Ext JS vs Material UI: Which UI Component Library is Better?
Using the appropriate UI component library has its merits. It impacts productivity, growth, and the look and feel of your application. Material UI and Ext JS are two commonly used libraries. Both offer a wide range of features and customizable UI widgets. However, their target audiences differ significantly.
For enterprise-level applications, Ext JS is preferred. It provides customization options for handling complex data and works well with legacy browsers. Material UI follows Google’s Material Design principles. It is smooth, modern, and fully integrated with React. Frameworks like Architect simplify web application development and enhance the adaptability of mobile applications.
This article highlights the similarities and differences between the two libraries. First, we will review their features. Then, we will cover user-friendliness, speed, and system adaptability. Integration and community support will also be discussed. Finally, we will explain why Ext JS decouples components effectively and why it is ideal for enterprise projects.
Let’s begin.
Overview of Ext JS
Ext JS is a comprehensive JavaScript framework that helps developers create interactive web applications and ensures cross-platform compatibility. Ext JS was launched in 2007 and has seen many advancements since then.
The framework includes over 140 ready-made UI components, such as grids, charts, forms, and trees. These components help developers create feature-rich applications and ensure consistency across browsers like Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, and Opera.
Ext JS includes a data package that separates UI components from data. This separation improves data handling and binding. The layout manager is flexible, allowing data display on various devices and screen sizes.
Ext JS supports MVC and MVVM architectural patterns, maintaining structure and ensuring a high-level approach.
Ext JS has evolved with new versions over time. Early versions like 1.1 and 2.0 offered basic features, while later versions such as 4.0 and 5.0 introduced responsive design and two-way data binding. Version 6.0 merged Ext JS with a touch framework to support both desktop and mobile applications. The latest version is 7.8.
Ext JS development tools aim to boost productivity. Cmd aids in scaffolding and code optimization, IntelliJ plugins enhance productivity, and Inspector improves the development experience. Ext JS is ideal for building data-driven web applications for large enterprises.
Overview of Material UI
Material UI is an open-source React component library based on Google’s Material Design principles. It includes pre-made components like buttons, inputs, and dialogs that are ready to use and easy to customize.
The library helps create responsive and high-quality user interfaces, offering a flexible layout manager for modern browsers. Its advanced theming system ensures design consistency. By default, Material UI supports responsive UI, dynamically adjusting to different screens and devices.
Accessibility is a priority for Material UI. It complies with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Features like screen readers, high contrast mode, and keyboard navigation are integrated. Additionally, its debugging tool and code completion options further enhance developer efficiency.
Since its launch in 2014, Material UI has grown in popularity. The developer community is large and active, with over 2,500 contributors working on enhancing its features and streamlining the data layer for better performance.
Material UI is ideal for modern user interfaces, especially for React-based applications. Its structure is robust and easy to use, making it one of the top choices for consistent and beautiful interfaces.
Key Comparison Factors: Ext JS vs. Material UI
| Key Factors | Ext JS | Material UI |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | Comprehensive framework. Steep learning curve. Requires prior experience for efficiency. | Simple and user-friendly. Adheres to Material Design principles. |
| Performance | Optimized for large datasets. Ideal for data-heavy enterprise apps. | Fast and efficient. Works seamlessly with React. |
| Component Variety | Extensive library. Includes grids, charts, forms, and trees. | Broad range of Material Design components. Great for responsive interfaces. |
| Customization | Highly customizable. Complex due to its structure. | Easy customization. Built-in theming system. |
| Ease of Integration | Harder to integrate with other tools. Works best as a standalone framework. | Easy to integrate with React. Modular design allows selective component use. |
| Community and Support | Smaller community. Offers detailed documentation and dedicated support. | Large, active community. Many resources and plugins available. |
Why Choose Ext JS for Enterprise Applications?
Ext JS is a robust JavaScript framework designed for business applications that process significant data. It works best for advanced application development projects. The robust data package ensures efficient handling of complex datasets across multiple browsers. Ext JS supports the creation of both web and desktop applications, offering flexibility in how applications are deployed.
Ext JS has a diverse component library, including grids, charts, pivot grids, pivot tables, and trees. For instance, the Data Grid can filter, sort, and group data efficiently. Pivot grids allow advanced data aggregation and summarization, essential for enterprise applications. The charting package builds bar, line, and pie charts, which are useful for creating dashboards and data visualization while supporting responsive layouts that adapt to various screen sizes.
The framework performs well with large datasets, ensuring fast rendering and smooth operation. For example, Virtual Scrolling allows browsing thousands of records without delay. This is crucial for data-heavy applications on both desktop and touch-enabled devices. It also offers two-way data binding, ensuring seamless synchronization between data models and UI components.
Built-in tools simplify development. Architect facilitates drag-and-drop UI design. Cmd helps with build improvement. Pre-integrated tools enable features such as automated testing for smoother bug fixes. The modern toolkit, along with the classic toolkit, ensures developers can choose the best set of tools for their needs, with backward compatibility preserved for older systems.
Ext JS is ideal for extensible platforms, supporting evolving applications. It caters to single-page and multi-page structures. Its data package, model-view-viewmodel (MVVM) architecture, and protocol-agnostic design enhance flexibility in application development. These features make Ext JS a truly enterprise-ready framework for complex projects.
Conclusion
The choice between Ext JS and Material UI depends on your project requirements. Most enterprise-grade applications are better suited to Ext JS. It handles complex data well and offers various tools and components. Performance is optimized for data-intensive tasks.
Material UI, on the other hand, is modern and elegant. It integrates seamlessly with React, is user-friendly, and is ideal for responsive designs. It focuses on developing visually appealing interfaces.
If you need complex features and big data capabilities, choose Ext JS. For simple, visually appealing React applications, choose Material UI. Both are effective but serve different purposes.
FAQs
How do Ext JS and Material UI handle customization?
Ext JS allows deep customization of components but can be complex due to its structure. Material UI is easier to customize using a theming system and flexible styling.
Which library is easier to learn: Ext JS or Material UI?
Material UI is easier to learn, as it is simple and works seamlessly with React. Ext JS has a steeper learning curve, requiring developers to take time to understand its architecture.
Can Ext JS and Material UI be used together?
Yes, they can be used together. However, it is challenging as they cater to different architectures. Integration requires careful planning and additional configuration.
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