Component based Frontend

Component-based frontend design 2023 - everything you need to know at a glance

Component-based development is a *modular approach in which frontend monoliths are broken down into small, reusable elements. Front-end developers can benefit from a streamlined process, fast and efficient development, and high scalability.

What is component based development?

Component-based development, in simple terms, is a development strategy that uses loosely coupled components to create applications that can be reused.

The basic idea is that frontend developers use reusable components in order to rewrite as little code as possible during app development. Thus, the web frontend for the new website is no longer assembled from scratch, but according to the modular principle.

For this, imagine a typical website with elements such as the header, side panel, search bar, content, etc. In a component-based architecture, all these elements are independent of each other and are called components. This results in a modular system on the front end where multiple teams can work simultaneously on individual components in the same interface.

What exactly are components?

While we now have a rough idea of what distinguishes component-based frontend development from „Spaghetti-Code“, it is useful to define more precisely what actually comprises components.

These are nothing less than the building blocks within a component-based architecture. These are reusable and can be used across different interfaces and modules without having to rewrite the code each time or compromising UX integrity.

To create decomposable software systems and applications, the components are given some properties. The components are self-contained, have their own interface and are connected to each other via ports. A component or a module of components can be extended and upgraded without modifications. In addition, the entire system can be broken down into reusable, coherent and independent units, which in turn can be assembled into other modules.

How are the components structured? The Atomic Design Methodology

How can components for the new website be implemented in practice? The general principle here is that individual components can be plugged together. Here it makes sense to maintain a certain hierarchy. For example, the header of a website can consist of the navigation bar as well as the company logo. The bar, in turn, can be further divided into individual navigation elements.

This is where the *Atomic Design Methodology comes into play. This was already introduced by Brad Frost in 2013. In simplified terms, this involves larger structures, such as organisms, containing smaller structures such as molecules.

In this methodology, atoms represent the smallest structure, while pages represent the largest structure. For those who want to extend the analogy further, the model can include protons and atomic nuclei, which in turn serve as their own library and can be used across different projects.

Atoms

Atoms are the smallest components of the application. These can be texts of SEO websites as well as buttons, form inputs or similar. The general rule here is: If the component cannot be divided into even smaller components, it must be an atom.

Molecules

Molecules are compositions of several atoms that are bound to each other. A typical example would be text and input atoms that can be combined to form an InputField molecule. Another example would be a combination of a form field and a button.

Organism

While molecules are combinations of several atoms, organisms are combinations of several molecules. If two or more molecules are mixed, an organism is obtained accordingly. This can be entire sections of a website, such as the header or footer.

Templates

The next largest structure is templates. This is an amalgamation of several organisms that are integrated in the right order. A template or template enables a modular approach to content structuring, which can, for example, shorten the time to create content and unify branding standards.

Pages

Pages are the largest structural level within the Atomic Design Methodology. Only a few adjustments can be made here, which primarily affect the design. In short, all design levels are combined here. For example, a main page can look different from a blog, while the basic design remains the same.

What are component teams?

Now that we have a clearer picture of component-based front-end design, it's time to take a closer look at the different team structures that emerge from this approach.

Component-based frontend design is changing the traditional communication structure in companies. While in traditional structures there is a natural barrier between designers and frontend developers, this gap is growing closer in component-based frontend development.

Component teams are cross-departmental design and development teams that design components that can be reused throughout the system. They take full responsibility for the product and continuously improve it without impacting the rest of the ecosystem.

Advantages of component-based development

Component-based frontend design not only helps large organizations, but can also be the right approach for startups and even individuals. The following is a list of the main advantages of component-based frontend development:

Faster development & website cost

Website creation cost: Component-based development can dramatically reduce development time and, consequently, website costs. With a shared library, teams no longer need to build a solution from scratch. At the same time, functional requirements such as security, usability or performance are guaranteed.

Reusability

Code duplication is minimized as much as possible by the component-based approach. Once the component is created, it can be used in as many modules as needed. This helps reduce development effort and website costs.

Easy maintenance

A bloated code base makes it much more difficult to improve a particular functionality. The longer this approach goes on, the more inefficient maintenance becomes. The modular nature of component-based front-end development breaks down the monolith into small, easily digestible components, making upgrades or modifications a breeze.

Autonomous teams

Cross-functional component teams typically feature increased accountability and develop comprehensive solutions rather than maneuvering through a convoluted system.

Scalability

When it comes to scalability, frontend development is neglected by many companies. This is often still the same monolith, while the backend is already running on a microservices architecture. Component-based development now makes it possible to extend the advantages of a modular architecture to the frontend.

Popular front-end frameworks

Nowadays, the most popular *frontend frameworks separate design from function and thus contribute to more flexibility. To date, React is undisputed as the most popular frontend framework, followed by Vue and Angular.

Your web agency in Frankfurt

If you want to have a new website created and are looking for a reliable partner for your next project, we are at your side. blackHound is an internet agency based in Frankfurt that supports companies such as E.On, Mercedes-Benz, Hugo Boss or IKEA with innovative web, app and 3D solutions.