What is a face-frame cabinet?

Face frame refers to the construction method to build the front of the cabinet face. A common "site built" method uses plywood , cut out for the doors/drawers and what is left is your "face frame" and the cut outs are bordered with lip moulding and become the doors and drawers. A "face frame" cabinet uses solid wood ripped, to make the frame. Typical fastening method will be dowels or nowadays pocket screws are used quite a bit.