Web frameworks are much more than simple tools; they are real productivity accelerators for developing sites and applications. By providing a predefined foundation and ready-to-use components, they enable developers to save time, improve code quality and reduce maintenance costs. In 2025, these technologies are now incorporating advanced features such as AI, serverless support and even eco-responsible considerations.
What is a web framework?
The term "framework" literally translates as "working framework". This name is not insignificant: it refers to a predefined structure that guides the organisation of software development.
A web framework is a complete architecture based on patterns and best practices, enabling code to be structured, development to be standardised and tried-and-tested components to be reused.
The idea is simple: instead of starting from scratch for each project, the developer benefits from an established technical base, reducing development time and facilitating maintenance..
A web framework is a software architecture that standardises development by providing libraries, tools and best practices. Instead of starting from scratch, developers benefit from a structured framework that guides the organisation of code and facilitates maintenance.
Examples
– Next.js can generate both static pages (SSG) and server-side rendering (SSR), which explains why high-traffic sites like Netflix or TikTok use it to reduce loading times by 30 to 50 %.
– DjangoWith its "batteries included" principle, you can quickly launch secure applications. More than 120,000 sites use it by 2025, particularly in finance and health, where security is critical.
Historically, the emergence of frameworks has been a response to the increasing complexity of web applications. Initially designed to structure code (e.g. Ruby on Rails in 2004), they have integrated modern practices such as serverlessthe microservicesand even AI (TensorFlow.js).
The advantages of web frameworks
Productivity gains and cost reductions
One of the major advantages of frameworks is that they offer considerable productivity gains. By providing ready-to-use libraries and imposing a pre-established architecture, they significantly reduce development time.
For example, Laravel, with its Eloquent ORM, simplifies database management. An e-commerce site developed with Laravel can save up to 50 % of time compared with native PHP.
This efficiency also translates into lower design and maintenance costs, because standardised code facilitates team collaboration and speeds up problem resolution. As a result, companies using full-stack frameworks such as Django or Spring Boot reduce their maintenance costs by an average of 25 % (Source: Gartner 2024).
Code standardisation and quality
Web frameworks impose a coherent structure that helps developers write readable and easily maintainable code. Thanks to strict conventions (e.g. MVC in Angular) and the use of patterns They encourage the application of good practice. Standardisation reduces 40 % and speeds up the integration of new developers (Source: Stack Overflow 2024).
For example, Angular organises code into modules and components, enabling a team of more than ten developers to work simultaneously on complex projects without losing coherence. This standardisation also makes the integration of new members faster and reduces onboarding time, which can cut the time needed for integration by 20 to 30 %.
A team of 20 developers at Microsoft is using Angular to coordinate the development of Microsoft 365, thanks to its modularity.
Code reuse and modularity
Another important advantage is the ability to reuse modular components in several projects. Frameworks encourage the creation of libraries of components that can be used repeatedly.
And so, Airbnb share 80 % of its UI components between its web and mobile applications thanks to React Native.
Another example: with Vue.jsThis approach not only speeds up development, but also reduces errors, as components that have already been tested and proven are integrated into new projects. This approach not only speeds up development, but also reduces errors, as components that have already been tried and tested are integrated into new projects.
On average, code reuse reduces development costs by around 20 % (Source: Forrester 2025).
Integrated safety
Security is an essential criterion in the development of web applications. Many frameworks incorporate protection mechanisms right from the design stage, such as prevention of CSRF attacks, XSS or SQL injections.
Frameworks such as Ruby on Rails (protection against SQL injections, CSRF) or Spring Boot (Java) include native security functionalities (JWT), reducing the risks of vulnerabilities.
Django offers, for example, CSRF protection by default, which has enabled several government institutions to reduce security incidents by 40 % compared with systems developed without these built-in mechanisms.
So the frameworks' native security provides an extra layer of protection, making applications more robust and reliable.
Ecosystem and community
Popular frameworks enjoy broad community support. They have a vast ecosystem of plugins, extensions, tutorials and support forums.
React account 25 million weekly downloads on npm and 220,000 GitHub stars. This is an excellent example of a framework with a very active community. Python (via PyPI) offers 500,000 libraries60,000 of which are compatible with Django.
Developers can quickly find solutions to problems and share their innovations. This community dynamic contributes to the rapid development of frameworks and ensures that the tools available are continually updated.
The disadvantages and limitations of web frameworks
Impact on application performance and size
One of the major disadvantages of frameworks is that they can lead to code overload. Some frameworks include libraries and modules that will not always be used, which can increase the size of the application and affect performance.
For example, a Django that is poorly optimised can see its loading time increase by 20 % due to the inclusion of superfluous modules. Another example: a Angular badly optimised can reach 5 MB JavaScript bundleagainst 500 Kb for a Svelte solution.
To overcome this problem, it is often recommended to use modular or "light" versions of certain frameworks (FastAPI) to load only the components you need. Another solution is to use tools such as Webpack to prune the code.
Technical debt risk
Using a framework can create a technological dependency, also known as technical debt. Once the code is highly integrated with a specific framework, it becomes difficult to migrate it to another technology if the market changes or the publisher abandons maintenance.
Migration from AngularJS to Angular 2+ cost 1.2 million to a financial company in 2023.
Another example is the migration between major versions of React may require components to be partially rewritten, resulting in additional costs and potentially delaying delivery times by 15 to 30 %.
Favour frameworks with long life cycles such as Django which has been supported by the Django Software Foundation since 2005.
Learning curve and initial complexity
Adopting a framework requires an initial investment of time to become familiar with its documentation, conventions and tools.
Some complete frameworks, such as Angular, Spring Boot or RemixAngular, for example, requires a longer learning curve, which can slow down the start of a project. For a novice developer, mastering Angular can take from 3 to 6 months, which can be an obstacle for urgent projects or for inexperienced teams.
60 % of junior developers consider Angular to be "too complex" for simple projects (source: JetBrains 2024).
Complex configuration and maintenance
Initial configuration and management of production environments can be complex. Setting up a serverless deployment with Next.js and Vercel, for example, requires an in-depth understanding of the concepts of cloud and distributed architecture.
This can lead to delays in the configuration phase and require additional training for the team. In addition, regular maintenance, particularly for major updates, can increase the workload and require constant technological monitoring.
The maintenance of serverless infrastructures can increase the costs of 15 % so poorly managed (source: McKinsey 2024).
The best back and front web frameworks
Back-end frameworks
Server-side frameworks manage business logic, database access and security aspects.
Django (Python)
– Benefits : offers rapid development thanks to the "batteries included" principle and incorporates robust safety measures right out of the box.
– Limits : may be less flexible for cases requiring very specific customisation.
– Use : ideal for portals, e-commerce applications and information systems.
– Figures : Django is used by over 98,000 websites, enabling rapid and secure development.
– Example: Government and financial sites use it to benefit from integrated security.
Laravel (PHP)
– Benefits : elegant syntax, high productivity thanks to integrated tools such as the Eloquent ORM and an efficient routing system.
– Limits : is sometimes too 'magical' for needs that require fine control over every aspect of the application.
– Use : Perfect for e-commerce sites and web applications that need to be brought to market quickly.
– Figures : Around 144,000 sites worldwide use Laravel to speed up prototyping and maintenance.
– Example: of startups use Laravel to reduce their development time by an average of 40 %.
Express (Node.js)
– Benefits : Minimalist, fast and perfect for RESTful APIs or real-time applications.
– Limits : does not provide advanced security modules by default, so you have to add them manually.
– Use : Ideal for RESTful APIs and real-time applications.
– Figures : Adopted by 95 % of Fortune 500 companies for certain back-end services, Express stands out for its simplicity and speed.
– Example: real-time streaming platforms use Express to manage multiple simultaneous requests.
Flask (Python)
– Benefits : lightweight and flexible, ideal for microservices and rapid prototyping.
– Limits : often requires the manual addition of complementary modules to obtain a complete architecture.
– Use : Suitable for microservices and lightweight prototypes.
– Figures : Flask projects often see a reduction in development time of up to 40 %, as they require less initial configuration.
– Example: APIs for mobile applications use Flask for its lightness and flexibility.
Spring Boot (Java)
– Benefits : offers unrivalled robustness and a rich ecosystem for complex enterprise applications.
– Limits : It has a high learning curve, which can hold back small teams or simple projects.
– Use : preferred for enterprise applications, particularly in the banking and industrial sectors.
– Figures : Around 80 % of large companies in the banking sector use Spring Boot for its robustness and ability to handle large volumes of transactions.
– Example: an international bank can use Spring Boot to manage thousands of transactions per second with enhanced security.
Front-end frameworks
Client-side frameworks are dedicated to creating dynamic, interactive user interfaces.
1. React.js (JavaScript/TypeScript)
– Benefits : offers great flexibility and component reusability thanks to its extensive ecosystem.
– Limits : To get a complete solution, you often need to combine React with other tools such as Redux or Next.js.
– Use : used to create rich, dynamic user interfaces.
– Figures : 22 million weekly downloads (npm). 220,000 stars on GitHub, React is used by companies such as Facebook, Dropbox, Airbnb, Netflix and WhatsApp.
– Example: mobile applications using React Native to create responsive interfaces on iOS and Android.
2. Vue.js (JavaScript)
– Benefits : easy to integrate, with a moderate learning curve and suitable for projects of all sizes.
– Limits : may be less structured for very large projects that require a strict architecture.
– Use : known for its ease of integration and moderate learning curve, Vue.js is suitable for projects of all sizes.
