here’s our verdict captured in a legendary LinuxLinks-style ratings chart.
Click the links in the table below to learn more about each framework.
| JavaScript Frameworks | |
|---|---|
| Vue.js | Progressive framework for building user interfaces |
| Svelte | Cybernetically enhanced web apps |
| Next.js | Minimalistic framework for server-rendered React applications |
| Angular | One JavaScript framework - mobile and desktop |
| Gatsby | React-based open source framework for creating websites and apps |
| Express | Minimal and flexible Node.js web application framework |
| Astro | Website build tool for the modern web |
| Meteor | Simple environment for building modern web applications |
| Mithril | Modern client-side framework for building single page applications |
| Ember.js | Battle-tested framework for building modern web applications |
| Fresh | Next generation web framework, built for speed, reliability, and simplicity |
| Smart Framework | PHP and JavaScript web framework |
| Aurelia | Build components with plain, vanilla JavaScript/TypeScript |
| AngularJS | Extend HTML vocabulary for your application |
This article has been updated to reflect the changes outlined in our recent announcement.
We’ve not included Node.js, jQuery, React, Backbone.js, Knockout, and others in this roundup. They are probably best described as JavaScript libraries rather than frameworks, but that depends on the definition of the two terms. For example, sometimes the difference between a library and a framework is … “a library is when you call some code, a framework is when your code is called from somewhere”. But while they may not be fully fledged frameworks, the distinction is often blurred.
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I appreciate the explanation re libraries and frameworks.