Understanding and Using JavaScript Libraries and Frameworks

By Anastasia K. 2 min read February 3, 2026

Key Differences Between Libraries and Frameworks

Feature	Library	Framework
Control Flow	You control the flow of the application	The framework controls the flow
Flexibility	More flexible and modular	More opinionated and structured
Learning Curve	Generally easier to learn	Steeper learning curve due to structure and rules
Use Case	For specific tasks or functions	For building complete applications

For example, jQuery is a popular JavaScript library that simplifies DOM manipulation and event handling. In contrast, React is a framework that provides a component-based architecture for building user interfaces. Choosing between a library and a framework depends on the complexity of your project, your team's expertise, and the long-term maintainability of your code.

Popular JavaScript Libraries and Frameworks

React

React, developed by Facebook, is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. It uses a virtual DOM to optimize performance and allows developers to create reusable UI components. Here's a simple example of a React component:

import React from 'react';

function Welcome(props) {
  return <h1>Hello, {props.name}</h1>;
}

export default Welcome;

Vue.js

Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework that is easy to integrate into projects. It offers a simple API and a flexible approach to building user interfaces. Here's a basic Vue component:

<template>
  <div>{{ message }}</div>
</template>

<script>
export default {
  data() {
    return {
      message: 'Hello from Vue!'
    };
  }
};
</script>

Angular

Angular is a full-featured framework developed by Google. It provides a complete solution for building dynamic web applications, including dependency injection, routing, and form handling. Here's an example of an Angular component:

import { Component } from '@angular/core';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-root',
  template: `<h1>{{ title }}</h1>`
})
export class AppComponent {
  title = 'Hello from Angular!';
}

Choosing the Right Tool

When selecting a library or framework, consider the following factors:

Project requirements: Does your project need a lightweight solution or a full-featured framework?
Team expertise: Does your team have experience with a particular tool?
Community and ecosystem: A strong community can provide support, plugins, and resources.
Performance and scalability: Some tools are better suited for large-scale applications.