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The other day, I was looking for a list of the top 10 Java web frameworks, and every blog I stumbled upon included Hibernate in the list.
And that got me thinking—Hibernate isn’t a web framework! Yet, many people (and blog posts) mix it up.
So, I figured it's time to clear the air on what makes a web framework, what’s just a module, and what belongs in a completely different cat
egory like ORM or e-commerce platforms.
Let's break it down!
1. Web Frameworks
A web framework is something that helps you run a web application—it provides a structured way to handle requests, responses, routing, and sometimes even templating.
It’s what actually powers the web app.
Examples of Java Web Frameworks:
| Framework | Key Features | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Boot | Embedded server, auto-config, microservices-friendly | General web apps, microservices |
| Jakarta EE | Standardized Java EE stack, JAX-RS, Servlets | Large-scale enterprise apps |
| Quarkus | Cloud-native, GraalVM, fast startup | Cloud apps, serverless |
| Micronaut | Lightweight, cloud-native, fast startup | Microservices, serverless |
| Grails | Convention-based, GORM, built on Spring Boot | Rapid development |
| Play! | Asynchronous, reactive programming | High-performance apps |
| Dropwizard | Microservices-focused, lightweight | Quick REST APIs |
| Vert.x | Event-driven, reactive, polyglot | High-performance web apps |
| Vaadin | Full-stack, UI components, server-side rendering | Business apps with UI |
These frameworks help you build and run a web application.
If it doesn't help serve requests directly, it’s not a web framework!
2. Web Modules: Not Standalone Frameworks
A web module is a part of a framework, but it doesn’t run the whole show.
Instead, it provides additional capabilities like handling MVC (Model-View-Controller) patterns.
Example:
| Module | Key Features | Works With |
|---|---|---|
| Spring MVC | DispatcherServlet, MVC pattern, Spring integration | Spring / Spring Boot |
Spring MVC alone doesn’t run a web app—it’s just one piece of the puzzle inside Spring Boot or Spring Framework.
If it needs another framework to function, it’s a module, not a full web framework.
3. ORM Frameworks: Not for Web, but for Databases
ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) frameworks help with database interactions, not with serving web requests.
They allow developers to work with Java objects instead of SQL queries.
Example:
| Framework | Key Features | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Hibernate | Object-relational mapping, automatic table generation | Database-heavy applications |
You can’t serve a GET request with Hibernate.
But if you want to map your Java objects to database tables and avoid writing raw SQL, Hibernate is your best friend.
Hibernate doesn't handle web requests.
It’s a database tool, not a web framework.
4. E-Commerce Platforms: Not Web Frameworks Either
E-commerce platforms are specialized frameworks built specifically to power online stores and commerce applications.
Example:
| Platform | Key Features | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| ATG (Oracle Commerce) | Enterprise e-commerce, personalization | Large-scale commerce sites |
ATG is built for selling products online.
It’s not a generic web framework.
Stop Calling Hibernate a Web Framework!
So next time you see Hibernate in a “Top 10 Java Web Frameworks” list, you know better.
It won’t handle requests or serve a webpage—but it will make your database interactions smoother.
If you’re building a web app, stick to Spring Boot, Quarkus, Play!, or Jakarta EE.
If you need database support, bring in Hibernate—but don’t expect it to serve a single HTTP request.
What’s the weirdest misclassification you’ve seen in Java frameworks? Drop it in the comments!
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