JavaScript frameworks and libraries like Angular, React, Vue, etc., are the most popular platforms for developing interactive web application user interfaces. However, using JS is not the only option that developers use for creating wonders in the web app development field. Blazor is an emerging name in the current tech-savvy industry. Keep reading to know more about Blazor vs Angular and their in-depth comparison factors.
For developers who try to run .Net in any browser without using add-ons and plugins, Blazor makes it possible. On the other hand, Angular is a JS and Typescript framework that helps in developing interactive, enterprise-level apps. In this article, we will see a decent comparison of Blazor vs Angular. Let’s start with a basic overview of both frameworks.
What is Blazor?
Blazor- a web framework developed by team Microsoft allows software developers to create web apps with C# and .NET rather than JavaScript libraries. It helps developers to create interactive web UIs using a different component-based approach that is similar to other popular frontend frameworks like ReactJS and VueJS.
Applications made using Blazor can run on the server side and also on the client-side (WebAssembly) which gives developers flexibility in choosing the perfect architecture for their app.
Blazor framework uses Razor syntax, which is the markup language that helps developers create views with C# and HTML. There are components in Blazor that can be the building blocks of your web application and can be used easily for future multiple-page apps too.
This framework has a rich set of in-built components like dialogs, controls, and data grids, to start development quickly. Blazor’s client-side alternative uses WebAssembly which is a binary format that developers use to run code that is written in C# or similar languages. This feature helps Blazor apps to run with near-native performance & provides a seamless experience for the users without requirements of additional installations or plugins.
With the server-side development option, the Blazor framework uses the SignalR option to manage real-time communication between the client and the server, allowing for dynamic web apps with smaller network latency.
Comprehensively, Blazor is a strong web framework that helps developers to use their .NET skills for developing modern web apps with interactive features; that too without learning a new framework or language to develop these features.
The flexibility, ease to use, and amazing performance make Blazor a popular option for developing large and small web apps.
Advantages of using Blazor
- Code sharing between client and server is made easy
- Improved performance of the application
- Rich component ecosystem
- Easy to debug
- Seamless integration with .NET languages
- Enhanced security feature
Disadvantages of Blazor
- Limited browser support
- Large application size
- Hard learning curve
- Limited community support
What is Angular?
Angular- an open-source web app development framework is developed by Google and is also maintained by them. It is a good alternative framework that is used for building dynamic, interactive, and responsive web apps. This framework follows MVC- Model, View, and Controller architecture; and allows you to understand the clear difference between various parts of your app.
This JS framework includes a collection of powerful features like two-way data binding, directive, dependency injection, etc., that make it easy for developers to develop and test applications; including CLI apps and testing frameworks.
A key benefit of using Angular is that it has a really strong community for support. A wide range of resources like tutorials, documentation, libraries, etc., are available for use in developing different solutions for clients.
Advantages of using Angular
- Increased productivity of developers
- Two-Way Data Binding
- Code Reusability
- Dependency Injection
- Strong Community
- Mobile-Friendly development
Disadvantages of Angular
- Steep Learning Curve
- Performance Overhead
- Large File Size
- Limited Flexibility
- Compatibility Issues
Blazor vs Angular- Key Comparison Factors
Blazor and Angular both are open-source web development frameworks. They have certain similarities, but the primary difference is:
Blazor holds on to C# for developing web apps, while the Angular framework uses the famous JavaScript platform. Let’s see some notable comparison factors of the Blazor vs Angular debate. Maybe this comparison can help you pick the best solution for your upcoming business project development.
Performance
Angular is a very mature platform, which means that it’s amazingly tuned to provide amazing performance to the app. Sometimes there are noticeable performance issues with the Blazor framework, particularly with Blazor WebAssembly.
Hence, when performance features are considered, the Angular platform wins against Blazor.
Learning Curve
While comparing Angular vs Blazor, it is appropriate to say that for C# and .NET developers, learning Angular is comparatively harder than learning Blazor.
The same happens vice versa when any JS developer starts to learn Blazor, then it is a lot more time-consuming than learning Angular. Hence, it depends on the skills and requirements of the developer whether to learn Angular or to proceed with Blazor.
Production Ready
Angular is a framework that has been used for years now! Hence, it is a battle-tested framework which means the Angular apps are production-ready. On the other hand, Blazor is comparatively newer in the market. It might create some performance issues in the app in the long run. Hence, when looking for production-ready apps, you can go with Angular instead of Blazor.
Other common differences
Here’s the list of some more common comparison aspects while reading about Blazor vs Angular:
- Blazor has WebAssembly support while Angular has PWA support.
- Blazor needs an active connection for every client; on the other hand, this is not an issue in Angular.
- Angular doesn’t store the component state on the server side, while Blazor does store it for each client.
- Angular is optimized using server-side rendering and Blazor has SEO or Crawlers
- Code style in Blazor is easier than in Angular
Moreover, there are certain key factors one should look after if they are confused between Blazor and Angular. Blazor might offer performance issues but it also offers easy development of modern and classic web apps.
When to use Angular?
The angular framework is more versatile and can be used for developing apps belonging to different industries. Here are some examples of when using Angular is a better option:
- Developing single-page applications (SPAs)
- Developing enterprise-level apps
- Developing Dynamic web apps, etc
Make sure that you spend enough time training developers to learn the required skills for developing different features.
When to use Blazor?
Blazor is a framework that depends on .NET and C# technologies. So, if you are a C# developer you can use Blazor while developing:
- Web-based apps
- Apps that require short development time, etc
There are multiple models we can use while working with Blazor, they are:
- Blazor Hybrid- It can be used to develop a hybrid web app
- Blazor Native- it can be used for developing native mode for creating a native application for various types of mobile platforms
- Blazor PWA- It can be used for developing web apps for PWA (Progressive web apps)
Concluding Words
In conclusion, both Blazor vs Angular are popular web app development frameworks that have their unique advantages & disadvantages. While Angular is a more mature and widely adopted framework, Blazor offers the advantage of using C# and .NET for client-side development, which can be beneficial for developers with a background in these technologies.
Ultimately, the choice between Angular and Blazor will depend on the specific needs of the project and the preferences of the development team. By considering the key differences between these frameworks, developers can make an informed decision and choose the one that best suits their needs.