The decision of the most appropriate language is shared by all types of code, from “Hello World” to business application-level code. Java is at the top of the list because it is strong, platform-independent, and secure. Google, Netflix, and Amazon all employ Java as one of their programming languages.
Writing Java software from scratch to create enterprise-level applications, whether in finance, banking, e-commerce, or the IT sector, can result in human overhead due to the large number of modules that combine to form an application.
This is when Java frameworks come in handy. A Java framework is pre-written Java-specific code or a template that may include preset classes and methods used to execute input, process, and output activities. Designers can also use this predefined template to create an application by reusing and filling it as needed.
Let’s take a look at top Java frameworks to know in 2025 if you’re a Java developer or want to be one.
Best Java frameworks list for web development
- Spring Framework
- Hibernate
- Struts
- Play Framework
- Vaadin
- Apache Wicket
- Grails
- Apache Tapestry
- JSF (JavaServer Faces)
- Dropwizard
- Spark Framework
- Vert.x
- Micronaut
- Quarkus
- JHipster
- Akka
- Apache Camel
- Axon Framework
- Blade
- GWT (Google Web Toolkit)
- JOOQ (Java Object Oriented Querying)
- Ktor
- Ninja Framework
- Ratpack
- Scalatra
- Spring Boot
- Spring Data
- Spring Cloud
- Dropwizard
- Micronaut Data
- Helidon
- Open Liberty
- Eclipse MicroProfile
- Micrometer
- Mockito

Here are the top Java frameworks for web development
Spring
Spring is an open-source platform that any Java application can use. It solves the problem of tight coupling across modules by providing loose coupling, so that modifications in one class do not entail changes in another Spring is a package in and of itself because it includes features like configuration and security. It has an active development community, thus there is a lot of information about it online.
Hibernate
Hibernate is an Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) which improves database management in Java by eliminating JDBC difficulties, which does not enable object-level relationships, which is a critical idea for designing applications.
Hibernate queries are referred to as HQL (Hibernate Query Language). It directly maps database tables to matching Java classes by constructing an abstraction layer that allows the code to be loosely linked.
Hibernate eliminates the need for developers to think about creating database connections or conducting operations; Hibernate does this for them. The hibernate.cfg.xml document includes database setup and mapping information.
Struts
Apache Struts is a free and open source web application framework. It adheres to MVC (Model-View-Controller) principles, resulting in a user-friendly application by splitting the model, view, and controller and binding these three via the struts-config.xml file.
It comes in two flavours: Struts 1 and Struts 2. Struts 2 is the improved version that is recommended by all businesses. It includes different plugins that handle AJAX, REST, and JSON.
It is easier to configure and it is more versatile than a typical MVC design. It is an excellent framework for web developers.
Google Web Toolkit (GWT)
Do we have to guess who created the Google Web Toolkit? As the name suggests, it’s Google. GWT was used in the development of Google products such as AdSense, Blogger, and Google Wallet.
The main reason Google Web Toolkit is deemed developer-friendly is that it makes it a lot easier to interact with Google APIs.
The option to transform Java code into JavaScript code depending on a browser distinguishes it from other Java frameworks. It may be used to create beautiful and attractive internet Java apps.
JavaServer Faces (JSF)
Oracle is the creator of JavaServer Faces (JSF). It is a component of the Java Platform, Enterprise Edition, and thus a Java Community Process standard.
JSF is an element UI framework that is built on MVC architecture that allows developers to simply drag and drop UI components without having a detailed understanding of any technology such as JavaScript, etc.
It avoids the requirement for a new framework by allowing existing backend Java code to be enhanced with a web interface. Facelets is the templating technology in JSF that permits integration with AJAX-enabled elements.
Dropwizard
“Does exactly what it says on the tin,” suitable for the Dropwizard. Because of its incredible support for logging, application metrics, and complex customizations, it completes the application quickly. It combines numerous Java ecosystem libraries into a unified model.
When all of Dropwizard’s features are considered combined, the rapid growth of RESTful APIs and assistance for fast prototyping make it magical.
Grails
Grails is suitable for beginners. It was created using the Groovy computer language. Groovy is part of Java but has more features. Grails is an MVC-based framework that operates on the Java platform and is compatible with Java syntax.
GSP (Groovy Server Pages) is Grails’ rendering element, and GORM is its ORM implementation. What happens if we combine Groovy with Java code? It will function properly. One of the most appealing aspects of Grails is the ability to combine it with Java code.
Vaadin
Vaadin is a completely new way of working because it eliminates the need to worry about client-server connections and routing, allowing you to focus just on the display layer. It is open-source, and elements can be changed to build code that is extremely adaptable.
Because Vaadin’s UI components handle browser actions, you may write your application entirely in Java. One of Vaadin’s essential features is that it is a cross-platform architecture, which means you may transfer your code to a different platform.
Blade
Looking for the most basic Java framework? Hello, Blade!
Blade is a fast full-stack web framework built on the MVC design pattern. It operates on a module-based system, which aids debugging by splitting an application into modules. Blade can be used for full-stack web development and works with JSON files.
Play
The play framework prioritizes convention over configuration. One of the distinctive features is that Play apps may be written not only in Java but also in Scala. Play does not always adhere to J2EE web standards.
Play simplifies interaction with Maven projects and generates simple JAR files. Both the IIntelliJ IDEA and Eclipse are supported by Play. It includes relational data access libraries. It has numerous characteristics that make it popular among Java developers.
Read Also – JS Frameworks Benefits & Uses in 2025
Conclusion
In 2022, when most industries and enterprises have gone virtual, web apps can be produced smoothly using any of those Java frameworks. Each one is distinct, so you can select it based on your needs.
Frameworks have made language creation easier, and the above popular Java frameworks have made it much easier with Java.
FAQs related to Java Framework
Which Java framework is superior?
Although there are other helpful frameworks in Java, the Spring framework is the most prominent and widely used framework since it offers a variety of useful features and simplifies the development process for developers.
Is Apache considered a Java framework?
Apache is a very effective open-source programme that offers a variety of Java frameworks such as Apache Struts, Apache Wicket, and Apache Flex.
Is Java a programming language or a framework?
Java is not a framework but rather a programming language. The Java language is used to create several frameworks.
Is there any use of Java in the back end?
Yes, Java can also be used to build the backend of web applications.