Top 7 Front-End JS frameworks to learn in 2024
JS frameworks are pre-written code that give you a structure and a set of tools to build web applications using JavaScript. JS frameworks can make your development faster and easier, as you don’t have to write everything from scratch, and can also enhance the quality and performance of your code, as they are tested and optimized by other developers.
Why should we learn a Front-End JS framework?
They solve common web development challenges: Client-side JS frameworks are built to help developers create scalable, interactive web applications that can manage complex data and user interactions. They offer features and tools such as data binding, routing, templating, components, testing, and more, that can make the development process easier and faster.
They improve the user experience and performance: Client-side JS frameworks can enhance the user experience and performance of web applications by reducing the need for server requests, rendering the UI quicker, and providing smooth transitions and animations. They can also support offline functionality, progressive enhancement, and SEO.
They are popular and in-demand in the industry: Client-side JS frameworks are widely used and adopted by many modern companies and websites, such as Facebook, Netflix, Airbnb, and more. Learning a framework can boost your employability and marketability as a front-end developer, as many jobs now require framework experience.
Top 7 Front-End JavaScript Frameworks
If you want to learn some of the best client-side JS frameworks for 2024, here are seven options and what they offer:
1. React
React is a library that lets you create user interfaces with reusable components that handle data and events. React is very popular and widely used in the web development industry, with a large and active community. React also has many tools and libraries that enhance its functionality, such as React Router, Redux, Next.js, and more.
2. Vue
Vue is a framework that makes it easy to build user interfaces with reactive data binding, which means that the UI automatically updates when the data changes. Vue also supports a template syntax that allows you to write HTML-like code to describe your UI. Vue is lightweight, fast, and flexible, and can be used for simple or complex applications. Vue also has a rich ecosystem of plugins and libraries, such as Vuex, Vue Router, Nuxt.js, and more.
3. Angular
Angular is a framework that uses TypeScript as its main language to build single-page applications with the model-view-controller (MVC) architecture, which separates the logic, presentation, and data of an application. Angular provides many features and tools out of the box, such as data binding, routing, dependency injection, forms, testing, and more. Angular is powerful and scalable, but also has a steep learning curve and a large codebase.
4. Svelte
Svelte is a new way of building user interfaces that moves the work from the browser to the compiler. Svelte lets you write high-performance UI components using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but unlike other frameworks, it does not use a virtual DOM or runtime libraries. Instead, Svelte compiles your code into small and efficient JavaScript modules that update the DOM directly. Svelte is fast, lightweight, and innovative, but it is still relatively new and experimental.
5. Ember
Ember is a framework that follows the convention over configuration principle to build modern web applications. Ember provides a complete solution for building, testing, and deploying your app, with features such as data management, routing, templating, components, services, and more. Ember also follows the web standards and best practices, such as accessibility, progressive enhancement, and SEO. Ember is stable, mature, and opinionated, but it also has a smaller community and less popularity than newer frameworks.
6. Next.js
Next.js is a framework that uses React to build server-side rendered (SSR) or static web applications. Next.js simplifies the development process by providing features such as file-system routing, pre-rendering, code splitting, dynamic imports, API routes, and more. Next.js also supports incremental static regeneration (ISR), which allows you to update static pages without rebuilding your entire site. Next.js is fast, easy to use, and optimized for performance and SEO.
7. Nuxt.js
Nuxt.js is a framework that uses Vue to build universal or static web applications. Nuxt.js offers a similar set of features as Next.js, such as file-system routing, pre-rendering, code splitting, dynamic imports, API routes, and more. Nuxt.js also supports server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), or hybrid modes (SSR + SSG). Nuxt.js is flexible, powerful, and optimized for performance and SEO.
Which Front-End JS framework should we choose?
If you are looking for a client-side JS framework, you might want to consider React, Vue, Angular, Svelte, Ember, Next.js, or Nuxt.js. These are some of the popular and widely used frameworks that offer different advantages and disadvantages.
