A framework is a software infrastructure that provides pre-made code and tools to speed up the process of developing a particular application.

Although it is not mandatory to use a framework, it saves time and ensures that the structure is preserved, especially in large projects. Development can be done without using a framework in small projects.

Frameworks speed up the development process, facilitate code reuse, offer ready-made solutions in areas such as security and performance, and provide developers with an organized structure.