Are Web Components Dead?

Exploring the State of Web Components in Modern Frontend Development

In 2012, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) introduced the first specification of Web Components, sparking excitement and high expectations among developers. These components offered the promise of reusable, framework-agnostic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript-based building blocks, all based on official web standards. Despite their potential, have faced challenges in achieving widespread adoption. This article delves into the current state, examining what they are, their presence in the web development landscape, the reasons behind developer reluctance, and Web Components’ future outlook.

What Are Web Components?

Web Components are reusable client-side components founded on official web standards, compatible with all major web browsers. These components serve as encapsulated units of functionality that can be seamlessly integrated into web pages. Their unique feature is the ability to function independently of any frontend framework, making them versatile and adaptable.

Where Can You Find Web Components?

The dominance of frontend frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js in the web development arena is undeniable. According to the State of JavaScript Survey in 2021, React held a significant 80% share, followed by Angular at 54% and Vue.js at 51%. , being entirely based on web standards, do not feature prominently in this ranking, libraries such as Lit support their development. Notably, 7% of respondents reported using Web Components. Major frontend frameworks have adapted to accommodate Web Components, with Angular offering the elements package for easy transformation of components into Web Components. Vue.js also supports Web Component creation, reflecting the embrace of by leading frameworks.

React vs. Web Components

The synergy between React and Web Components is crucial to their success. Developers can combine both technologies, reinforcing the idea that Web Components do not intend to supplant frontend frameworks. This compatibility enables developers to harness the Strengths of  React and Web Components for optimal results.

Usage of Web Components

Web Components enjoy more extensive use than expected, with around 20% of websites viewed in Google Chrome registering at least one Custom Element. In contrast, React’s adoption stands at a mere 2.9% of websites. Despite this, job descriptions for web developers often require expertise in popular frontend frameworks, indicating that Web Components may not yet be a top priority for many companies.

Web Components at Big Tech Companies: Github

GitHub serves as a notable example of a large organization embracing Web Components. Facing the need for better codebase encapsulation, GitHub turned to Web Components, leveraging their component-like behaviors and experimenting with them alongside their existing infrastructure. GitHub’s adoption underscores the practicality of Web Components in addressing complex codebase management.

Why Are Developers Reluctant to Use Web Components?

Despite the promise of Web Components, many developers hesitate to fully embrace them. The reluctance may stem from concerns about Web Components rendering frontend frameworks obsolete. However, the ideal approach is to integrate Web Components with frontend frameworks for a balanced and effective development strategy. Challenges in the current state of Web Components also contribute to this reluctance.

Problems of Web Components

Web Components face several issues, one of which is the Shadow DOM. Although the concept of encapsulated markup and style is appealing, difficulties persist in applying global styles to Web Components with shadow roots. GitHub supports an open proposal for declarative Shadow DOM, seeking to resolve these challenges.

Server Side Rendering (SSR) poses another hurdle for Web Components. While modern frameworks offer SSR capabilities, rely on browser-specific DOM APIs, making SSR integration complex. Libraries like Lit and Stencil offer solutions to address this challenge.

Accessibility is a crucial concern when working with. The need to manually add accessibility features to custom elements creates an extra layer of complexity. The Accessibility Object Model (AOM) proposal aims to simplify this by establishing default implicit semantics for custom elements.

What Does the Future Hold?

Web Components are here to stay, as evidenced by their integration with major frontend frameworks and their adoption by large companies. However, Web Components are not positioned to replace frontend frameworks; instead, they enhance them. The future involves the resolution of existing challenges and the development of libraries to facilitate Web Component creation. Developers need to be familiar, given their potential impact on the web development landscape.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Web Components offer a versatile and powerful tool for developers, providing reusable, standardized components. While they face challenges, their compatibility with popular frontend frameworks and the support of large companies indicate their continued relevance in modern web development. Developers should consider incorporating it into their skill sets to stay competitive in the evolving web development ecosystem.