The State of Frontend Web Development in 2021
This is part 6 of the State of frontend web development series. If you haven't read the first part, here it is: The State of Frontend Web Development in 2006
As 2021 draws to a close, let's dive into the key advancements that have defined frontend web development this year.
Tailwind CSS: Utility-First CSS Framework
In 2021, Tailwind CSS continued to rise in popularity, its utility-first approach gaining significant traction. This highly customizable, low-level CSS framework enables developers to build designs directly in their markup, ushering in a new wave of efficiency.
Next.js: A Framework for Production
Next.js took the React world by storm this year. With features like static site generation, server-side rendering, and automatic code splitting, it's become a go-to solution for production-ready React applications.
Deno: A Secure Runtime for JavaScript and TypeScript
The Deno runtime for JavaScript and TypeScript also made waves in 2021. With its secure default settings, built-in package manager, and TypeScript support, Deno is a promising alternative to Node.js.
Svelte: A Radical New Approach to Building User Interfaces
The Svelte framework for building user interfaces also made significant strides this year. Its unique approach - shifting the work from the browser to the build step - results in highly performant applications, proving that there's still room for innovation in the JavaScript framework landscape.
Web Vitals: A Focus on Performance and User Experience
Google's Web Vitals became an essential part of the web developer's toolkit in 2021. These metrics, focusing on loading, interactivity, and visual stability, help developers measure and improve user experience in a tangible way.
CSS Flexbox and Grid: Mastering Layouts
While not new in 2021, the mastery and combined usage of CSS Flexbox and Grid became more widespread. These tools have revolutionized the way developers approach layout, making responsive, flexible design easier than ever.
Headless CMS: Separation of Concerns
The adoption of headless CMS options like Contentful, Sanity and Strapi continued to grow in 2021. By separating the backend from the frontend, these systems offer increased flexibility for developers and content creators alike.
In sum, 2021 has been a thrilling year of growth and innovation in frontend web development. The world of web development never stands still, and that's why we love what we do.
Articles in this series: