Editing Software framework (section)

{{short description|Type of library that helps structure other software}}
{{Redirect|Framework (computer science)||Framework (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

In [[computer programming]], a '''software framework''' is a [[software]] [[abstraction (computer science)|abstraction]] that provides generic functionality which developers can extend with custom code to create applications. It establishes a standard foundation for building and deploying software, offering reusable components and design patterns that handle common programming tasks within a larger [[software platform]] or environment. 

Unlike [[Library (computing)|libraries]] where developers call functions as needed, frameworks implement inversion of control by dictating program structure and calling user code at specific points, while also providing default behaviors, structured extensibility mechanisms, and maintaining a fixed core that accepts extensions without direct modification. Frameworks also differ from regular applications that can be modified (like [[Web browser|web browsers]] through [[Browser extension|extensions]], video games through [[Video game modding|mods]]), in that frameworks are intentionally incomplete scaffolding meant to be extended through well-defined extension points and following specific architectural patterns.

Software frameworks may include support programs, compilers, code libraries, toolsets, and [[application programming interface|APIs]] that bring together all the different [[Software component|components]] to enable development of a [[software project|project]] or [[software system|system]].