What is a framework?

The word ‘framework’ means lots of things to different people. Svelte and SvelteKit are both ‘frameworks’, for example, but they’re not the same type of thing.

At the risk of starting a holy war:

“A framework is a way of thinking about a problem.”

— me, just now

When you use a framework, you’re less focused on the procedural details of a problem, and more focused on the shape of the solution.

For example when you use a frontend framework, you’re less focused on how to get the DOM in a particular state, and more on what that state should be. You’re spending your limited attention at a more interesting and creative level.

But the real superpower of frameworks is that they are social artefacts — when you build with a framework you become part of a community.