Software framework

A software framework is software that provides reusable, generic functionality which developers can extend or customize to create complete solutions. It offers an abstraction layer over lower-level code and infrastructure, allowing developers to focus on implementing business logic rather than building common functionality from scratch. Generally, a framework is intended to enhance productivity by allowing developers to focus on satisfying business requirements rather than reimplementing generic functionality. Frameworks often include support programs, compilers, software development kits, code libraries, toolsets, and APIs that integrate various components within a larger software platform or environment. Unlike a library, where user code controls the program's control flow, a framework implements inversion of control by dictating the overall structure and calling user code at predefined extension points (e.g., through template methods or hooks). Frameworks also provide default behaviours that work out-of-the-box, structured mechanisms for extensibility, and a fixed core that accepts extensions (e.g., plugins or subclasses) without direct modification. A framework differs from an application that can be extended—such as a web browser via an extension or a video game via a mod—in that it is intentionally incomplete scaffolding designed to be completed through its extension points while following specific architectural patterns. For example, a team using a web framework to develop a banking website can focus on writing banking business logic rather than handling low-level details like web request processing or state management.