Frontend engineering · Basics

Frontend Framework

Also called: Framework, Meta-framework, JS framework

The full set of groundwork that defines how to write components, how the page updates when data changes, and how pages are organized. React and Vue are examples.

In detail

If components are building blocks, the framework is the standard for snapping them together and the baseplate. It defines how to write components and how the page updates automatically when data changes. React, Vue, Svelte, and Angular are common frontend frameworks. On top of them are "meta-frameworks," like Next.js (based on React) and Nuxt (based on Vue), which add routing, server-side rendering, deployment optimizations, and more.

Three layers that are easy to mix up: the Frontend Framework is the underlying rules (React). A Component Library is ready-made components built on those rules (like Ant Design or shadcn/ui). A Component is a brick you write yourself in your project.

A project usually uses just one framework. Before the AI writes code, have it confirm which framework the project uses, so it doesn't mix different frameworks or old and new versions of the syntax.

Developer infoTerm ID, DOM cues, match priority

Term ID: eng-framework
DOM selectors: No DOM cues. This concept isn't detected directly on a page.
Priority: 1 · when several match at the same level, the higher priority wins
Version: v1 · updated Sep 29, 2026