Front-end development deals with the structure and looks of the website. Everything that a visitor sees on a website is the creation of a front-end developer. Creativity is the priority for front-end developers. There are many tools and frameworks that a front-end developer can use to develop a great web page.
There is a variety of front-end web frameworks, and developers choose a framework according to their projects. Front end frameworks increase the productivity of developers, and they also provide many built-in features. These frameworks work on the DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) principle, which means there is no need to write the same code again and again. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the three main pillars of front-end development, and all have their frameworks.
What is Front-end?
In front-end development, we deal with the overall look of the website (or web app), and the client-side is the main concern. The primary job of a front-end developer is to design the structure of a web page that would display on the client system. HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are the main tools of front-end development.
What are Web Frameworks?
A web framework is a collection of libraries (predefined code) and APIs (application program interfaces) that call the code and performs the task. Web frameworks are used to create code for websites and web applications.
Best Front End Framework for Web Development
Following is our list of the top 10 front end frameworks to use in 2022 for web development:
- Bootstrap
- Angular.js
- Vue.js
- React
- Skeleton
- Pure
- Semantic UI
- Foundation
- Materialize
1. Bootstrap
It is one of the famous and most widely used front-end CSS frameworks. Created and released by Twitter in 2011, Bootstrap is a free-to-use web framework. Bootstrap includes CSS, HTML, and even JavaScript components and perform a great task when it comes to developing complex web pages.
Bootstrap has a large community across the globe, and a great developer team is continuously working on its updates. It also has great documentation and supports rich libraries, and with its continuous updates, now it can use Sass as a CSS preprocessor.
Some big firms that use Bootstrap:
- Spotify
- Udemy
- Robinhood
- LinkdIn
- StackShare
Bootstrap Pros:
- Open-source software.
- Great documentation.
- It can also create complex web pages.
Bootstrap Cons:
- The bootstrap website needs heavy changes in the style, otherwise, all the websites you build on bootstrap look the same.
- Bootstrap contains many classes and components, although learning them is easy, still it takes a lot of time to learn them all.
- Bootstrap does help in making responsive websites but it comes with some payback. The heavy website built on bootstrap takes more loading time, resulting in slow website and battery drain issues.
2. Angular
It is considered one of the best JavaScript frameworks that are used for front-end development and developing mobile applications. Angular is written in TypeScript, which is a superset of JavaScript. Thus, any JavaScript Developer can use Angular.
Developed and maintained by Google, Angular saw the light of the day in September 2016. The tech mogul developed such a framework because of the rapid growth of internet users and increased demand for mobile applications. In only a few years of its reign, Angular has become one of the most popular JS frameworks among developers.
Some big firms that use Angular:
- Upwork
- HBO
- Nike
- Forbes
- Sony
Pros and Cons of Angular
Pros:
- Uses real DOM which works as a virtual DOM for trivial updates.
- Supports bi-directional data binding.
- Proactive community and backing from Google.
Cons:
- Needs frequent updates.
- High learning curve.
3. Vue.JS
Vue is an open-source JavaScript framework released in February 2014. VueJS was created by Evan You, a former Google employee, with the aim of developing a lightweight JavaScript Framework. Made under the consideration of HTML-based templet syntax, the simplicity and lightweight of this framework have attracted many developers to use it. Vue is primarily used for developing UIs and single-page applications.
Some big tech firms that use Vue:
- Alibaba
- Xiaomi
- Adobe
- GitLab
- Grammarly
- Euro News
Pros and Cons of Vue
Pros:
- Simple to use.
- Comes with extensive documentation.
- High code reusability.
- Features a devtool extension.
Cons:
- Small community.
- Not that much flexible as Angular and React.
4. React
It is the most popular front-end framework of 2021 and will continue to reign in 2022. Developed by Facebook, React is a very powerful tool used to build intuitive UIs. It was released on 29th May 2013, and since then, Facebook has used it for many big projects.
ReactJS has rich libraries that are used to create mobile applications. The main feature of React is that it works with virtual DOM, so any updates applied on the page do not have any adverse effect on any other part of the web interface.
Some big firms that use React:
- Airbnb
- Netflix
- Uber
- Dropbox
Pros and Cons of React
React Pros:
- Uses virtual DOM.
- High code reusability with React components.
- One direction data flow.
- Open-source with rich libraries.
React Cons:
- High learning curve.
- Poor documentation.
5. Skeleton
It is a lightweight CSS framework used for small projects. Skeleton has a low learning curve, and with fewer lines of code, you can create a web application for both large and small mobile devices. Due to its lightweight build, it is very fast as compared to other UI frameworks. Though Skeleton does not have many built-in components, it lets you develop by customizing the CSS.
Some Main features of Skeleton
- It comes with a grid system.
- Typography.
- Inbuilt buttons API.
- Inbuilt Form.
Some big firms that use Skeleton:
- Steelkiwi Inc.
- CampusBox-Api
- Sprit Pixels
- emotion.me
- Sprettynice
- Ledger Note
Pros and Cons of Skeleton:
Skeleton Pros:
- It is a beginner-friendly framework.
- It comes with a superior main type and web layout design.
- It is an ideal framework for small resolution devices.
Skeleton Cons
- It lacks CSS classes.
- It also has limited templates.
- It is not an ideal framework for big websites.
6. Pure
It is a simple CSS framework with a single Stylesheet. Pure.css is a very lightweight framework but has enough libraries to create and develop some complex web pages. Though it is not used for big projects, it could be an ideal framework for a beginner who wants to play and learn more about CSS development. Pure is designed to develop some specific features for the web pages, and it supports the modular approach of coding.
Some big websites that use Pure:
- speedtest.net
- mongoosejs.com
- docs.rs
- letsencrypt.org
Pros and Cons of Pure
Pros:
- Has a low learning curve.
- Pure is a lightweight front-end framework.
- It is open-source.
- Offers fast development.
Cons:
- Not suitable for creating complex web pages.
- It does not have enough classes and UI designs.
7. Semantic UI
Semantic UI is a very powerful front-end framework and a worthy competitor to Bootstrap. It is one of the simple front-end frameworks with a moderate learning curve and can also be used for complex web applications. Its structure is more difficult than Bootstrap, and the installation could be baffling, but the numerous features of Semantic UI make it worthwhile.
Some big firms that use Semantic UI:
- Snapchat
- Accenture
- Digital Services
- Ovrsea
- Deepnatural
Pros and Cons of Semantic UI
Pros:
- Has a moderate learning curve.
- Minimal load time.
- Easy customization.
- More than 20 inbuilt themes.
Cons:
- Large packages.
8. Foundation
Developed by ZURB and released in September 2011, Foundation is a responsive front-end framework. It is released as an open-source project with features like code snippets, typography, form, buttons, navigation, and many other interfaces. Considered an HTML framework, Foundation is written in HTML, CSS, Sass, and JavaScript. Moreover, it is the first responsive framework written in Sass.
Some big firms that use Foundation:
- LaunchDarkly
- Docker
- Workday
- HotelTonight
- WeWork
Pros and Cons of Foundation
Pros:
- It is a flexible framework.
- Available as open-source software.
- No style-lock in.
- Use REMS.
Cons:
- Large file size.
- High learning curve.
- Complex syntax.
9. Materialize
It is also a responsive front-end web framework and a CSS framework. Materialize follows Google’s material design concept, and it is written in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This is an ideal framework for those developers who want to take HTML, CSS, and JavaScript basic knowledge to the next level.
Materialize has a rich UI with many animations and layouts. It has a built-in IZ column grid feature that is used for website layouts. It also includes features like typography, forms, buttons, and colors.
Some big firms that use Materialize:
- Digital Services
- DroneDeploy
- Greencode
- Leonis Holding
- Marstech
Pros and Cons of Materialize
Pros:
- Offers a wide variety of components.
- Active community support.
- Giant and mushrooming community
Cons:
- Large file size.
Conclusion
That was our list of the best front end frameworks to use in 2022. Many of these were the best of the bunch in 2021 and will continue to gain more and more developers in 2022. All of these are suitable for specific requirements. So, all you need to do is find out your needs and choose the most suitable one. All the best!
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Great post! Been diving into more CSS frameworks myself. I think there are a lot of other CSS frameworks worth mentioning like Cirrus and Tailwind. Both are currently on my radar and work quite well in my projects.