Feb 04, 2023
by Humera

Java is a well-liked programming language that is frequently used to create business applications. There are various Java frameworks that can be used to facilitate developers' work. These frameworks make it simpler for developers to produce high-quality apps by offering pre-written code and tools for typical activities.

Why use a framework?

A framework is a set of pre-written code that serves as a template or skeleton that a developer may use and reuse to create an application by adding their own code as necessary to make the app function as they plan. By reusing frameworks, developers don't have to write each line of code from scratch, which takes a lot of time and effort.

Your applications gain structure thanks to frameworks. For instance, if we have an appropriate framework for testing, we may automate many processes and obtain reliable results. The existence of frameworks for object-relational mapping, web applications, logging, data management, etc. simplifies the life of a developer, allowing them to dedicate more time to business logic.

The Java frameworks

The Java programming language has its own unique framework called the Java Framework that is used to build software and applications. Predefined classes and methods for processing, inputting, managing, and communicating with hardware devices may be available in Java frameworks. It depends on the framework type, the amount of programming expertise, the goal, and the personal preferences of the programmer.

Overall, it has been demonstrated that using these frameworks to create Java corporate applications is successful and efficient. Every framework has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the ideal option will depend on the particular needs of your project.

The best Java frameworks

Despite the fact that Java is home to a large number of frameworks, the following list of widely used frameworks covers many sorts of applications, including web applications, network apps, logging, testing, ORM, etc. Keep in mind that each of them has unique advantages and may be most effective in specific commercial use cases. Since they are all effective in various circumstances, we are unable to determine which is best. Here are the top 10 Java frameworks that are used most often in the field:

1. Spring

Spring is a well-liked framework for creating business applications. It offers a complete set of web application development tools, including support for MVC, security, data access, and more. Enterprise Java uses the sophisticated yet lightweight Spring Framework for application development (JEE). The Spring Framework's fundamental components can be utilized to create any Java application. It is often known as a "full modular framework." Any kind of real-time application layer solution may use this technology. It is intended to simplify J2EE development by enabling XML and annotation-based configuration.

2. Hibernate

Working with databases in Java is simple thanks to the object-relational mapping framework known as Hibernate. It supports a large number of databases and offers a robust and adaptable API for querying and changing data. It improves communication between relational database management systems and the Java programming language (RDBMS).

An issue known as Object-Relational impedance mismatch, sometimes known as paradigm mismatch, arises when working with an object-oriented language like Java. This is because OO languages and RDBMSs handle data in very different ways, which may lead to serious incompatibility. As a result, Hibernate offers you a framework to get around Java's mismatch issues. It is a sophisticated ORM framework that enables you to use Java entities for database operations.

3. Apache Struts

An open-source framework for creating web applications is called Apache Struts. It offers a selection of building blocks for MVC-based applications, such as form support, validation, and other features. It shortens the development process and makes the application easier to manage. The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) is in charge of maintaining this additional enterprise-level framework. This comprehensive Java web application framework enables the developers to produce a Java application that is simple to maintain. Struts 1 and Struts 2 are two versions. Struts 2 combines the OpenSymphony WebWork framework with Struts 1. Because Struts 2 is an updated version of Apache Struts, all businesses favor using it. It makes use of and expands upon the Java Servlet API to assist developers in implementing MVC architecture.

4. Apache Wicket

A component-based framework for creating web applications is called Apache Wicket. It makes it simple to develop complicated and potent online apps by enabling developers to build web pages using reusable components. Wicket is a straightforward Java web framework that just requires knowledge of HTML and Java. It has a component-oriented structure. No XMLs or configuration files at all!

Wicket's POJO (Plain Old Java Object) model, in which components are straightforward, is its key distinguishing feature. With Wicket, you can create applications very quickly. Unit-testing Wicket-written code is similarly simple.

5. GWT

The Google Web Toolkit (GWT) framework was undoubtedly developed by Google to enable the development of powerful Java internet applications. One of GWT's best characteristics is its ability to translate Java code into JavaScript code, and that code is also tailored to the browser. With the help of this open-source toolkit, we can create extremely effective web applications faster. Additionally, the framework has vast widget libraries that can handle the majority of the jobs, making it simple for even a Java newcomer to write business logic without having to worry too much about the fundamentals.

Developers may quickly and easily create complex browser applications with GWT. You may create and debug Ajax applications in Java as well. With GWT, you can create intricate browser-based applications without needing to be an authority on front-end innovations like responsive design or JavaScript optimization.

6. Play

A web framework called Play is constructed on top of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). It is ideal for creating web applications and APIs because it is lightweight and simple to use. This is a reactive web and mobile framework for Java applications that are extremely scalable. It is frequently contrasted with potent frameworks for other coding languages, such as Python's Django and Ruby on Rails. It provides options like convention over configuration, hot code reloading, and browser error warnings.

Due to its independence from the Java EE standards, Play is a distinctive Java framework. Instead, it aims to do away with all the drawbacks of conventional Java web development, including lengthy configuration times and long development cycles. Concurrent and distributed application development on the Java Virtual Machine is impeded by the Play framework, which is based on the Akka Toolkit.

7. Vaadin

Java developers can create web apps using the Vaadin framework. In addition to supporting a large selection of web browsers, it offers a collection of tools for creating sophisticated, web-based user interfaces. Vaadin enables you to create web applications using components that may be customized. Vaadin 10 has a whole different approach to web app development. It provides direct access to the DOM for Java Virtual Machine users. Additionally, it contains a slim Java framework called Vaadin Flow that manages server-client communication and routing. You may entirely create your web application in Java using Vaadin flow without the hassle of JS or CSS.

Additionally, it offers a data binding API that uses type-safe Java code and abstraction layers to bind UI components to the database, allowing you to create reusable UI components using both Java and HTML templates. Vaadin offers the chance to automate server-client connections with WebSocket support and bind data using either MVC or MVP. Scala and Kotlin, two JVM languages, are supported.

8. Grails

Groovy is a programming language on top of which the web application framework known as Grails is developed. It offers a set of tools for quickly and easily creating web apps, and it works well for creating data-driven applications. The dynamic framework known as Grails was created using the Groovy JVM programming language. It is an object-oriented language designed to increase developer efficiency on the Java platform. The compiled JVM (Java Virtual Machine) bytecode has a Java-compatible syntax. Grails is fully compatible with a broad number of Java libraries and frameworks, such as Java EE containers, Spring, and Hibernate.

Additionally, you may create your own plugins and provide support for various platforms in the Grails IDE. The majority of e-commerce websites use Grails. Through the use of plugins to modularize the application and an intuitive object mapping capability, it encourages code reuse between many Grails applications.

9. Apache Tapestry

Apache Java developers can create web apps using the Tapestry framework. It offers a collection of tools for creating reusable components, making it simple to develop sophisticated and potent online applications. Tapestry shares a concept with JSF and Wicket: a highly scalable online application development framework that is open-source, cross-platform, and component-based. It can run on any container or application server because it is based on the robust Java Servlet API. Tapestry employs annotations rather than XML settings nearly exclusively, making the code straightforward and manageable. The creation of URLs and redirects is also handled by Tapestry. Tapestry comes with many features right out of the box, such as the ability to upload files, navigate between pages, validate fields, use date and calendar logics, internalize, show pop-ups, and more.

10. JavaServer Faces (JSF)

Oracle created JSF as a component of Java Enterprise Edition 7. Java developers can create web apps using the JSF framework. It offers a selection of tools for creating user interfaces, and it works well for creating user-friendly and maintainable online applications. This MVC framework depends on reusable UI components, making it excellent for server-side applications. The major goal is to mix many client-side technologies, such as CSS, JavaScript, and HTML, so that developers may create user interfaces without a firm foundation in any of these languages. By simply dragging and dropping UI components, users may devote more attention to the finer elements of their presentation layer.

Although JSF pages can be used within JavaServer Pages, Facelets are more frequently used to create standalone JSF pages. Facelets are XHTML pages made specifically for JSF interface definition. Using Facelets, you may build a component tree that serves as the framework for a JSF user interface by using XML elements.

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Conclusion

This leads us to the conclusion of this blog post, which covered the top 10 Java frameworks currently in use. The ideal framework for your application should satisfy your operational needs, offer a certain amount of flexibility and top performance, and be simple to maintain and adapt to changes. To benefit from Java's advantages, pick your framework carefully. When combined with a framework, Java's strength allows it to offer the best solutions for any industry, including e-commerce, banking, cloud computing, finance, big data, the stock market, and more. Enterprise apps, software, and SaaS solutions are built using scalable, secure, and portable Java frameworks as part of Java development services.