Which framework for web development should you choose?
Everyone has a website these days, but it’s not easy to build one from scratch. The increased demand for web development has given rise to a plethora of frameworks for web development. Finding one that works for you can be a difficult task. To make your job easier, we’ve put together a list of frameworks that can help you build the website you want. Before we jump into it, let’s take a look at what such a framework is.
What is a framework for web development?
Simply put, web development frameworks take care of the elements of your website that can be automated. For example, you can use a framework to make sure that all the buttons on your website look the same – without having to write the code for each button individually. Even complex elements like nested navigation menus can be brought within a framework so that they are standardized.
There are two different types of frameworks for web development: backend frameworks and frontend frameworks.
Backend frameworks
Backend frameworks are built for developers, to make it easier for them to interact with databases. They usually consist of a library of tools that developers can pick and choose from while building a web application. Here are some of the best backend frameworks for web development in 2023.
Django
Django is a framework for Python developers. You can use it for large and complex projects to design robust applications. It is the framework of choice for many large corporations like Instagram and NASA. Django offers you features such as messaging, in-built validation, and authentication. The downside is that there is a steep learning curve to this framework.
Ruby on Rails
Based on the Ruby programming language, this is one of the oldest backend frameworks for web development. You can use it to design complex algorithms to solve complicated business problems. Since it has been around for so long, there are a large number of libraries with ready-made modules that you can use to your benefit. While it is robust, Ruby on Rails is not very flexible. The lack of detailed documentation makes it difficult to use this framework for unique projects.
Laravel
Laravel is an open-source framework for PHP developers. It works best for small to mid-range projects, and you can easily adapt it to fit the project of your choice. It has a simple API (application processing interface) and even offers support for those who may need it. A disadvantage of Laravel is that it is slower compared to other backend frameworks.
Express JS
Express is an open-source, minimal Node JS web application framework. You can use it to build highly flexible applications, and it works best for small to medium-sized projects. It is easy to understand and has a straightforward learning curve. One disadvantage is that it does not have added security features, so the security of your application is entirely up to you.
Flask
Flask is a framework for Python developers. It does not have a database abstraction layer and does not require any specific tools or libraries. It is simple and easy to configure, making it very flexible. However, it isn’t a good choice for large-scale projects.
Frontend frameworks
As you might expect, frontend frameworks can help you with the design aspect of your website. They combine HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to give you a base design on which you can develop. Here’s a list of some front-end frameworks for web development that you might find useful.
Angular
Angular is an open-source framework that you can use to create dynamic mobile and web applications. When it launched, it used JavaScript but is now based on Typescript. Angular works best for large-scale web applications. An advantage of this framework is that it lets you view the changes you make in real-time. The downside is that it is complex and a bit difficult to learn.
Vue.Js
Vue.Js is a simple and straightforward framework (unlike Angular), which makes it easy to learn. There is also detailed documentation that you can refer to if you are a beginner. However, most of this documentation is in Chinese, which can be a language barrier. You can use this framework to easily build both dynamic and small-scale web applications.
React
React was originally developed by Facebook’s team, but is now open-source and easy to use. It allows you to reuse components that you have built, making it easier to collaborate. It is usually used to develop single-page applications and is a perfect framework for UI (User Interface) development. There is, however, a pretty steep learning curve, so this isn’t the framework for you if you are not an experienced developer.
jQuery
jQuery is one of the older frameworks, but it has stuck around and is still widely used. This is probably because it is fairly simple and easy to learn. Despite its simplicity, you can use it to create dynamic applications. However, it might not be a good idea to use jQuery to build large-scale applications. Since it relies entirely on JavaScript, your apps could become heavy and slow to run.
Ember
Similar to Angular, Ember is one of the toughest frameworks to get a handle on. Large companies like Linkedin and Apple use Ember to build their complex applications. It is generally used to build applications with a lot of functionality, and may not work so well for simpler applications. It is, however, one of the fastest frameworks out there. The only real downside is that it is very difficult to learn.
If you’re not sure which framework for web development is right for you, don’t worry!
It’s not easy to choose the best framework for web development, and you will probably need to experiment a bit to find the right one. We can help you with that! iTrobes is a web development company that deals with both front and backend development. We will work with you to figure out what framework for web development fits your needs.
Contact us today to get started!