– Figures : around 19 % of developers prefer Vue.js for its simplicity and efficiency.
– Example: small businesses use Vue.js to create interactive interfaces without excessive complexity.
3. Angular (JavaScript/TypeScript)
– Benefits : provides a complete, structured architecture ideal for complex enterprise applications.
– Limits : its complexity and unwieldiness can be an obstacle to smaller-scale projects.
– Use : suitable for complex enterprise applications and systems with many interactive components.
– Figures : Angular has around 58,500 stars on GitHub and is often chosen for large-scale projects.
– Example: Google and Microsoft 365 use Angular for some of their internal applications, guaranteeing a robust structure.
4. Svelte (JavaScript)
– Benefits : compiles the code in native JavaScript, offering optimum performance and very lightweight bundles.
– Limits : the community is still growing rapidly compared with React or Angular, which may limit certain resources.
– Use : enables code to be compiled in native JavaScript for optimum performance and very lightweight bundles.
– Figures : Svelte can reduce the final size of code by 30 % compared with solutions such as React, which is crucial for applications where speed is of the essence.
– Example: performance-driven websites use Svelte to guarantee ultra-fast loading times.
How do you choose?
The choice of a web framework is based on a number of strategic criteria. It is essential to take into account the nature of the project, the skills of the team, and the performance and scalability objectives.
Nature and scope of the project
For large-scale projects or enterprise applications, it is advisable to choose complete and mature frameworks such as Spring Boot, Django, Symfony or Angular. These tools offer a rich ecosystem and integrated functionality for managing security, scalability and maintenance. For example, an international company can use Spring Boot to manage complex systems with a high transaction load.
For lighter projects or prototypes, microframeworks such as Flask or Express are more suitable, as they allow you to get started quickly without adding unnecessary complexity.
- Showcase website : opt for solutions geared towards Jamstack (Next.js, Gatsby) for optimum performance. These frameworks generate pre-rendered static pages, reducing loading times and improving SEO.
- Complex web application For example, opt for full-stack frameworks (Django, Ruby on Rails) or frontend/backend combinations (React + Node.js) to manage databases, user authentication and sophisticated business logic.
- Real time (chat, games): choose technologies such as Socket.io with Express.js or NestJS (Node.js) for instant two-way communication. Socket.io is integrated into 85% chat apps (Slack, Discord). NestJS is popular for WebSockets and microservices.
Programming language and team skills
It is essential to choose a framework based on a language that the team already knows. If the team is experienced in JavaScript, options such as React, Vue.js or Angular will naturally be more appropriate. What's more, the durability of the language, like Python or JavaScript, guarantees a rich ecosystem and regular updates, which is essential for long-term maintenance.
- JavaScript/TypeScript : React (frontend), Express (backend)
- Python Django (full-stack), Flask (microframework)
- Ruby Ruby on Rails, appreciated for its "Convention over Configuration" philosophy
Community and ecosystem
A framework with a large community provides easy access to resources such as tutorials, plugins and extensions. React is an excellent example. With its 145,000 stars on GitHub and a multitude of complementary libraries. This vitality means that problems can be solved quickly and constant innovation can take place. The responsiveness of the community and the frequency of updates are essential indicators of a framework's robustness and durability.
- React (Meta): 220,000 GitHub stars (2023), +2,000 active contributors
- Django 70,000 stars, used by Instagram and Pinterest
- Laravel (PHP): 75,000 stars and 30 % of PHP developers use it (Source: JetBrains 2022)
- React : +2 million npm packages available (UI libraries, state management like Redux)
- Flask (Python): 60,000 PyPI extensions for database integration or authentication
Performance and flexibility
The impact on performance is a crucial criterion. Some frameworks include features that weigh down the code and slow down page loading. It is therefore advisable to choose modular solutions that allow only the necessary components to be integrated. For example, Svelte makes it possible to create applications with very lightweight bundles, which is a major advantage for sites requiring maximum speed. Performance analysis using tools such as Lighthouse or WebPageTest can help to identify and correct these problems.
- FastAPI (Python): processes 10,000 requests/second thanks to its asynchronous architecture, ideal for APIs
- Node.js (Express): 85 % of developers find it effective for scalable applications (source: Stack Overflow 2023)
Durability and scalability
It is essential to choose a framework that is constantly evolving and has long-term support. Frameworks such as Django and Laravel are regularly updated to incorporate the latest advances in security and performance. This ongoing evolution ensures that the framework can meet future needs and adapt to technological change without requiring a major code overhaul.
Web frameworks, a strategic decision
Ultimately, choosing a web framework is a crucial decision that needs to be re-evaluated regularly to keep pace with technological developments. Adopting the right tool not only speeds up development, but also ensures the scalability, security and quality of applications. It's a strategic investment that can transform the way a company deploys its digital solutions and meets the needs of its users..
