The use and implementation of popular JavaScript libraries such as jQuery, MooTools, Prototype, Dojo and YUI are regarded as being pivotal when it comes to accomplishing even the most common web tasks. All of these frameworks contain an array of functions for common JavaScript tasks like animations, DOM manipulation, and Ajax handling. However, even if one of these libraries can’t do the job, there is probably a plug-in which can.
The flexibility provided by these libraries is wonderful- however, they sometimes come with a setback : they can often be very difficult and time-consuming to work with and the size of the JavaScript files can at times be too large, as well as present complex handling of browser differences. Thus, In order to deal with some of these difficulties, several JavaScript libraries have been created, and these are termed as Javascript Frameworks.
Although adopting a well-known JavaScript library can usually be regarded as a wise choice, one may want to perform a task which can be accomplished by a more lightweight library that is dedicated exclusively to a specific task, or one which is not supported by the more popular JavaScript libraries.
Therefore- prior to deciding upon a particular JavaScript framework for ones web pages, one may want to consider it a sound option in testing the preferred framework beforehand. Nearly all JavaScript frameworks can be easily tested by simply referencing a library file from ones web page.
Below, we present several of these HTML5 JavaScript libraries which serve specific purposes in their own right. These are not all of the JS Frameworks in web-existence, however every Web designer or developer will find something of preference here. Let us know which Javascript Framework is your favorite in the comments below.
1. EasyStar.js
If you build HTML5 games or other interactive content, then be sure to check outEasyStar.js for asynchronous pathfinding in JavaScript. You can set all sorts of parameters for how paths are calculated based on your own needs through the API.
2. Resumable.js
It’s a JavaScript library providing multiple simultaneous, stable and resumable uploads via the HTML5 File API. The library is designed to introduce fault-tolerance into the upload of large files through HTTP. This is done by splitting each files into small chunks; whenever the upload of a chunk fails, uploading is retried until the procedure completes. This allows uploads to automatically resume uploading after a network connection is losteither locally or to the server. Additionally, it allows for users to pause, resume and even recover uploads without losing state.
3. Envision.js
Envision.js is a library for creating dynamic, interactive, and fast HTML5 visualizations from your data. Create time series visualizations with real-time or existing data, financial charts, and much more.
4. Zebra
Zebra is a JavaScript library that comes with a bunch of rich user interface components for creating desktop-like layouts. The UI elements are built with HTML5 canvas, colored with CSS and expected to be rendered the same on all modern browsers. There are 30+ UI components including grid, tabs, menu, form elements, menu and much more.
5. Chart.js
Chart.js is an easy, object oriented client side graphs for designers and developers. You can visualise your data in 6 different ways. Each of them animated, fully customizable and look great, even on retina displays. Chart.js uses the HTML5 canvas element. It supports all modern browsers, and polyfills provide support for IE7/8. Chart.js is dependency free, lightweight (4.5k when minified and gzipped) and offers loads of customization options. it is licensed under MIT License.
6. CanvasQuery
CanvasQuery is a JavaScript library that eases working with HTML5 canvas and adds lots of new methods to it. The library provides a jQuery-like syntax and methods added are mostly for image manipulation (like masks, blur, crop or fill mask). It also brings blend modes, new shapes, text wrapping and much more. CanvasQuery can be used with or without jQuery, has methods for color conversion and can be extended with plugins.
7. AristoChart
Aristochart is a sophisticated but simple library for flexible line charting with canvas. It takes care of managing the data, while you can focus on the aesthetics.
8. Gauge.js
gauge.js is a highly configurable 100% native looking animated JavaScript/CoffeeScript gauge with no dependencies. No images, no external CSS – just pure canvas.
9. Heatmap.js
heatmap.js is a JavaScript library that can be used to generate web heatmaps with the html5 canvas element based on your data. Heatmap instances contain a store in order to colorize the heatmap based on relative data, which means if you’re adding only a single datapoint to the store it will be displayed as the hottest(red) spot, then adding another point with a higher count, it will dynamically recalculate.
10. Audio5js
Audio5js is a lightweight JavaScript library that solves this compatibility issue nicely. It provides support for multiple codecs and fallback to a Flash-powered MP3 player when needed. The library auto-detects the browser, knows its capabilities and loads the right player with the right codec. An API exists for controlling the player and has the functions for “load, play, playPause, pause, volume and seek”. Also, there are methods for getting the details (playing, duration, position, load-percent, seekable or not) of the item being played.
11. KineticJs
KineticJS is an HTML5 Canvas JavaScript library that extends the 2d context by enabling canvas interactivity for desktop and mobile applications. You can draw your own shapes or images using the existing canvas API, add event listeners to them, move them, scale them, and rotate them independently from other shapes to support high performance animations, even if your application uses thousands of shapes. Served hot with a side of awesomeness.
12. html5sql.js
html5sql is a light JavaScript module that makes working with the HTML5 Web Database a whole lot easier. Its primary function is to provides a structure for the SEQUENTIAL processing of SQL statements within a single transaction. This alone greatly simplifies the interaction with the database however it doesn’t stop there. Many other smaller features have been included to make things easier, more natural and more convenient for the programmer.
13. Buzz
Buzz is a small but powerful Javascript library that allows you to easily take advantage of the new HTML5 audio element. It provides tons of methods for taking advantage of the audio element and provides a way to group sounds and offers many methods to control them. It degrades gracefully on non-modern browsers.
14. Modernizer
Modernizr is an open-source JavaScript library that helps you build the next generation of HTML5 and CSS3-powered websites. It lets you target specific browser functionality in your stylesheet by adding classes to your element. What?s easy is you don?t need to actually write any Javascript code to use this.
15. Easeljs
The Easel Javascript Library provides a retained graphics mode for canvas including a full, hierarchical display list, a core interaction model, and helper classes to make working with Canvas much easier.
16. Collie
Collie is a Javascript library that helps to create highly optimized animations and games using HTML 5. Collie runs on both PC and mobile using HTML 5 canvas and DOM.
Collie can stably process multiple objects using rendering pipelines and supports useful features including sprite animation and user events. Stably supports iOS and Android, and renders with an optimized method for each platform. Also easily responds to retina display.
17. Deck.js
Deck.js is a lovely JavaScript library for creating HTML presentations. While advanced users can build totally custom outputs, there are templates and themes for novice users to create a standard slideshow with no effort.
18. Canvas Loader
CanvasLoader is a JavaScript UI library for drawing and animating circular preloaders with HTML5 canvas. Using a simple function, a canvas element (loader) is created inside a placeholder div and multiple instances can be created at the same page. There are few different loader types supported and they can be customized in many ways like color, density, speed, diameter, fading, FPS and scaling. Also, functions exist for getting the values of each parameter. Optionally, a web-based creator helps building the loader image by setting the values, previewing the output and downloading the HTML file.
19. D3.js
D3.js is a JavaScript library for manipulating documents based on data. D3 helps you bring data to life using HTML, SVG and CSS. D3’s emphasis on web standards gives you the full capabilities of modern browsers without tying yourself to a proprietary framework, combining powerful visualization components and a data-driven approach to DOM manipulation.
20. Joint.js
JointJS is a modern HTML 5 JavaScript library for visualization and interaction with diagrams and graphs. It can be used to create either static diagrams or, and more importantly, fully interactive diagramming tools and application builders. JointJS makes it easy to create visual languages & tools of various kinds.
