JavaScript is one of the most popular programming languages. A StackOverflow survey conducted in 2021 ranked it as one of the top languages, leading for the 9th consecutive year. Another survey indicated that 69.7% of developers prefer using JavaScript over other languages.

JavaScript is the programming language of the web and is used for creating an interactive and dynamic user experience, whether developers want to do frontend or backend development. In fact, almost 97% of websites use JavaScript in some capacity and its popularity will likely continue given what developers can create when combining it with a headless CMS.

Today, we’ll discuss six of the top JavaScript frameworks you can use with a headless CMS, highlighting the nitty-gritty elements that can help you choose one of them and exploring some of the best suited use cases.
What Is a JavaScript Framework?
JavaScript frameworks are the core asset of JavaScript that enable web developers to save time and utilize the pre-written codes for their development.

They can give developers a head start with ready-made features and modules that can be used to develop robust applications. JavaScript holds the firm ground in developing web-based applications and dynamic websites because of its JavaScript frameworks.

But what are the unique features that make developers fall in love with JavaScript frameworks? Let’s have a look.

Why Do Developers Love JavaScript Frameworks?

Developers across the globe, especially front-end developers, love JavaScript frameworks. Why? Because a framework offers a universal development environment, reusable code components, compilers, code libraries, toolset, and APIs, among other features, to facilitate development of web applications.

JavaScript frameworks simplify enterprise-level application development and save time for developers by helping them avoid writing the same code again.

However, given the multitude of JavaScript front-end frameworks, it’s hard for developers to filter out one to achieve their desired results. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of frameworks and included the pros, cons and some use cases for each of them to make deciding which one is best suited to your organization’s needs.

Top JavaScript Frameworks for 2022

1. React

When we talk about JavaScript frameworks, React is one of the most used and popular frameworks. Over 40% of developers globally use React as their go-to open-source JavaScript library. It offers excellent community support, an easier learning curve, and a lightweight working environment.

Pros of React

• React helps developers reuse UI components or import them with no hassles of coding from scratch.
• React allows the developers to write HTML snippets within the JavaScript files because it uses JSX.
• The React library syncs with routing, state management, or API integration.
• React offers unidirectional data binding, which enables one-way dataflow to help developers.

Use Cases

React is the core component used to design Netflix, Asana, Airbnb, UberEats, etc. ReactJS was used by Facebook for its use case but in the later years, it was open-sourced for everyone to use it for different project areas. You can use ReactJS to build single-page apps, data visualization tools or dashboards because of its:

• Component reusability
• Virtual DOM
• Isomorphic JavaScript features

2. Vue

Vue.js is another open-source framework preferred for small-time front-end applications that require a JavaScript framework. It is rated as the third most popular framework by GitHub for 2021.

Pros of Vue

• It uses Virtual DOM for state updates and changes.
• It offers both two-way and one-way data binding.
• Vue.js has a vivid ecosystem, and you can build a mobile application using NativeScript, Ionic, and Quasar frameworks.
• It has multiple features with animations and CSS transitions.

Use Cases

Companies like Louis Vuitton, 9gag, Alibaba, and Xiaomi use Vue.js for their front-end development.

For example, Louis Vuitton and Alibaba are eCommerce platforms that deal with a great amount of sophisticated data. They require their interface to be efficient and process the complex data fast for display. That’s where Vue.js enables you to build those frameworks.

3. Next.js

Next is a server-side framework based on React. The end-to-end rendering framework enables hot code reloading, automatic code-splitting, automatic routing, and built-in SEO handling.

Pros of Next

• Traditional, client-side rendered (CSR) apps offer poor SEO performance. It’s harder for search engines to index the pages of CSR sites, but Next.js delivers excellent SEO performance.
• The lightweight bundles of the JavaScript code mentioned above is loaded behind the scenes.
• You can build both enterprise applications and small static websites. You can even build desktop apps, mobiles apps, along with websites using Next.js.

Use Cases

Websites like Github, Starbucks, Tencent, Uber, and Twitch are built on Next.js. The best use case of Next.js can be for building websites with:

• Large multi-user base
• Client-side rendering applications
• E-Commerce websites
• Web portals

For example with GitHub, Next.js enabled them to build static pages that can still behave like dynamic ones. Due to the consistent content update required, Next.js became the best web technology they could use for building their platform.

4. Nuxt

Nuxt is a progressive open-source framework based on Vue and is used to build apps for server-side rendering.

Pros of Nuxt

• It offers quick and easy project setup and development.
• With Nuxt, you can create universal apps.
• You can split application JavaScript code with Nuxt.
• It offers a robust structuring experience for better performance.

Use Cases

Fox News, MyScript, Upwork, Backmarket, Line, GitHub Stars, and Note.com, among others, are some of the popular websites based on Nuxt. It is the epitome of building universal apps.

For example, Line uses Nuxt for its:

• Structured architecture
• Also, it enables Line developers to have convention over configuration
• Nuxt has packaged modules and plugins with a versatile build option to make things optimized and simple

5. Angular

Angular was developed by Google and is a TypeScript-based web application framework. The open-source framework offers developers asynchronous compilations, dependency injection, RxJS, and other core features.

It has managed to capture the attention of many developers worldwide, and people love using it.

Pros of Angular

• It offers excellent synchronization between view and mode because of its component-based architecture.
• It has a solid developer community for support.
• It offers dependency and directive injection.

Use Cases

A lot of Google’s services used Angular for the deployment part. Websites like LEGO, Forbes, and BMW are designed using Angular.

Use cases of Angular are:

• Video streaming apps (YouTube)
• E-Commerce apps (T-mobile)
• Real-time data application (weather.com)
• User generated content portals (UpWork)
• The latest news and content portals (The Guardian)

6. Flutter

Flutter is Google’s modern kit to build Android, Google Fuchsia, and iOS apps. It is an open-source platform and can build full-featured smart mobile apps with geolocation, storage, network, and camera support.

Pros of Flutter

• It offers a hot reload that enables developers to view changes directly in the application.
• It offers excellent cross-platform development that saves time and energy.
• It requires less code to develop an application because of its programming language, Dart.

Use Cases

Google Ads, Alibaba, Reflectly, and Hamilton Musical preferred Flutter for their mobile app development. Flutter has a wide range of use cases like:

• Social networking apps (KlasterMe)
• Photo and video apps (PostMuse)
• Shopping apps (Alibaba)
• Health and fitness apps (Reflectly)
• Music apps (Topline)
• Entertainment (Hamilton)

It offers fast coding, cross-platform development, less testing, and intuitive mobile applications for faster speed and similar UX for older devices.

JavaScript empowers web and mobile app developers to build solutions by offering a variety of  different frameworks. It’s up to you to filter out the best fit based on your requirement.

How to Leverage JavaScript Frameworks with CrafterCMS

If you want to escape the hassle of having to choose between frameworks because your current CMS doesn’t quite hit the mark then have no fear. CrafterCMS, as an API-first headless platform, works seamlessly with all JavaScript frameworks. Even better, CrafterCMS and its user-friendly, WYSIWYG content authoring tools, drag/drop experience building tools, and in-context preview capabilities all work with any of these front-end frameworks as well.

With CrafterCMS, you can build modern apps and websites using your front-end technology of choice, and your content teams and marketers can easily create and publish content-rich experiences for any audience. 

JavaScript frameworks dominate the web and with the help of CrafterCMS you can build the types of content experiences that help you dominate your industry. As an example, learn how CrafterCMS can help you build content-rich React apps by reading our White Paper: Building React Apps on a Headless CMS.