Forbes magazine logo Ranked Best Coding Bootcamps 2023

What is Framework?

Web Development Jargons Explained in 4 Different Ways

TLDR: In programming, a framework is a standard for building applications. Frameworks deal with low level details so engineers can focus on high level problems that actually matter. Frameworks can significantly reduce development time.


Explain like I only speak in plain English

In programming, a framework is a standard for building applications. Frameworks deal with low level details so engineers can focus on high level problems that actually matter. Frameworks can significantly reduce development time.

Framework is analogous to cars having four wheels, a steering wheel, brake and gas paddles. Car designers don't have to spend time on deciding how many wheels there will be, or where to place the steering wheel. Because a standard has already been set on that.

Instead, car designers can focus on making their cars faster, more fuel efficient, spacious, and any other attributes they are trying to sell to the consumers.

This is what frameworks do for software engineers. Frameworks providing a basic working system so engineers can work on features that solve real problems, business problems.

Explain like I'm a total nerd

Frameworks exist for almost all software applications. Most software engineers are users of frameworks as it can reduce development time significantly. Frameworks usually focus on specific domains.

Different frameworks allow different levels of customizability. If it was a car, certain frameworks just provide a chassis, and allow you to decide if you want a diesel or petrol engine, manual or automatic gearbox. While other frameworks will provide a basic working car, and leave you to work on advanced features such as automated driving systems.

As an example, Ruby on Rails is a web application framework of the latter, it provides a working system and standard for building web applications. From managing database to providing a user interface, a Ruby on Rails project can be deployed live the moment you set one up.

Explain like I'm an artist

Framework is like a haiku poem. You have a standard in how a haiku is written. There can only be three lines, line one has five syllables, line two has seven and line three has five. It is then up to the writer to decide what words to put in each line.

"The Web site you seek

Cannot be located, but

Countless more exist." - Source

Explain like I already know it

Many are asking why would anyone still learn frameworks like Ruby on Rails in 2018. Well, Ruby on Rails allows a web application to be built very rapidly. If you are testing out ideas for your startup, and development speed is what you are after, Ruby on Rails is your friend.

We are trusted by

Students and instructors from world-class organizations

Imperial College London
Carnegie Mellon University
City University of Hong Kong
Hack Reactor
Cisco Meraki
University of Oxford
Swift
Bazaarvoice
Waterloo
Uber
AtlanTech
Tumblr
Boston College
Bombardier Aerospace
University of St. Andrews
New York University
Minerva Schools at KGI
Merrill Lynch
Riot Games
JP Morgan
Morgan Stanley
Advanced Placement®
Google
KPMG
The University of Hong Kong
University of Toronto
SCMP
Moat
Zynga
Hello Toby
Deloitte
Goldman Sachs
Yahoo
HSBC
General Assembly
Tesla
McGill University
Microsoft

Join the upcoming Cohort #95

Enroll for November 4th, 2024