Choosing a JavaScript Framework? Here’s What You Need to Know

JavaScript remains a linchpin of modern web development, consistently dominating usage charts across platforms like GitHub and Stack Overflow. And on any of these platforms, you’re sure to find an overabundance of JS programming language frameworks as well.

As of March 2025, JavaScript is utilized as the client-side programming language by 98.9% of all websites and, while traditionally less common, it also currently powers 4.2% of websites as a server-side language, primarily through environments like Node.js.

So, with so many options available, which one should you choose? Let’s go over some of the most viable frameworks for 2025. 

What are JavaScript Frameworks?

Let’s first cover some bases; JavaScript frameworks are structured libraries designed to streamline web development by offering pre-built components, optimized performance, and standardized architecture. Instead of coding from scratch, developers can take advantage of these frameworks to enhance productivity and maintainability.

Key benefits of using JavaScript frameworks include:

• Simplified Development – Pre-written, organized code accelerates the development process.
• Architectural Standards – Enforces best practices such as MVC (Model-View-Controller), ensuring better code organization.
• Performance Optimization – Enhances code execution speed and loading times.
• Component-Based Approach – Encourages reusable UI components for scalable and modular applications.
• Strong Community Support – Many frameworks have extensive documentation, active developer communities, and backing from major tech companies.

1. Angular

With over 2 million websites under its belt, Angular, backed by Google, is an open-source front-end web framework that facilitates JavaScript integration with other web technologies like HTML and CSS.

Angular follows the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architectural pattern and offers you access to control UI components & their behaviors. The framework includes other remarkable features such as two-way data binding, Angular CLI, directives, built-in dependency injection, virtual scrolling, and many more. It also allows users to manipulate DOM attributes as per their requirements. 

Angular Pros:

• Comprehensive, full-fledged framework.
• Strong community support and backing from Google.
• Great for building large-scale applications with complex features.

Angular Cons:

• Steep learning curve.
• Heavier compared to some alternatives.
• Overhead in smaller, simple applications.

Google, Microsoft, and YouTube have all been famously build with Angular. 

2. React

React, also known as React.js, is an open-source JavaScript library for building web user interfaces originally developed by Facebook. Despite being a front-end library, it's mostly considered a JavaScript framework by developers. 

With React, users can build reusable UI components for mobile and desktop apps, all in combination with other JavaScript libraries. It’s usually preferred for developing SPA (Single-page applications) and building enterprise applications. 

React uses the JavaScript extension JSX which makes it easier to combine JavaScript and HTML. Also, it follows the MVC model and provides you with some noticeable features like One-way Data Binding, Virtual DOM, Event handling, and more. 

As of March 2025, React holds 30% of the market share among JavaScript frameworks, it also has the most forks compared to its competitors.

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React Pros:

• Reusable components and easier to manage large apps.
• Great for SPAs and dynamic web applications.
• Excellent community and third-party integrations.

React Cons:

• Need to use additional tools for a complete solution (e.g., state management).
• Steeper learning curve for beginners, especially when adding routing or Redux.

This JavaScript framework has been used for several social media sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

3.  Vue.js

Vue.js, commonly known as Vue, is an open-source JavaScript framework used to build enriching user interfaces. 

In some ways, it could be considered a combination of React and Angular. The framework offers Virtual DOM features like React and two-way binding similar to Angular. Since Vue is a progressive framework, you can easily integrate it with existing projects and with other JS libraries. 

Moreover, it is an MVVM-based (Model-View-View-Model) framework and the core library primarily focuses only on the view layer, it also supports declarative rendering and component composition. Some of the other prominent features of Vue are – event handling, templates & directives, Vue.js CLI, components, transitions, and reactivity focus.

Vue.js has seen a major increase in use during the last few years, with a 40%-45% increase since 2021.

Vue.js Pros:

• Easy to learn and integrate.
• Great flexibility and customizability.
• Ideal for small to medium-sized projects.

Vue.js Cons:

• Smaller ecosystem compared to Angular or React.
• Less corporate backing, though it’s growing fast.

Prominent websites built with Vue.js include GitLab, Stack Overflow and Adobe.

4. Ember.js

Initially known as SproutCore 2.0, Ember.js is another worthwhile open-source JavaScript framework used to develop scalable single-page web apps. 

Ember.js follows the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture pattern and, although it's a web framework, it can be used for mobile and desktop applications as well.

It provides users with a separate data layer, templates or handlebars, an inbuilt testing environment, and numerous other features & functionalities. It also includes the Glimmer rendering engine, which allows DOM element rendering from the template. 

With the command-line interface of Ember.js users can execute tests inside the browser, auto-reloading components, quick rebuild, and more.

Ember.js Pros:

• Rich documentation and strong community support.
• Ember CLI makes project setup and development faster.
• Convention over Configuration (CoC) approach helps streamline development.

Ember.js Cons:

• Steep learning curve for newcomers.
• Over-engineered for smaller projects.
• Some stagnation in popularity.

Ember.js has been used to create LinkedIn, Netflix, Twitch, and Microsoft.

5. Next.js

Last, but not least, we have Next.js. Based on React, Next.js allows you to develop Jamstack and server-based applications by following key development best practices.

It primarily supports CSS and styled JSX, among others. Next.js is written in TypeScript, both JavaScript modules & React components can be imported dynamically into it.

Next.js provides developers with some remarkable features such as automated code-splitting, automatic routing, SEO backing, prefetching, and others. The latest Next.js version (v.15.2) of Next.js also includes redirect support and incremental static regeneration.

Another Next.js key feature is Static Exports, which allows users to export a completely static site from the application. 

Next.js Pros:

• Optimized for server-side rendering (SSR).
• Improved SEO out of the box.
• Provides static site generation.

Next.js Cons:

• Requires understanding of React and its ecosystem.
• Configuration can be complex for beginners.

Netflix, GitHub, and Avocode have all been built using Next.js.

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How to choose a JavaScript framework

The JavaScript frameworks we’ve mentioned so far are just a handful of the many, many tools available in the market today. So, how do you know which one is the right one for your business?

Each framework is suited for specific use cases, with its strengths and weaknesses. To make an informed decision, consider the following key factors:

Project Requirements

The nature of your project plays a critical role in determining the ideal JavaScript framework. If you’re building a large-scale enterprise application, Angular may be a strong choice due to its robust structure. 

If you need a lightweight, flexible framework for a small or mid-sized project, Vue.js could be a better fit. Meanwhile, if you’re focusing on server-side rendering (SSR) and SEO, Next.js offers strong capabilities.

Performance and Speed

Framework performance is crucial for optimizing user experience. React and Vue.js, with their virtual DOM implementations, offer excellent performance for dynamic applications. Next.js enhances performance further with static site generation (SSG) and SSR, which improve page load times and SEO.

Learning Curve and Developer Experience

If you’re working with a team of developers, consider the learning curve of each framework. Vue.js is generally considered easier to learn, while Angular has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive ecosystem and TypeScript integration. React is a middle ground, but its reliance on additional libraries for state management (like Redux) can add complexity.

Community Support and Ecosystem

A strong community ensures ongoing support, frequent updates, and a wealth of learning resources. React boasts one of the largest developer communities, making it easier to find solutions to common problems. 

Angular, backed by Google, also has solid support, while Vue.js continues to grow rapidly. Next.js, being a React-based framework, benefits from React’s ecosystem while offering additional optimizations.

Scalability and Maintainability

If you intend to scale your application in the future, consider frameworks with strong architectural patterns. 

Angular and Ember.js enforce structure and convention, making them suitable for large-scale applications. React and Vue.js offer flexibility, but may require additional tools for large projects. Next.js is an excellent choice for projects requiring scalability with optimized performance.

In the end, there’s not an only “best” JavaScript framework—choosing the right one depends on your project type, team expertise, technical requirements, and more. Diving into the JavaScript ecosystem may seem overwhelming if you're inexperienced, but the results are sure to pay off. 

By keeping these factors in mind and working with expert developers, you’ll be able to make the most out of whichever framework you choose.