10 Best C++ Frameworks for Web Development: From A to Z

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Introduction: C++ on the Web — Myth or Reality?

Many developers mistakenly believe that C++ is only for game engines, operating systems, and high-load server applications. However, C++ has long been successfully used in web development. Thanks to incredible performance, low memory consumption, and full control over resources, C++ frameworks are an ideal choice for creating high-load REST APIs, microservices, real-time applications, and even full-fledged websites.

In this article, we have compiled the 10 best C++ frameworks for web development — from classic giants to modern lightweight libraries. You will learn their key features, see code examples, and understand which tool to choose for your task.

Top 10 C++ Frameworks for Web Development

1. Wt (Web Toolkit) — "C++ Qt for the Web"

Wt is the most powerful and mature C++ framework for web development. It works on the "desktop-like" principle: you write code in C++, and the framework automatically generates HTML, JavaScript, and AJAX requests. It is ideal for complex enterprise web applications.

Key Features:

Full abstraction from HTML/CSS/JS (you write only in C++)
Built-in support for WebSocket, authentication, sessions
Cross-platform (Linux, Windows, macOS)
Rich widget library (tables, trees, charts)

Example of a simple server on Wt:

#include <Wt/WApplication.h>#include <Wt/WBreak.h>#include <Wt/WContainerWidget.h>#include <Wt/WText.h>

class HelloApp : public Wt::WApplication {public:    HelloApp(const Wt::WEnvironment& env) : Wt::WApplication(env) {        root()->addWidget(std::make_unique<Wt::WText>("Hello, world!"));        root()->addWidget(std::make_unique<Wt::WBreak>());        root()->addWidget(std::make_unique<Wt::WText>("This is a C++ web application."));    }};

int main(int argc, char **argv) {    return Wt::WRun(argc, argv, [](const Wt::WEnvironment& env) {        return std::make_unique<HelloApp>(env);    });}

2. Drogon — Modern and Fast

Drogon is one of the most popular modern C++ web frameworks. It is focused on high performance, asynchronicity, and simplicity. It is great for REST APIs and microservices.

Key Features:

Asynchronous non-blocking architecture based on event loop
Built-in support for JSON, WebSocket, ORM (Drogon ORM)
Automatic code generation from OpenAPI specifications
High speed (one of the leaders in benchmarks)

Example of a REST API on Drogon:

#include <drogon/drogon.h>

int main() {    drogon::app()        .registerHandler("/hello", [](const drogon::HttpRequestPtr& req,                                      std::function<void (const drogon::HttpResponsePtr&)> callback) {            Json::Value json;            json["message"] = "Hello from C++!";            auto resp = drogon::HttpResponse::newHttpJsonResponse(json);            callback(resp);        })        .addListener("0.0.0.0", 8080)        .run();    return 0;}

3. CppCMS — A Legend of High-Load Systems

CppCMS is a framework created specifically for extremely high loads. It does not use template engines in the classic sense, but generates HTML directly from C++ code, which provides maximum speed.

Key Features: