APIs. E-commerce platforms. Animated landing pages. If you want to build anything that works on or is accessible via the web, you need to choose a web development framework.

Building web-based applications offers many benefits to businesses, and using a web development framework allows teams to create feature-rich applications without the hassle of using traditional methods.

But with dozens of options available, it can be a nightmare to figure out which is right for you and your business. Before kick-starting your next project, read through our list of 10 web development frameworks you should explore in 2023.

Put simply, a framework provides developers with a set of tools that offer a useful structure when building applications and software. Web development frameworks, specifically, offer a library full of pre-built code, templates and components, allowing developers to quickly build robust web applications, such as APIs and web-based services.

The key benefits include improved (and consistent) code quality and simplified maintenance, allowing developers to easily scale their applications.

What are some examples of web applications?

A web application is any app that is accessed via a web browser, from websites to mobile apps. Some specific examples include email programmes, e-commerce baskets and social media platforms.

Clear on what a web development framework is? Let’s explore the 10 top web frameworks that will rule the market in 2023.

1. React.js

React.js is a JavaScript library popular for building user interfaces. One of the best web development frameworks, React.js is often used by global entities like Meta, Discord and Airbnb.

React,js offers a flexible approach to building user interfaces. Developers like this flexible structure because it supports easy maintenance, is known for its high level of performance and scalability, and provides a diverse range of third-party libraries.

An added benefit of using React.js is that this framework is maintained by Facebook and a wider community of users. This is just one aspect that helped it become one of the most popular front-end frameworks in 2022!

React.js’ pros:

• Easy to understand and maintain
• Offers improved performance and scalability
• Supports optimised rendering processes
• Provides improved application performance
• Includes a wide range of third-party libraries and tools

React.js’ uses:

• User interfaces
• Single-page applications
• Mobile apps, including for iOS and Android
• Large-scale projects

2. Vue.js

Often used for building user interfaces, Vue.js is an alternative JavaScript-based framework. It’s easy to learn and use, which is why it’s popular among beginners. This simplicity entices developers who need to build complex applications quickly, using its provided set of intuitive APIs and third-party libraries.

Vue.js has been gaining popularity in recent use because of its simplicity and because it’s lightweight and highly customisable. With a growing community and the backing of major corporations like Alibaba, we’re interested to see what projects are created with Vue.js this year.

Vue.js’ pros:

• Easy to learn
• Highly customisable
• Lightweight
• Supports good performance

Vue.js’ uses:

• User interfaces
• Single-page applications
• Mobile apps
• Medium-scale projects

3. Django

Django is an open-source Python-based web development framework that provides a high-level structure for building applications. Django provides engineers with (almost) everything they need to build elegant and scalable web applications. Plus, this scalable framework is popular for its security and ease of use.

Django’s pros:

• Easy to use
• Rapid programming
• Secure and scalable

Django’s uses:

• Full-stack web applications
• Games and interactivity
• E-commerce platforms

4. Laravel

Laravel is one of the newest options on our list. A PHP-based web development framework, Laravel is popular amongst engineers for its simplicity, scalability and adaptability. Laravel follows the model-view-controller (MVC) architectural pattern and is perfect for building modern apps.

Laravel’s pros:

• Rapid development
• Modular design
• Easy to use
• Secure

Laravel’s uses:

• Full-stack web applications
• E-commerce platforms
• Content management systems

5. Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails, an open-source framework utilising the Ruby language, operates on Linux and offers a high-level structure for web application development. Its simplicity, scalability, and flexibility are what made Ruby Airbnb and BaseCamp’s top choices when developing databases and servers.

Ruby on Rails’ pros:

• Rapid development
• Easy to learn
• Scalable
• Well-supported

Ruby on Rails’ uses:

• Full-stack applications
• E-commerce platforms
• Content management systems

6. Spring

Spring — another open-source Java-based framework — is a popular choice for web application development. Favoured by developers for its simplicity, which makes managing infrastructure a breeze, security, and scalability. Its compatibility with multiple databases and web servers further enhances its appeal.

Spring’s pros:

• Modular design
• Enterprise-ready
• Highly scalable
• Well-supported

Spring’s uses:

• Full-stack applications
• Enterprise solutions
• Microservices

7. Express.js

The Express.js framework was specifically created for building RESTful APIs with Node.js. This back-end framework is an excellent choice for businesses needing to develop complex applications quickly. Express rose in popularity recently as Node.js has become popular in some of the biggest global companies.

Express.js’ pros:

• Lightweight
• Easy to use
• Highly customisable
• Good performance

Express.js’ uses:

• Web servers
• RESTful APIs
• Single-page applications
• Microservices

8. Flask

Flask, a lightweight Python-based web development framework, is commonly used to create small to medium-sized applications. This micro-framework has gained traction due to its ease of use as it doesn’t rely on external structures, making it ideal for building mobile applications with limited resources. Flask offers tools such as templating engines, authentication, and database migrations to simplify the process.

Flasks’ pros:

• Lightweight
• Easy to learn
• Highly customisable
• Good performance

Flasks’ uses:

• Web servers
• RESTful APIs
• Small to medium-scale projects
• Microservices

9. Symfony

Symfony, a versatile PHP-based web framework, provides a comprehensive structure for software creation. Recognized for its remarkable scalability, security, and user-friendliness, Symfony equips developers with pre-built components and libraries to effortlessly build complex enterprise-level applications.

Symfony’s pros:

• Highly customisable
• Modular design
• Good performance
• Well-supported

Symfony’s uses:

• Full-stack applications
• E-commerce platforms
• Content management systems

10. Angular

Angular, a TypeScript-based web development framework, adheres to the model-view-controller (MVC) architectural pattern and is commonly used for creating scalable and robust web applications. Its powerful features and strong community support contribute to its popularity, particularly in developing enterprise applications. With its wide range of capabilities and extensive community support, Angular is expected to continue gaining traction.

Angular’s pros:

• Powerful
• Highly customisable
• Good performance
• Well-supported

Angular’s uses:

• User interfaces
• Single-page applications
• Enterprise solutions
• Large-scale projects

Understanding which software development framework is right for your project can be challenging. To help you make the right decision and get your project started, we’ve created a guide of your top tips:

Consider your project requirements

Before choosing a web development framework, you should consider your project requirements.

For example, if you’re building a small to medium-sized application, you may want to choose a lightweight framework like Flask or Vue.js. On the other hand, if you are building a large-scale web application, we’d suggest considering more robust options like Django or Laravel.

Look at your team’s expertise

You should also consider your team’s expertise before choosing a web or mobile development framework. If your team is experienced in Python, you may want to choose a framework like Django. Likewise, if your developers have experience with PHP, you’d be wise to choose Laravel or Symfony. If you don’t have the capacity in-house, you can always outsource your web development needs.

Is the framework supported?

You should also consider the framework’s community support before making a choice. Those lucky enough to have large and active communities are more likely to offer up-to-date documentation, bug fixes and security patches — which will come in handy when problems arise.

Review previous performance

You should also consider the framework’s performance. User experience will make or break the success of your web app launch, so you’ll be grateful you chose one optimised for performance and scalability. All these factors work in tandem to help developers create fast and responsive applications.

Not sure where to begin? WeAssemble is on-hand to help you build an expert team of developers well-versed in all these frameworks and more. Get in touch to learn more about the trends we expect to see dominate in the technology space in 2023 and access offshore software development at competitive prices. Contact us today to bring your app idea to life.