The Top 10 Java Frameworks for Web Development in 2024

A Java framework is a set of ready-made code that programmers use to build web applications. These frameworks include classes and functions that manage hardware, handle input, and interact with system programs. They provide pre-written code and libraries, making it easier for developers to create applications without starting from scratch.

Choosing the right Java framework can feel overwhelming, but in this blog, we’ll explore some of the best Java frameworks for web development to help you make an informed decision.

Have you heard of Spring, Grails, or Google Web Toolkit? If so, you might know a bit about Java frameworks. But what are Java frameworks exactly? They’re pre-written code platforms that Java developers use for web development. Essentially, a Java framework includes ready-made classes and functions that manage hardware, handle input, and interact with system apps.

The most popular frameworks in Java provide a basic structure that helps developers build applications by writing their own code. According to a report by Verified Market Research, the global market for Java web development frameworks is expected to reach approximately USD 9,034.10 million by 2030.

Sure, if your business wants to start using Java’s top frameworks for web development, this blog post is for you. It will give you valuable insights.

What is a Java Framework?

A Java framework is a pre-written piece of software that provides a structured way to develop applications in Java. It offers reusable code, libraries, and tools that help developers build and maintain complex software more efficiently.

These best java frameworks typically enforce certain design patterns and best practices, making it easier to create scalable, reliable, and maintainable Java applications. Examples include Spring, Hibernate, and Struts, each tailored for different aspects of application development like web services, database management, or user interface design.

Why Use Java Frameworks?

Using Java frameworks makes building software easier and faster. They provide ready-made tools and templates that save time and effort in coding. These best java frameworks also enforce good coding practices, making programs more reliable and easier to maintain.

This helps developers focus more on solving business problems rather than reinventing the wheel with basic coding tasks. Overall, these best Java frameworks streamline the web development process, improve productivity, and ensure that applications are robust and scalable.

List of 10 Popular Java Frameworks for Web Development:

Now, let’s check out the best Java frameworks for 2024. These frameworks are highly favored by development teams worldwide for web development.

1. Spring

Spring is a free and lightweight framework for Java web development. It gives support to build Java applications by providing essential tools. Spring is widely used in Java Enterprise Edition (JEE) for creating powerful applications using simple Java objects.

Best Features of Spring:

• Web Development
• Spring Application
• Application Events and Listeners
• Admin Features
• Externalized Configuration
• Properties Files

Advantages of Spring:

• You can use Spring for testing applications, and it works well with older versions.
• The Java Spring framework helps set up database connections.
• These frameworks work with XML configuration files.
• It can start web apps without needing a real web server.

2. Google Web Toolkit

Google Web Toolkit (GWT), like Spring and other Java frameworks, is a favorite among software developers. It’s a top Java web UI framework with a popular open-source community, leading to many applications being developed with GWT. The framework is very lightweight, making it easy to integrate.

Best Features of GWT

• Dynamic and Reusable UI Components
• Simple RPC Mechanism
• Browser History Management
• Support for full-featured Java Debugging
• GWT handles some cross-browser issues for the developer
• Unit Testing Integration

Advantages of GWT

• It’s very user-friendly for developers.
• Google Web Toolkit helps create and manage complex JavaScript apps.
• GWT works well across different web browsers.
• It supports many APIs, making development smooth and easy.

3. Hibernate

Hibernate is one of the most popular web development frameworks. It provides an abstraction layer, so programmers don’t need to worry about the details. Hibernate handles tasks like connecting to the database and writing queries for operations like creating, reading, updating, and deleting data. This ease of use makes it one of the top Java frameworks.

Features of Hibernate

• Lightweight
• ORM (Object Relational Mapping)
• High Performance
• HQL (Hibernate Query Language)
• Caching
• Auto-Generation
• Scalability

Advantages of Hibernate

• Hibernate makes software easier to maintain and more efficient.
• It is completely open-source.
• ORM helps the database and application work together smoothly.
• Hibernate supports Persistence APIs.

4. Struts

Struts is one of the best Java development frameworks that uses technologies like JSP, JSTL, and XML. It follows the MVC architecture, making it a great Java MVC framework for web development. Struts also includes a built-in validation framework. Its strength is in the model layer, which can work with other popular Java frameworks like Spring, Hibernate, and JDBC.

Features of Struts

• Configurable MVC Components
• POJO Based Actions
• AJAX Support
• Integration Support
• Various Result Types
• Various Tag Support
• Theme and Template Support

Advantages of Struts

• It reduces the time needed for development.
• The documentation is created by active web developers.
• Struts use XML files for centralized configuration.
• It supports MVC-based application development.

5. Play

Play is a strong open-source framework for Java web development and one of the best for Java REST APIs. It offers type-safe RESTful Web Services using Scala, and includes tools like a web server and an application server. The Scala programming language helps in the web development process.

Best Features of Play

• Hit refresh workflow
• Powerful console & build tools
• Type in safety
• Built-in testing tools
• IDE support for Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA

Advantages of Play

• Play is resilient and very adaptable.
• It supports Hot Coding and a method called Convention over Configuration.
• It can display error messages and notifications effectively.
• It supports non-blocking input and output functions.

6. Grails

Grails is a popular open-source framework in the Java community for building dynamic web applications using Java, Groovy, and SQL. It’s powerful and makes it easier to create dynamic websites and apps quickly, especially with the Groovy language. Grails is widely used for developing enterprise applications, dynamic websites, and mobile apps.

Features of Grails

• Groovy Lineage
• Spring Boot Foundation
• Seamless Java Integration
• Optimized Reloading Agent
• Built-In Testing Framework
• Plugin Library
• Pragmatic Strategy

Advantages of Grails

• Grails supports code reusability to make developers more productive.
• It offers comprehensive documentation for ease of understanding.
• Grails includes Object-Mapping features to simplify development.
• It supports cross-platform IDEs and customizable plugins.

7. Dropwizard

Dropwizard is a free framework for Java development used to create RESTful services. It relies on Hibernate, a powerful data access layer that handles object databases. Dropwizard uses a client API to interact with databases and ensures secure Java app communication using an HTTP-based API between applications and databases.

Features of Dropwizard

• Support for monitoring using the metrics library
• Dropwizard uses Hibernate Validator API
• Logging is done using Logback and SLF4J
• It packages every application as a jar instead of a war file

Advantages of Dropwizard

• Dropwizard enables quick prototyping of applications.
• It supports building Microservices architecture.
• Dropwizard includes Quick Project Bootstrap for fast setup.
• It supports using external and open-source libraries.

8. Vaadin

Vaadin is among the best open-source Java frameworks for web development. It lets you build robust, feature-rich web applications that work on different platforms. Written in Java, it ensures compatibility across platforms. Vaadin uses Java Swing components to create web apps and offers a UI builder for designing layouts.

Features of Vaadin

• Java API for all web-based components
• Java-only type-safe web development
• Two built-in themes: Lumo and Material
• Switch between dark or light mode
• Style alternatives from Java
• Back button and deep linking supported

Advantages of Vaadin

• Vaadin’s main advantage is its support for the JVM (Java Virtual Machine).
• It uses web sockets to handle client-server communication automatically.
• Vaadin supports Data Binding through MVP (Model-View-Presenter) and MVC (Model-View-Controller).
• It includes a router that supports nested routes for managing web application navigation.

9. Wicket

Wicket is a popular open-source framework in Java for building robust web applications using Java programming. It supports creating applications for desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. Wicket works seamlessly with J2EE containers such as Glassfish, Geronimo, Tomcat, and JBoss EAP.

Features of Vaadin

• Configurable MVC Components
• POJO Based Actions
• AJAX Support
• Integration Support
• Various Result Types
• Various Tag Support

Advantages of Wicket

• Wicket uses components as its building blocks.
• Wicket uses the POJO model, which stands for Plain Old Java Objects.
• It’s user-friendly for Java developers because it’s based on JSP (JavaServer Pages).
• Wicket is lightweight and very flexible.

10. Blade

Blade Framework is among the lightest and most performance-packed MVC architecture-based frameworks for Java. It’s extensively used for full-stack web application development and is built on Java Version 8.

Features of Blade

• Lightweight
• Modular (you can choose which components to use)
• Support plug-in extension mechanism
• The restful style routing interface
• Multiple configuration files support
• Embedded jetty server and template engine support

Advantages of Blade

• Blade is good at creating small MVC applications.
• Blade can handle configurations across multiple files.
• Blade allows for Plugin extensions and Web JARs.
• Blade supports defense against Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).
• Blade also protects against Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF).

Conclusion

Choosing the best Java framework for web development in 2024 depends on your project requirements, team expertise, scalability needs, and future growth plans. Each framework offers unique features and benefits tailored to different aspects of web application development services.

Whether you prioritize performance, scalability, ease of use, or integration capabilities, the Java frameworks listed above provide robust solutions to meet diverse web development challenges in  java software development services.

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