Top 7 Reasons To Use UI Component Libraries To Style Web Apps

Do you know that nearly 90% of developers use UI component libraries to build and style web applications? This shows how important efficient and scalable design solutions are. The pace of the world today demands it. If you are exhausted by reinventing the wheel every time, UI component libraries can help. They are time-savers.

They also help achieve uniformity in your web apps. This blog will look into 7 Reasons to Use UI component libraries to Style Web Apps. First, we will define and justify what UI component libraries are. Then, we will elaborate on how these components speed up development and enhance user experience. We will examine coding constraints, which help make software development more efficient.

Last, we will include a list of recommendations for finding the best UI libraries. In particular, we will show Sencha Ext JS, a handy library for developing modern websites. So, let’s proceed. Illustration of developers using UI component libraries to style web apps, featuring design tools, color palettes, and interactive interface elements for modern web development.

What Are UI Component Libraries?

A  UI component library is a pre-built collection of reusable components that help streamline the design and development process for web applications. These libraries are filled with common, functional UI elements like buttons, sliders, forms, and navigation menus.

Developers don’t need to create these components from scratch, but instead, they can pick and choose the parts they need from the library and put them together to build their applications.

Key Features of UI Libraries

Pre-Built Collections
UI libraries provide functional components like sliders, dropdowns, and forms. These have been field-tested and proven useful. By using these components, developers can save time and focus on the core functionality of the application.

Adjustable Visuals
Developers can edit components to match their project’s design, offering flexibility while maintaining uniformity. This is especially important for modern UI components that need to work across various platforms, such as React or Vue applications.

Works on All Browsers
UI components work across different browsers and mobile devices, minimizing compatibility issues and ensuring a consistent user experience. This feature is a key reason why many developers turn to libraries like React UI Component Libraries or Angular Material Component Library.

Popular UI Libraries

Here are some frequently adopted UI libraries:

• Ext JS: A JavaScript framework for data-intensive web applications. Example: Implement complicated layouts easily with ready-made grids, charts, and forms.
• Material UI: A React framework based on Google’s Material design. Example: Use pre-built buttons and cards for a professional look.
• Bootstrap: A front-end framework with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript components. Example: Easily add responsive grids and navigation bars without custom code.
• Chakra UI: A modular React library focused on accessibility. Example: Create responsive buttons and modals with minimal CSS.

UI libraries assist in fast development. They maintain uniformity and enhance the user experience in web applications. Let’s explain these libraries in further detail.

Top 6 UI Component Libraries for React

Ext JS: Better UI Component Library

Sencha Ext JS UI library is a JavaScript framework that offers a full selection of UI elements for creating cross-platform, data-intensive web and mobile applications. It has many features and is built on the Model-View-Controller (MVC) design system. The following are some key features of Ext JS.

• Wide range of user interface elements, such as grids, trees, forms, and charts.
• Data can be tied to UI components using a robust data-binding engine.
• A versatile layout approach makes it simple to design intricate layouts.
• Wide range of event handling and event management capabilities.
• Robust animation platform that enables you to make fluid and captivating animations.
• Variety of pre-installed themes and styles.
• Thorough API documentation.
• The large and vibrant development community.

Screenshot of the Sencha website showcasing Ext JS, a JavaScript framework, with a “Build data-intensive applications using JavaScript” headline, highlighting the capabilities of Ext JS for building cross-platform web and mobile apps, and featuring options for free trial and React integration.

MUI (Material UI)

Material-UI is widely used because it adheres to Google’s Material Design framework. The library has components such as buttons, cards, and form elements. All components follow Material Design guidelines to create consistent and new features.

The complex interface has solutions for adjustments. Developers can quickly modify the app’s properties. Material-UI is flexible due to its extensive documentation and community. It is suitable for both small prototypes and large applications.

Chakra UI

Chakra UI focuses on developer experience and a specific functionality. It offers a customizable and inclusive system, expediting the development process. The API is easy to use and enhances the user interface. It provides styling and branding management with design tokens through its building blocks.

The library is lightweight and has a design-consistent nature, but does not compromise on performance. It supports progressive enhancement, making it ideal for a modern mobile application.

