UI Libraries and Frameworks make it easier for developers to build clean and consistent User Interfaces (UI). They provide components, utilities for common use within your Application. Some UI Libraries provide you with the freedom to switch things up using themes. While other provide a clear consistent User Experience. Forcing developers to adhere to a set of strict design language. If you are looking for a new UI library and Framework for your application, here a few honorable mentions:
Angular Material 2
Angular 2 Material is an adaptation of Google Material Design Language for Angular 2 and above. It offers Material Design Components for angular. Some of these components include Cards, Dialog, Lists, Grid, Side Nav etc. It is closely integrated with Angular, offering APIs for its component with excellent documentation and demos. If you are a fan of Material Design, the this should be on top of your list. On its own, it lacks the ability to provide a powerful responsive design system. Therefore, it is common to pair it with Angular Flex Layout.
The two libraries are not bundled together. This allows developers to use either of the two libraries independently, or both at the same time. It is also heavily optimized for performance. This is achieved through allowing developers to import only the set of components they are using in their projects. This ensures that your deployment build doesn’t end up with extra components that you are not using.
You can learn how to get started with Angular Material here.
NG Bootstrap
Bootstrap is one of the most popular and complete UI frameworks out there. It offers everything you would like on a UI framework. The major downside to it, as far as Angular is concerned, is that it uses jQuery components. While you can still use Bootstrap classes without jQuery, you will require it to take full advantage of it. And this is where ng-bootstrap comes in.
ng-bootstrap offers a set of components build with bootstrap CSS. These components are build the angular way, using directives and components (angular components). The widgets on offer are the same as the components offered by bootstrap. This eliminates the need for jQuery. On top of the many components/widgets on offer, you still retain the advantages offered by CSS Bootstrap. You get countless styles for your different html element on your site, a responsive grid design and countless utilities classes. You can learn more about ng-bootstrap here.
Clarity Design System
This is a set of UX Guidelines, a HTML/CSS Frameworks and a set of Angular Components all rolled into one. The goal of Clarity Design System is to provide an exceptional UX by combining the three. The UX guidelines are developed through research to make it easy to design and deliver a great UX.
It offers a responsive grid system which is similar to what is offered by bootstrap. Just like the other UI Frameworks in this list, it has a lot of components and utilities for you to use. It also comes with its own Icon Set.
You can learn how to get started with Clarity here.
PrimeNG
If you have ever worked with Java UI Framework – Prime Faces, the PrimeNG will look very familiar. PrimeNG is a port of the popular Java EE framework for Angular 2 and above. It offers components, responsive design and key utilities for Angular 2 developers.
It offers over 80 components for Angular, giving it a huge advantage over ng-bootstrap and angular material. On top of that, it can easily be customized through the use of themes.
You can learn how to get started with PrimeNG here.
Onsen UI for Angular
Unlike other frameworks on this list, Onsen UI is designed for building hybrid apps for Android and iOS apps. It provides a set of components with both flat design and material design, which provides more choices for you as a developer.
You can learn how to get started with Onsen UI for Angular here.
Honorable Mentions:
- Ant Design for Angular – Implements the Ant Design
- Lightning Design System – Contains native Angular Components written using Lightning Design System CSS framework.
- Ionic Framework - for Building Cross Platforms Apps