JavaScript is a dynamic programming language developed by Brendan Eich while working for Netscape Communications Corporation. It is generally used as a common script web browser and supports imperative, functional and object-oriented coding styles.
However, building a standalone project on JavaScript is quite a time consuming and difficult task. To deal with these difficulties various JavaScript Frameworks have been developed.
All these frameworks are supposed to encapsulate some common application functionality, allowing you to focus on unique parts of the application. Some of the most popular examples are MooTools, Jasmine, socketIO, etc.
Since our aim is to introduce new tools, we have not added popular frameworks. Below you will find some of the most useful JavaScript frameworks that can save you a lot of time.
Table of Contents
41. Sammy.js
Sammy is a small framework built on a system of plugins and adapters. It provides the basic structure and includes the only code you need. Furthermore, the entire API is designed to be easy to read and understand.
40. SproutCore
SproutCore is an open-source framework for building fast and innovative user experiences on the web. It includes HTML5 technologies, clean MVC architecture, client-side logic and various built-in tools to make your app look good. You can build both small and enterprise-level apps and access them from anywhere.
39. rAppid.js
rAppid is a declarative rich internet application developed and based on JavaScript and XML. It lets you encapsulate complexity into components that can be easily used like HTML elements.
38. The M project
The M project is a JavaScript framework with advanced features of HTML5 that helps you build great mobile apps quickly. This is an open-source project that supports multiple devices and runs in every browser.
37. Qooxdoo
Qooxdoo is a universal framework with a coherent set of individual components. It allows you to create rich, interactive and native-like apps for mobile devices, as well as lightweight single page web applications. It works on all devices and operating systems.
36. Cappuccino
Cappuccino is used for modern app development for the web with fewer lines of code. The app kit includes a huge number of controls so that you can build complex apps without putting much effort. On Mac, you can build cappuccino UI in Xcode’s interface builder, just like in Cocoa.
35. ChocolateChipUI
ChocolateChipUI is an advanced mobile framework that includes CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. It gives a native look to your web application. The tool supports iOS, Android and Windows platforms.
34. Batman.js
Batman.js built with Rails development and scalability in mind, allowing you to use less code and save time. It supports data bindings for the rapid building of HTML, liquid style filter syntax and structured directory hierarchy.
33. CanJS
CanJS is simple, small and easy to learn library that allows you to build complex applications quickly. It supports custom tags, 2-way binding, observables, memory safety and more.
32. Feathers
FeathersJS makes it easy to get REST and real-time API using SocketIO and other WebSocket libraries supported by Primus. You can drop it in your existing Express 4 app and start adding new services right away.
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31. QUnit
QUnit is a powerful and easy-to-use testing framework. It is used by jQuery, jQuery UI, and jQuery mobile projects. QUnit is capable of testing any generic JavaScript code, including its own codes. It is currently available for jQuery CDN hosted by MaxCDN.
30. AmplifyJS
AmplifyJS is a set of components that aims to solve common web application problem with simplistic API. It adds a few additional features to jQuery’s Ajax while abstracting the underlying data source.
29. SpineJS
Spine is a simple and lightweight framework based on Model View Controller. It is written in CoffeeScript and doesn’t consist of a large number of widgets. Furthermore, it supports real-world environment, asynchronous server communication, lightweight controller implementation, Full model layer, ORM, and works in all major browsers.
28. Prototype
Prototype eliminates the complexities of client-side web coding. It is built to solve real-world problems and adds helpful extensions to the browser scripting environment. Moreover, it provides stunning APIs and the Document Object Model.
27. SnackJS
Snack is ideal for small projects, distributed under MIT license. It allows you to build complex and cross-browser web applications.
26. jQuery Mobile
jQuery mobile is an HTML5 based UI system designed to build responsive apps and websites for smartphones, tablets, and desktops. You don’t need to write for each mobile device or OS, just create once and run it anywhere.
25. Agility.js
Agility.js lets you write maintainable and reuse browser code without any overhead found in other MVC libraries. Agility is a small JavaScript file that depends on only the recent version of jQuery.
24. DHTMLX Touch
DHTMLX Touch is a free JavaScript mobile framework for HTML5 web apps. Not just a collection of UI widgets, but it’s a complete framework that allows you unique and robust web apps for Android, iOS and Windows.
23. Pyjamas
Pyjamas is a framework for building the client-side of Ajax-based application in Python which can be run in any internet browser as well as desktop applications. It includes an Ajax framework, widget set API and standalone Python-to-JavaScript compiler.