Here is a quick overview of how they compare on some criteria.
Popularity
React leads the pack in terms of popularity and usage, followed by Angular and Vue. Svelte and Ember have fewer users and smaller communities. Next.js and Nuxt.js are extensions of React and Vue that add more features for server-side rendering and static site generation.
Satisfaction
Svelte tops the charts in terms of satisfaction, according to developer surveys, followed by React and Vue. Angular has the least satisfied users among the four frameworks. Next.js and Nuxt.js also have high satisfaction rates among their users.
Performance
Svelte outperforms the other frameworks, according to JavaScript benchmark tests, followed by React. Angular and Vue have lower performance scores, especially in terms of memory usage and startup time. Next.js and Nuxt.js also have good performance scores, but they rely on the underlying framework they use.
How to optimize Front-End JS frameworks further?
If you want to make your web applications faster and more user-friendly, you need to optimize your JavaScript frameworks.
The following are some useful suggestions and guidelines for achieving this:
Use Server-Side Rendering (SSR)
By using server-side rendering (SSR), you can create the HTML for the initial page load on the server. This can speed up the time to first paint and enhance SEO, as the crawlers can access the rendered content without running JavaScript.
Use Clean and Crawlable URLs
Create clear and crawlable URLs that reflect the content and layout of your web pages. Do not use query parameters or hash fragments that can mislead the crawlers or create duplicate content problems.
Use Meta Tags and Structured Data
With meta tags and structured data, you can give more information about your web pages, such as the title, description, keywords, author, etc. This can make it easier for search engines to comprehend the content and context of your pages, and show rich snippets or cards in the search results.
Use Lazy Loading
By using lazy loading, you can delay loading the resources and images that are outside the initial viewport, until the user needs or requests them. This can lower the initial page load time and bandwidth usage, and enhance the perceived performance and user engagement.
Optimize Images
Image optimization means making an image as small as possible without compromising its appearance, so that a website can load faster and run better. You should choose the most appropriate format (JPEG, PNG, APNG, or WebP) for images, compress them to make them smaller, and resize them to fit the display size. You should also convert any images that are in less optimal formats to better ones. For example, you could change big GIFs to APNGs. Some web-based applications, such as EZgif or Vertopal, can help you achieve this goal.
Minimize HTTP Requests
Use as little JavaScript as you can, and eliminate unnecessary or unused code to minimize HTTP requests. Merge multiple files into one, and use tools like gzip or Brotli to compress the file size and boost the download speed.
Limit Use of Global Variables
Avoid using global variables, as they can contaminate the global namespace, create conflicts, and raise the memory usage. Use local variables as much as you can, and use closures or modules to make private scopes and prevent leaks.
Use Async or Defer Attributes
By using the async or defer attributes, you can load your scripts without stopping the page rendering. This can enhance the page load time and user experience, as the browser can download and run the scripts along with the HTML parsing.
Choose Right Data Structures
Pick the appropriate data structures for your data, such as arrays, objects, maps, sets, etc. Improve your loops by using the most effective iteration methods. Avoid using nested loops, recursive calls, and needless computations.
Minimize Number of Changes
Reduce the number and frequency of changes to the DOM, as they can trigger reflows and repaints, which are costly operations. Store the DOM elements that you often need to access or modify, and use document fragments or virtual DOM to group the changes and apply them in one go.
Use Browser’s Cache
Store the static resources that are rarely changed, such as images, stylesheets, scripts, fonts, etc., in the browser’s cache. Use service workers to make a custom caching strategy and offer offline functionality. Use long-term caching techniques, such as cache busting or content hashing, to refresh the cache when the resources change.
Conclusion
Choosing a JS framework is not an easy task, but it can be rewarding if you do it carefully and wisely. Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for every project or every developer. You need to find the best fit for your specific needs and preferences. You also need to be flexible and adaptable to change as new technologies emerge or new requirements arise.
I hope this article has given you some useful insights and tips on how to pick a JS framework for your project. Happy coding!