React Bootstrap

React Bootstrap uses the Bootstrap approach with React components. It provides various components and can be styled responsively. The library implements Bootstrap’s grid system, reducing the workload for developers familiar with Bootstrap.

React Bootstrap is straightforward and efficient. It is perfect for creating quick models and simple interfaces. While customization may be limited, it excels in accessibility and user-friendliness.

Semantic UI React

Semantic UI React takes a declarative approach to UI design. Its elements are intuitive, reducing development time. The library is mobile-friendly and offers many customization features. It is best for mid-sized projects but can adapt to small or large projects. Some find it simpler and easier to use than alternatives, though the quality may vary.

Ant Design

Ant Design supports a variety of components and tools. It follows the Ant Design system’s principles. The library has a unified visual style and significant capabilities. It includes multilingual support and robust theming options. It is highly customizable and suited for unique designs. Its popularity and active community offer substantial support.

Benefits Of Styling Web Apps With UI Libraries

Rapid Development

Button, form, dropdown, and navigation menu libraries provide a large selection of common components that have been tested. Because of this, developers no longer have to spend hours manually constructing these components.

Instead, users can choose the components they want from the collection and easily incorporate them into their applications. Therefore, this considerably quickens the development process and frees developers to concentrate on the application’s main features.

Additionally, UI libraries frequently include pre-defined styles and themes that guarantee uniformity throughout the project. Developers no longer have to spend time adjusting each component’s visual elements separately. The UI library design saves time and improves the user experience by giving the entire program a unified, professional appearance.

Awesome UI

Even while development has to proceed quickly, aesthetics should never be sacrificed. UI libraries frequently contain various expertly designed elements, such as buttons, cards, sliders, and icons, created carefully for the user experience. These parts are aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly, and consistent with current design trends.

Low Coding

UI frameworks offer a wide variety of frequently used UI elements, such as buttons, input fields, and navigation menus. These components are thoroughly evaluated for performance and usability. Developers just need to choose them from the library.

Time Efficient

Developers can combine and match pre-existing components rather than creating each part from scratch to design UI faster. This saves a substantial amount of time and work by removing the requirement for custom designing and coding. Because pre-built components are readily available, developers may work more productively and quickly.

Easy to Work

Developers’ ease of use of code snippets and documentation reduces implementation complexity. Components can readily function by copying and pasting code fragments from the library. This simplicity and usability, therefore, promote an efficient development cycle and raise developer productivity.

Less Maintenance

The usage of reusable components from the library will decrease the amount of code you need to develop and maintain. Less code means less chance of bugs and other problems, which means less maintenance work. This will, therefore, prevent the need for additional resources and reduce costs.

Cross-Browser Compatible

Ensuring the app appears and performs consistently across various browsers and devices is one of the toughest problems in front-end development. UI libraries solve this problem by offering components that undergo rigorous testing, optimization, and proper functioning across various devices. You can read How to Design UI Faster With the Best UI Components for more information.

Also Read: Comprehensive Guide to JavaScript Frameworks for Web Development

How to Choose the Best UI Component Libraries?

You should consider the following factors when choosing the best UI component library.

• Community: A dynamic community suggests that the UI components library has a lot of support and will probably change along with the sector’s trends. Search for libraries with a committed community that regularly releases updates, bug fixes, and feature additions.
• Easy To Use: The initial setup procedure may differ, even though most libraries function similarly once installed. Look for libraries with easy-to-understand documentation, thorough examples, and a gradual learning curve.
• Extensibility + Licensing: Extensibility enables adding new components to satisfy evolving requirements, allowing for future flexibility and growth. On the other hand, licensing is extremely important in ensuring that the selected library complies with the licensing specifications for your project and allows for the intended usage.
• Popularity: You can gain insights into the library’s reputation, user adoption, and satisfaction by looking at its number of stars on GitHub, perusing live issue pages, and conducting web research. A well-liked library with a sizable user base and ongoing development suggests dependability, support from the community, and satisfying user experiences.

Advantages Of Ext JS UI Component Library

The following are key advantages of Ext JS and why you should try it.