22. Ext JS
Ext is a powerful framework for building business applications. It is packed with a rich data package, 1000 documented API, over 150 user interface components for desktop, tablets other touch-based devices. The premium version is available for a 30-day trial.
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21. Riot.js
Riot is a standalone library that has only 3 public methods and a strict MVP pattern to organize all stuff. The views in the application are automatically updated whenever the underlying model changes. The minimal approach will help you understand every single piece of your application.
20. Serenade.js
Serenade.js is a light and compact client-side framework for creating eye-catching web pages. It is built on the MVC pattern, supports data binding and capable of handling complex applications.
19. AuraJS
AuraJS is a set of declarative components for event-driven RequireJS apps. The components represent a unit of the page and events give components a rich way to communicate at the local or global level.
18. Reactive Coffee
This is a lightweight Coffeescript for building scalable web interface and reactive programming. It supports declarative DOM construction and works with jQuery and all popular browsers.
17. Appcelerator Titanium
Appcelerator Titanium is a JavaScript framework for creating cloud-connected native apps. You can rapidly build, test, package and publish mobile apps using a single code base. The framework supports a large community of mobile developers.
16. JavaScriptMVC
JavaScriptMVC is a collection of best practices and tools for creating feature-rich applications. It is built on the top of jQuery and helps you to enhance code quality, performance and structure. Highly recommended for new developers.
15. Soma.js
Soma.js is a lightweight framework that has been designed to create loosely coupled applications. It can be used as a model view controller framework and to use independent sandboxed widgets or modules. It helps you to increase the stability and maintainability of your application while it grows.
14. Ionic
Ionic is a beautiful front end framework for creating hybrid mobile apps with HTML5. It is built with Sass and primarily optimized for AngularJS. Furthermore, it offers a library of mobile-optimized CSS, HTML, gesture and JS components.
13. Stapes.js
Stapes give you the necessary building blocks to develop quality applications. It is perfect for mobile sites. Stapes has 20 methods and supports custom events, class creation, and data methods. With just 600 LOCs, it’s easy to debug. We recommend you to try it yourself and see how it works. You won’t be disappointed.
12. KnockoutJS
Knockout is a small and lightweight JavaScript framework based on the Model-View-ViewModel pattern. It features declarative binding, automatic UI refresh, dependency tracking and templating.
11. Webix
Webix provides numerous JavaScript UI widgets to develop data-rich desktop and mobile web apps with a responsive interface. These widgets can be easily customized in accordance with your preferences.
10. Meteor
Meteor is used for building web and mobile applications. It is written in Node.js and uses the Distributed data protocol. Meteor features hot code pushes, live page updates, latency compensation, unified package system and much more.
9. Wakanda
Wakanda is used for developing mobile and web applications for enterprise as well as startup level. It offers two different styles for defining your data model: JavaScript API and visual data modeling tool using Wakanda studio. It supports all platforms and is cloud-ready on the back-end.
8. Flight
Flight is a lightweight, component-based and event-driven web framework developed and used by Twitter. It is organized around the DOM model with functionality mapped directly to DOM nodes.
7. Polymer
Polymer is designed to leverage the existing browser infrastructure to provide the extendibility and encapsulation. It is based on Model-driven views, Shadow DOM and custom elements.
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6. Dojo
Dojo is designed to ease the rapid development of cross-platform, JavaScript + Ajax-based applications, and webpages. It allows you to create various dynamic charts, tables, 2d vector drawing, menu, tabs, tooltips, and animation effects.
5. Ember.js
Ember.js is used for creating ambitious web applications. It is based on Model-view-controller architecture and provides a 2-way data binding, rich object model, router for managing program state and automatically updating template powered by handlebars.js.
4. MooTools
MooTools is a set of JavaScript utilities, designed for beginners as well as advanced-level developers. This is the most popular object-oriented framework used in more than 5% of all websites.
3. React
React (developed by Facebook and Instagram) can be used for creating the user interface and building large apps with data that changes over time. It uses a virtual DOM diff implementation for high performance and can render on the server using Node.js.
2. Backbone.js
Backbone.js is based on the Actor Model application and Model View Presenter paradigm. It gives structure to the web applications and connects it all to your existing API through a RESTful JSON interface. Digg, BitTorrent, Flixster, Hulu, Pinterest, Soundcloud, WordPress, Airbnb are built on Backbone.js.
1. AngularJS
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AngularJS is perfect for single-page applications, maintained by Google & community of individual developers. It lets you extend HTML with new attributes and works well with other libraries. Every feature can be replaced or modified as per your needs.