Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Zepto.js VS Vanilla JS

Compare Zepto.js VS Vanilla JS and see what are their differences

Zepto.js logo Zepto.js

Zepto is a minimalist JavaScript library for modern browsers with a largely jQuery-compatible API.

Vanilla JS logo Vanilla JS

Vanilla JS is a fast, lightweight, cross-platform framework for building incredible, powerful...
  • Zepto.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • Vanilla JS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-12-06

Zepto.js features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Zepto.js is extremely lightweight, with a file size significantly smaller than jQuery. This reduces load times and improves performance on webpages, particularly important for mobile users with limited bandwidth.
  • jQuery Compatibility
    Zepto.js aims to offer a jQuery-compatible syntax, making it easy for developers familiar with jQuery to adopt Zepto.js without a steep learning curve.
  • Optimized for Modern Browsers
    Zepto.js is optimized for modern browsers and takes advantage of advanced features like CSS3 and HTML5, which can lead to improved performance and more elegant solutions.
  • Modular Design
    Zepto.js has a modular architecture, allowing developers to include only the features they need. This can further reduce the size of the library and improve page load times.

Possible disadvantages of Zepto.js

  • Limited Legacy Browser Support
    Zepto.js does not support older versions of Internet Explorer (like IE8 and below), which may be a limitation for projects needing to cater to a wide audience with deprecated browser support.
  • Fewer Features than jQuery
    Although Zepto.js is similar to jQuery, it lacks some of the more advanced features and plugins available in jQuery, which might require additional solutions for certain tasks.
  • Small Community
    Zepto.js has a smaller user base and community compared to jQuery, which may result in less community support, fewer tutorials, and limited plugin options.
  • Limited Official Documentation
    The official documentation for Zepto.js is not as extensive as that for jQuery, which may require developers to spend extra time understanding and troubleshooting code.

Vanilla JS features and specs

  • Lightweight
    Vanilla JS refers to using standard JavaScript without additional libraries or frameworks. This results in smaller file sizes and faster load times, as there are no extra dependencies.
  • Performance
    Since there is no additional abstraction or overhead from libraries, code execution is generally faster, making Vanilla JS highly efficient for performance-critical applications.
  • Full Control
    Developers have complete control over the code, which allows for customized solutions without the constraints imposed by third-party libraries.
  • No Dependencies
    By not relying on external libraries, applications are less prone to break when those libraries experience updates or deprecation.
  • Better Understanding
    Using Vanilla JS often requires developers to have a deeper understanding of JavaScript, which can lead to better code quality and problem-solving skills.

Possible disadvantages of Vanilla JS

  • Longer Development Times
    Since everything must be coded from scratch, initial development can take longer compared to using libraries that offer pre-built solutions.
  • Reinventing the Wheel
    Developers may end up writing solutions for problems that have already been solved by libraries, leading to redundant efforts.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Without the abstractions provided by libraries, new developers may find Vanilla JS harder to learn and implement correctly.
  • Less Community Support
    Though JavaScript has a large community, specific problems faced when not using popular frameworks may not have as much community-generated content or support.
  • Cross-Browser Compatibility
    Ensuring cross-browser support can be more challenging without utilizing libraries that automatically handle many compatibility issues.

Zepto.js videos

Data-binding Techniques | CSS Techniques | Zepto.js | The Treehouse Show Episode 97

Vanilla JS videos

No Vanilla JS videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Zepto.js and Vanilla JS)
Javascript UI Libraries
62 62%
38% 38
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
JS Library
100 100%
0% 0
Web Frameworks
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Vanilla JS seems to be a lot more popular than Zepto.js. While we know about 74 links to Vanilla JS, we've tracked only 4 mentions of Zepto.js. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Zepto.js mentions (4)

  • TinyJS – Shorten JavaScript QuerySelect with $ and $$
    jQuery II: The Quickening! If anybody's interested in a more minimalist jQuery-like tool check out Zepto [1]. I built a toy Golang SSR project using it and felt like I was 17 again. Also of note is that "Highlander II" takes place in the year 2024 [2]. It's a sign! Everything old is new again! `$` is immortal! [1] http://zeptojs.com/ [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlander_II:_The_Quickening. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • jQuery v4.0.0 Beta
    > I've always thought there should be a modern, lightweight jQuery alternative like this. Have you heard of Zepto? https://zeptojs.com. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Discovered a 63kb tiddlywiki like self saving HTML+JS wiki and its looking cool
    I once made a very crude and simple TiddlyWiki work-alike I called "HulloWurld" https://github.com/calroc/HulloWurld It's 143 KB, but it includes copies of Knockout, Underscore, Zepto, and the "Marked" markdown parser... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ( Good stuff BTW: http://knockoutjs.com/ http://underscorejs.org/ https://zeptojs.com/ https://github.com/chjj/marked ) Probably the only interesting bit is the code to save the page:... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Replacing jQuery (110kb) With UmbrellaJS (8kb)
    I think zepto.js is a better choice. It's slightly bigger than cash but much closer to jquery (for example it has $.ajax) https://zeptojs.com. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago

Vanilla JS mentions (74)

  • Users don't care about your tech stack
    > Users don't care what language or libraries you use. Users care only about functionality, right? But guess what? These two things are not independent. If you want to make something that starts instantly you can't use electron or java. You can't use bloated libraries. Because users do notice. All else equal users will absolutely choose the zippiest products. Semi-dependent. Default Java libraries being a piles... - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Nothing: Simply Do Nothing
    Before clicking, I thought this was going to be the next step in the evolution of "frameworks" like http://vanilla-js.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • We're in the brute force phase of AI – once it ends, demand for GPUs will too
    Http://vanilla-js.com/ only include what you need, and it minifies to zero byes!! - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Vanilla Prime: A simpler, more sustainable way of web development
    Vanilla JS has been a long-time joke about how modern javascript has advanced far enough not to need libraries for a lot of stuff people still reach for: http://vanilla-js.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Show HN: Plain Vanilla – a tutorial website for vanilla web development
    Http://vanilla-js.com/ (the SSL certificate expired 15 years ago) It is a framework, but just vanilla :). - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Zepto.js and Vanilla JS, you can also consider the following products

jQuery - The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

Svelte - Cybernetically enhanced web apps

AngularJS - AngularJS lets you extend HTML vocabulary for your application. The resulting environment is extraordinarily expressive, readable, and quick to develop.

Next.js - A small framework for server-rendered universal JavaScript apps

DHTMLX - JavaScript Library for cross-platform web and mobile app development with HTML5 JavaScript widgets. Easy integration with popular JavaScript Frameworks.

Elm - A type inferred, functional reactive language that compiles to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript