Framework and library, the two most used terms by the people in the field of technology, still confuse many people. Though many people spend their whole lives working with these two, most people can’t tell the difference between them. If you are also wondering after reading this and stressing your memory to find the difference, you are not alone.
Even after working with frameworks and libraries, dozens of programmers get confused with the two. Here we will try to differentiate between these two industry jargons.
If we have to explain it in laymen’s terms, a library can be compared to making a dress from scratch. You can choose the fabric of your liking, design it according to your choice, add pockets whenever you like. You can also add extra laces to it and create it just like you want the dress to be.
A framework, on the other hand, is equivalent to a readymade purchased dress. You don’t have to run from pillar to post to assemble every piece of item that the dress has, but you also don’t have the luxury to design it as you wish it to be.
Library and its function:
Libraries are generally used to do specific functions. It performs some well-defined functions and returns the control to the code. It can also be termed as a collection of class definitions.
The codes that other developers write can be reused again and again for performing similar functions.
As the scope of the library is already defined, its APIs are smaller, resulting in fewer dependencies of the project. Its set of helper functions can be called to perform a specific function.
Examples of libraries can be image manipulation, string utilities, network protocols, etc.
Library provides the developer the complete control of the code. You can add or delete whatever you want and even modify or write a new code depending on your need. You can even use the existing libraries if you like.
On the downside, if you are not careful enough while using the existing codes or even making your codes, it can sometimes ruin the system’s architecture. So, while incorporating them, one has to be doubly cautious.
Framework and its uses:
Framework, on the other hand, is built on low-level components. It includes libraries to make the life of developers easier. In the framework, the flow of control is already there. It can be defined as a wardrobe that you can fill with your codes.
As the framework itself is an application, it has an enormous scope of functionality. Frameworks incorporate the basic flow and can be plugged into the system to develop an application.
Frameworks are flexible and are characterized by their extension ability. It has everything to create large-scale applications and boosts the productivity of the developer.
On the minus side framework is created by writing a massive amount of code which in turn can translate to decreased performance and increased loading time. Besides that, with frameworks, you have to constantly unlearn and relearn new things with every new version, which cannot be possible due to our busy lives.
Examples of the framework can be GUI systems, web application systems, etc.
Inversion of Control
The fundamental difference between them is best defined by “Inversion of Control.” With the library, you are in control of the flow of the system. You can call the library wherever you want. It gives you more freedom.
But in the case of frameworks, the flow of the architecture or the system design remains with the framework. It calls the code developed by the programmer as and when required. The control here is inverted.
Conclusion
To conclude the advantages and disadvantages and differences between both the libraries and functions, it can be said that both come with their own sets of positives and negatives. To term one better or superior to the other is complex and not always possible. It depends on the situation and programming needs of the developer to choose one over the other.