Selecting the best technology has proven to be a difficult and time-consuming process in web app development. It might be difficult for CTOs and business owners to sift through many technologies and select the best one. But recently, several pre-made tech stacks have emerged, changing the game.
MERN stack development is one of those cutting-edge tech stacks that has provided CTOs and business owners with new possibilities. Using this JavaScript-based tech stack, businesses may develop dependable web apps. It helps with both the front-end and back-end development of a web application.
This blog post will discuss the MERN stack and its advantages for web application development. A deeper understanding of this technological stack will help you make wise judgments and determine whether the project is worthwhile.
What is MERN?
MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js are among the potent technologies that make up MERN, which is utilized to create robust web applications. There is database, front-end, and back-end components to this technology. It is a collection of tools for creating dynamic, user-friendly websites and apps with full-stack Javascript frameworks. This is the main reason why startups choose it as their system.
Each of these four components offers different solutions that support the developers during custom software development. MERN is one of the variations of the MEAN stack, which is used for creating single-page applications. MERN consists of a server, client-side frameworks, and a database.
A quick overview of these components is as follows:
- MongoDB – document-oriented database
- Express.js – Node.js’s web application framework
- React.js – Client’s JavaScript library
- Node.js – JavaScript web server
How Does the MERN Stack Work?
The MERN stack is a comprehensive web development framework that integrates MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js to create powerful, full-stack JavaScript applications. But the question is how does it work? Let’s see!
- On the client side, React builds the user interface, rendering dynamic components and managing the application’s state. When a user interacts with the React front-end, it sends HTTP requests to the server. This server, powered by Node.js, runs JavaScript outside the browser, handling these incoming requests.
- Express.js, a minimal and flexible web application framework for Node.js, simplifies the creation of robust APIs, manages routing, and integrates middleware. When data operations are required, the server communicates with MongoDB, a NoSQL database that stores information in flexible, JSON-like documents. This database choice allows for scalable and efficient data management, particularly suited for applications with evolving data requirements.
- The server processes the data, then sends responses back to the React front-end, which updates the user interface accordingly. This full-stack JavaScript approach enables developers to use a single language throughout the entire application, from the browser to the server to the database, streamlining development, reducing context-switching, and potentially speeding up the development process.
By now you must have a clear understanding of how does the MERN Stack work therefore now let’s look at its core components.
Core Components of MERN Stack
Below is a detailed description of the four core components of the MERN stack:
MongoDB:
The MongoDB MERN stack is an open-source, document-oriented, cross-platform database. It helps save data using documents and collections and stores them in binary JSON format. It facilitates a fast exchange of information between the server and the client. Most companies also use it to store massive amounts of data, hence offering a scalability option.
It is a NoSQL database with optional JSON document schemas. Data manipulation is made simple by MongoDB’s document model, which specifies objects in code. The features of MongoDB include global dispersion, management tools, cloud-native observability, high dependability, and horizontal scalability.
Express.js:
Express.js is the server-side component of the MERN stack and plays a vital role. It is a back-end framework that simplifies the server-side scripting while offering various middleware options. This component helps set APIs, manage HTTPs requests, and handle routing. The main advantages of the MERN stack that make it so valuable for developers are its simplicity and performance.
React.js:
An open-source JavaScript package called React.js is used to construct user interfaces, or UIs, for single-page online apps. It lets you create UI components and write JavaScript code. The JS library uses virtual DOM for all of its operations. It also supports reusable components; hence, your developers won’t have to rewrite the codes and can use existing ones to create complex applications.
Node.js:
An open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment is the Node.js MERN stack. On the server side, it executes JavaScript code independently of the browser. JavaScript enables developers to create server-side apps that provide code separation between the front and back ends.
It functions as the back-end part of the MERN stack developer. Node.js offers a highly adaptable and practical occasion-driven, non-hindering I/O mechanism. Integrating with various advancements and libraries is a breeze because of Node.js’s fantastic module and bundle ecosystem.
Benefits of MERN Stack Development
There are several ways through which the MERN stack can benefit CTOs and other business owners. Let’s have a look at them:
Versatile Code:
React-based scripts may be used and applied to servers and browsers alike. As a result, MERN provides developers the liberty and adaptability to add pages to servers at any time or place.
Reusable Codes:
MERN technologies enable the creation of web applications with reusable and replaceable components. Code from one project may, therefore, be utilized on several platforms. With this production-approved reusable component, web apps can be developed quickly and effectively, guaranteeing the quickest possible turnaround time for the finished product.
MVC Design for Smooth Development:
The Model-View-Controller (MVC) design is embraced by the MERN Stack, which makes it easier to divide the display, business logic, and data layers. This modular design facilitates a more efficient development process by improving the maintainability and organization of the code.
Easy to Learn:
As a CTO, you would want to adapt to technologies your existing team members can quickly learn and work with. MERN stack is one that anyone with JavaScript knowledge and expertise can understand. If your programmers are also JavaScript experts, they can quickly become full-stack developers.
Full Stack Solution:
MERN allows businesses to create a completed web application without additional tools or technology. Hence, it means that with one stack, your developers can build the back and front end of the application.
Large Community:
The well-known open-source MERN stack framework gives developers access to a vibrant and encouraging community for information exchange, problem-solving, and ongoing education. Your business can have significant cost savings since developers can solve most of their doubts and issues by consulting with fellow MERN developers within the community.
Great for Scalability:
It is also perfect for creating scalable and interactive user interfaces. Because of this, it’s a fantastic option for building applications that need to manage high traffic levels and quick expansion. MongoDB, a document-oriented database renowned for its speed and effectiveness in data storage and retrieval operations, is mainly responsible for this scalability.
Deployment and Mitigation Options:
The MERN stack supports numerous platforms and deployment options, including cloud-based environments. This flexibility lets developers choose the cloud platform that best fits their requirements. Furthermore, the MERN stack offers a uniform development environment on several platforms.
This makes it possible to migrate apps between platforms—for instance, from Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to Amazon Web Services (AWS)—without making significant changes to the code. Regardless of the underlying platform, this portability helps maintain uniformity in design and functionality while saving considerable time and work.
Drawbacks of MERN Stack Development
The absence of support for traditional SQL methods:
For certain types of applications that rely on complex SQL queries, MongoDB, being a NoSQL database, may not be the most suitable choice.
Large size of the bundle:
React and Node.js have a bundle size that can be quite large, potentially causing slower load times for the user if not optimized correctly. However, there are several strategies to mitigate this:
- Code splitting and lazy loading in React
- Tree shaking to eliminate unused code
- Implementing server-side rendering
- Optimizing assets and using compression techniques
A complicated setup:
The setup process for the MERN stack can be quite complex and time-consuming, involving the configuration of multiple technologies. However, this complexity offers flexibility and scalability. To simplify the process:
- Use boilerplate templates or generators
- Leverage tools like Create React App for the front-end
- Utilize containerization with Docker for consistent environments
- Follow well-documented tutorials and best practices
Closing Thoughts
Your chosen technology stack determines your web application’s stability, security, and maintainability level. Among the most potent contemporary tech stacks, MERN offers superior features and advantages. It assists you in creating reliable apps with state-of-the-art features and capabilities.
Not only can you use it to create web-based applications, but MERN can also be used to create successful mobile app development software. Even if mobile applications are not your priority, you will need them when scaling your organization. Therefore, being a CTO, you must look for technologies that serve more than one purpose, and MERN is one of them.
