ATS Keywords for
Frontend Developers
Frontend requisitions are unusually keyword-dense: a single posting can name a framework, a state library, a CSS approach, a testing tool and an accessibility standard. That density cuts both ways. It means an applicant tracking system has many strings to match against, and it means a CV that says "built the user interface" matches almost none of them. The list below covers what frontend postings actually ask for, including the two categories candidates most often omit — accessibility and performance.
14 ATS keywords for Frontend Developer CVs
What each term signals to the system reading your CV.
React / Vue / Angular
The single highest-weighted term in most frontend requisitions; frameworks are not interchangeable to a matcher.
TypeScript
Now a default requirement on senior frontend postings rather than a nice-to-have.
JavaScript (ES6+)
Some systems screen for the base language separately from the framework.
HTML5 / CSS3
Looks basic, but remains an explicit line on a large share of postings, especially agency roles.
Responsive design
The phrase recruiters search for when the product has to work on mobile.
Web accessibility (WCAG, ARIA)
A hard compliance requirement in public-sector and enterprise postings, and rarely on candidate CVs.
State management (Redux, Zustand)
Signals you have worked on an app large enough to need it.
Next.js
SSR/SSG experience is its own requirement, distinct from plain React.
Cross-browser compatibility
Still standard phrasing in postings from companies with a broad consumer base.
Web performance (Core Web Vitals)
Google's metric names appear verbatim in ecommerce and media requisitions.
REST / GraphQL
How you consume data is a named requirement, and GraphQL will not match a CV that only says REST.
Component library / design system
Indicates you can work within design constraints rather than improvising per screen.
Jest / Cypress / Playwright
Frontend testing tools are named individually — the category word "testing" matches none of them.
Figma
Designer handoff is an explicit responsibility on most product-team frontend roles.
How to use this list
- Lead with the framework the posting names. If it says Vue and your CV opens with React, the match is weak even when your skills transfer.
- Add an accessibility line if you have any: it is a common requirement and an uncommon CV entry, so it differentiates cheaply.
- Quantify performance work with the metric the industry uses — LCP, bundle size in kB — rather than "made the site faster".
- Keep a portfolio URL in the contact block, but repeat the stack of each project in text so it is parseable.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before you upload.
Does a portfolio site replace CV keywords?
No. An applicant tracking system parses the file you upload, not the sites you link to. A stunning portfolio behind a keyword-thin CV often never gets opened, because the filter runs first.
Should I list both React and Angular if I know both?
Yes, if you genuinely do — they are matched as separate strings and there is no penalty for breadth in frontend. Order them by relevance to the posting you are sending it to.
How do I handle a CSS framework the job does not mention?
Keep it in your skills list but do not give it prominence. It costs one line, occasionally matches a posting you did not tailor for, and does not dilute the terms that matter.
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