• Faster Development: Ext JS offers a large selection of UI components that have already been created and can be used to rapidly and simply create complicated applications. This can save programmers a lot of time and work, allowing them to concentrate on the application’s business logic.
• Awesome UI: Ext JS components are designed to look good and be simple to use. This can, therefore, enhance user engagement and contribute to a better user experience.
• Low Coding: Ext JS components are simple and can be tailored to your application’s unique requirements. This may help lower the amount of coding necessary, accelerating and simplifying development.
• Cross Compatibility: Ext JS can create desktop, mobile, and web apps. Therefore, this can ensure that a wider range of users can utilize your program.
• Easy To Use: Ext JS is a well-documented, simple-to-learn framework. Therefore, it can make launching your application simpler and quicker.
• Time Efficient: Ext JS offers a broad collection of features and capabilities that you can use across several projects to help you save time and money. By doing so, you’ll be able to concentrate on your application’s main features and launch it more quickly.

Get Started With Sencha Ext JS

You can easily integrate Sencha Ext JS into your application. The following section goes through how to download and install Ext JS.

• Go to the Ext JS product page on the Sencha website (https://www.sencha.com/products/extjs/).
• You can choose the Ext JS version you want to download. Sencha provides both for-profit and free choices.
• Select the desired version by clicking the download button or the given link.
• Extract the file you downloaded.
• After the files are extracted, you can reference the required JavaScript and CSS files in your project, including the Ext JS library.
• Arrange the project’s files by the suggested Ext JS project structure.
• To configure Ext JS in your project, refer to the documentation and instructions supplied by Sencha.

Conclusion

UI component libraries are the norm in today’s fast-growing development world. They cut down time and increase uniformity. They also help scale applications while providing a good user experience. If you’re a developer looking to finish more tasks in less time or improve your design workflow, these libraries are the perfect solution. Using pre-made, adjustable elements lets you accomplish more in less time. Cross-device functionality ensures your apps work perfectly, no matter the platform. JavaScript Libraries like Sencha Ext JS make building high-performance, powerful applications easy. Get started with UI component libraries today. Change how you code—faster, simpler, and more effective.

FAQs

What is a UI Component Library?

A UI component library is a collection of pre-built UI elements like buttons, input fields, and forms, which help developers quickly assemble user interfaces without starting from scratch.

What is the best React component library?

Some of the best React component libraries include Material UI, Chakra UI, and Ant Design. These libraries offer extensive collections of reusable components that can be integrated into your React applications for faster and more efficient development.

How to build a UI component library?

To build a UI component library, start by identifying common UI elements, create reusable components for each, and organize them into a well-documented structure. Add flexibility for customization and ensure consistent design patterns across components.

How to mock a component in React Testing Library?

You can mock a component in React Testing Library by using Jest’s jest.mock() function. This allows you to replace the real implementation of a component with a mock, helping test other components independently.

Can I use React UI component libraries?

Yes, you can use various React UI component libraries to build React applications quickly and efficiently, such as Material UI, Ant Design, and Chakra UI.

How to build a component library with React and TypeScript?

To build a component library with React and TypeScript, first set up a TypeScript project with React, create reusable components, and ensure type safety using TypeScript’s types and interfaces.

How to create a component library in React?

Creating a component library in React involves setting up a project with reusable components, documenting them properly, and ensuring they are easily installable and customizable. Tools like Storybook can help in building and showcasing these components.

How to create a React component library npm package?

To create a React component library npm package, first build the components, compile them into a distributable format, and publish the package to npm. This allows you to share your component library with others.

Can we use jQuery library in web components?

Yes, you can use the jQuery library in web components, but it is generally recommended to use native JavaScript instead for modern web development due to performance and compatibility reasons.

How do I update component libraries in Multisim?

Updating component libraries in Multisim typically involves downloading the latest version of the component library or adding new libraries manually through the software’s update feature.

How to add a component library to a new project?

To add a component library to a new project, simply install the library using a package manager like npm or yarn, and import the components into your project as needed.

How to call a function of a component in React Testing Library?

To call a function of a component in React Testing Library, you can use the fireEvent method to simulate user interactions and trigger the function, or directly call the function in the test setup if it’s exported.

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