Javascript is a high-level programming and scripting language that enables a web application to be more dynamic and used for front-end and back-end development.
Since 1995, it has been used in building applications and has dramatically evolved, introducing different frameworks to ease development. It is an event-driven, functional, object-oriented, and prototype-based programming style.
What is Javascript Framework?
The Javascript framework is a collection of multiple javascript code libraries put together to simplify web development, with little to no configuration.
Javascript frameworks render pre-written code that produces standard programming features, ultimately easing development.
Due to its easy adaptability, developers have become fond of building more dynamic websites.
Javascript frameworks are like a template that simplifies building-specific applications, where it is possible to write code from the start or utilize already completed work, making the construction process easier and more productive.
They are used to build or construct applications and have predefined functions.
It is useful when working with user interfaces or large volumes of data. This framework can be broken down into two categories Front-end framework and Back-end framework.
What are the Popular Javascript Frameworks?
1. Angular (front-end)
It is an open-source framework maintained by Google. It interprets attributes to perform data binding, used for downloading/building single page applications with high performance, offline, and zero-step installation.
It creates complex choreographies and animations with little code through Angular’s intuitive API, and the DOM (Document Object Model) is easy to manipulate.
With the introduction of the new component Router, angular apps load quickly, delivering automatic code splitting, not to forget the Angular CLI(command line tools) enables the fast building of applications.
It also adds components and tests them immediately after they are deployed.
It is a mobile-view controller (MVC) architecture that allows dependency injection. They can be broken into modules, allowing custom modules and libraries to be combined, and they can create an application.
HTML vocabulary creates interactivity in your application using directives making the code more readable, expressive, and easy to develop.
Use of Angular
- It is used to develop Single Page Applications which provide fantastic user experiences for visitors.
- Development of web applications that can run on any device can be combined with other framework or library that allows the building of IOS and Andriod.
- It is used for server-side rendering.
- Awesome UI animation can be created using this framework; it may be compelling, but if done wrong, it may make people hate your application/site.
2. React (front-end)
React is one of the most popular frameworks which Facebook developed.
Used for building a responsive and active user interface (UI). Due to its SEO-friendly (reusability of different components)
Used by most e-commerce websites, and it’s a one-way data binding, unlike angular.
It has many benefits due to its ease of learning, ability to test and debug quickly, and enhanced performance due to its small code and virtual DOM, reducing the re-rendering time once a state is changed.
It is concerned with rendering data to the DOM, where additional libraries will be required for state management and interacting with an API {Application Programming Interface).
Among all the frameworks, it has similarities with Javascript functions. It has a hot reload, enabling the developer to see changes instantly.
Use of React
- It is a Javascript library used to create a fantastic app that requires working with API and database, using React-router to add pages to your app and play media like audio and video. You can build some of these applications.
- Real-time chat app/Social Media app – for example, Facebook, Twitter, Slack, Discord, Crisp chat, etc. Allowing users to send messages/interact with others in real-time, such as sending and receiving images, audio, and videos can indicate when users are online or offline.
- E-Commerce App – Eg Shopify, Esty, Dev.to, where users have the authority to buy physical products online, and users can add, and remove items from a shopping cart, view their cart, and checkout at the same time.
- Video Sharing – Eg YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat, this video sharing app allows you to search for videos created and posted on the app, giving us access to watch short or lengthy videos.
- Forum app and Music streaming apps.
3. Node.js (Back-end)
Node js is a server-side, cross-platform, open-source run-time environment used for running web applications outside the client browser; vital to note that node.js is neither a library nor framework but a run-time environment.
It has an API that programmers may use to create code. Javascript engines parse the code to create a lightweight event-driven programming language that supports non-blocking I/O (input/output) and can handle several concurrent events in a single thread.
Node js create modules that allow reusability thought out the application; its functionality is either simple or complex.
Node.js can handle concurrent events and requests sent by thousands or even millions of devices on the network without experiencing a speed or performance drop.
Businesses and organizations are building IoT systems with it, including LinkedIn, Trello, Netflix, Walmart, and NASA.
It cuts down processing time significantly when it comes to uploading videos and audio files, and it does not buffer any data, whereby data are in chunks.
Nodejs has its framework written in javascript like React, which runs on Node.js run-time.
NodeJs executes on any platform that supports Node.js (high-performances due to V8 javascript). Its pitfalls are that it relies on callback and processes one request simultaneously.
Use of Node.js
- Node.js is a well-known framework used to construct various applications while dealing with the back end (Server side).
- Due to its ability to process multiple concurrent requests (Sending and exchanging data) emitted by different devices on the network, the Internet of Things (IoT) adopted it.
- Due to its asynchronous and event-based architecture, the real-time collaboration tool is an excellent fit for collaboration apps offering different solutions for project management(Trello), video and audio conferencing, application sharing, and editing of documents (Google Docs).
- Node.js is excellent for developing streaming applications thanks to its native Stream API. Examples are Facebook and YouTube.
4. Backbone.js (Back-end)
It is based on the Mobel View controller design paradigm that supports different components such as model, collections, Router, Events, sync, and options for assembling the client-side web application.
It allows asynchronous communication that enables applications to interact with its back-end service.
Backbone is lightweight, making it flexible and easy to use, enabling you to get started within a few hours due to its Good documentation.
It is a single-page application that loads all the resources required to run the current/initial page, eliminating the need to reload the page when navigating to a different application page.
Use of Bacbone.js
- It is highly advisable to use it when working with Javascript or jQuery to help reduce the number of codes
- When seeking a design with less code, Backbone is the framework for it.
- It is a framework that assists in the separation of the business and user interface logic.
- Backbone has a soft dependency on jquery and a hard dependency on Underscore.js.
- It is designed to keep different parts of web applications (e.g. multiple clients and servers) synchronized.
Conclusion
JavaScript has become popular in the development of web applications, where different Frameworks are available for easy development, each framework having its benefits and drawbacks.
Before selecting a framework, you’ll consider some things depending on your project needs, like its feature, architecture type, learning process, and documentation.
This framework is easily accessible on YouTube, where links to that work are occasionally supplied. You can obtain some online PDFs that will explain the fundamentals of this framework’s fundamentals.
To learn more in-depth, visit GitHub and look at some work that has been done on the chosen framework.
Resource
Angular
1.Angular on DEV Community. 2. Angular on FreeCodeCamp. 3. A Better Way to Learn Angular by Thinkster. 4. Udemy Angular Course.
React
Node.js
Bacebone.js
