Framework
Also known as: Next.js, React
A framework is a structured foundation of pre-written code that handles common application concerns so developers build features rather than plumbing.
In full
A web framework provides an organised set of conventions and pre-built solutions for problems every application faces: routing between pages, managing state, rendering content, handling data, and building for production. React is a library for building user interfaces from composable components. Next.js is a framework built on React that adds routing, multiple rendering strategies including static generation, image optimisation, and a production build pipeline. Using an established framework means a site is built on conventions other engineers recognise, which matters when a business changes agency or hires internally.
Why it matters
Framework choice determines who can maintain a site later. A codebase in a widely used framework can be handed to almost any competent developer; a bespoke or obscure foundation narrows that pool sharply.