Do you have to face the difficulty in understanding which technology to choose for your web development idea? Are you thrown technical jargons by the development companies which makes no sense? This comparative study of the two most prominent technology stacks for web app development i.e. MEAN and MERN, will give you a basic understanding on which is best for your web development idea.
Readers might find many articles and notes about the topic online but, not all are written to give an actual crux of the technologies and what to choose. This guide is a no-fluff and no-nonsense piece aimed to provide a brief but, clear idea about both the tech-stacks enabling the readers with knowledge to converse with respective development teams.
To understand the technology stacks, let us quickly understand what does STACK actually means in tech world.
Table Of Contents
- [What is a Stack?](#Healthcareapps)
- [What is MEAN Stack?](#TelehealthApps)
- [Pros and Cons of using MEAN Stack](#TelehealthZocdoc)
- [What is MERN Stack?](#telehealthfeatures)
- [Pros and Cons of MERN Stack](#costdeveloping)
- [Quick comparison between MEAN and MERN](#DevelopmentTechnology)
- [What to choose: MEAN or MERN?](#ChooseFlutter)
- [Conclusion](#Conclusion)
What is a Stack?
An abstract combination of tools and technologies that developers use to build and run web based apps is called a Stack. Typically, a web based app development includes four components viz.
- Frontend [ End user facing interface ]
- Server-side [ Server-based processing logic ]
- Database [ Data storage and querying ]
- Backend Framework [ Building backend and APIs ]
Each of these components have various technologies which and can be used in various combinations as it suits the web app idea. Understand in detail about all the tech-stacks in detail with Nimblechapps.
Two such tech-stacks that have gained prominence in recent times are MEAN and MERN. Let’s bifurcate both and fit the technologies in the above mentioned four components.
TYPE
MEAN
**Database**
MongoDB
**Backend Framework**
ExpressJS
**Frontend**
AngularJS
**Server-side**
NodeJS
TYPE
MERN
**Database**
MongoDB
**Backend Framework**
ExpressJS
**Frontend**
ReactJS
**Server-side**
NodeJS
**
Let us understand both into a bit more detail.
What is MEAN Stack?
MEAN stack comprises of combination of the open source technologies which are used for creating scalable and dynamic web based applications. It is an acronym for MongoDB, ExpressJS, AngularJS, and NodeJS. A MEAN-stack developer falls under the broad category of Full-stack developer. The term ‘ MEAN-stack developer ‘ means a person who is capable of handling the MEAN-stack development of entire web application be it frontend development, server processing logic, and database management, single-handedly.
Components of MEAN stack:
MongoDB
A NoSQL document database for storing data in JSON format.
ExpressJS
A backend framework for building APIs and web applications.
AngularJS
A frontend framework used for developing front face of the web application as seen by the end users.
NodeJS
A JavaScript runtime environment which allows running JavaScript on the server.
Pros and Cons of using MEAN Stack
Pros:
MEAN stack uses Angular for the frontend, and Node.js for the backend. Both are written in JavaScript, offering a consistent language throughout the entire stack. This consistency can simplify development, as developers can use the same language and even share code between frontend and backend components.
Angular, a key component of the MEAN stack, offers two-way data binding. This means that changes in the user interface (UI) are automatically reflected in the application's data model and vice versa. This can reduce the amount of boilerplate code needed for managing data flow between the UI and the backend.
Angular follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, providing a well-defined structure for organizing code. This can contribute to better maintainability and scalability of the codebase, especially in larger projects.
Cons:
Angular may have a steeper learning curve compared to React. Developers who are new to web development might find it initially challenging to grasp the concepts and conventions of Angular, potentially leading to a longer development time.
Angular follows a strict MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture, which can bring additional complexity to the codebase, especially in smaller projects. The framework enforces certain conventions, and some developers may find the level of structure and ceremony in Angular to be more than what is needed for simpler applications.
Angular applications tend to have a heavier initial load compared to React applications. This is because Angular includes more built-in features out of the box, contributing to a larger size.
What is MERN Stack?
Similar to MEAN, MERN is also a combination of four open source technologies which are used to create web-based applications. MERN is an acronym of MongoDB, ExpressJS, ReactJS, and NodeJS. In MERN, the frontend interfaces are developed using ReactJS instead of AngularJS in MEAN stack development.
Components of MERN stack:
MongoDB
A NoSQL database that stores data in a flexible, JSON-like format. MongoDB is known for its scalability and ability to handle large amounts of data. It is used as the backend database to store and retrieve information.
ExpressJS
A web application framework for Node.js. Express.js simplifies the process of building web applications and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) in Node.js, making it easier for developers to create robust and scalable server-side applications.
ReactJS
A JavaScript library for building user interfaces. React is developed and maintained by Facebook and is particularly well-suited for building single-page applications (SPAs) where the content dynamically updates without requiring a full page reload.
NodeJS
A JavaScript runtime that allows developers to run JavaScript on the server side. Node.js is used to execute server-side logic and handle requests and responses. It is particularly well-suited for building scalable and high-performance applications.
Pros and Cons of using MERN Stack
Pros:
React, a key component of the MERN stack, utilizes a virtual DOM (Document Object Model). The virtual DOM allows for efficient updates to the UI by minimizing direct manipulation of the actual DOM. This can result in improved performance and a better user experience, particularly in applications with dynamic and frequently changing content.
React is known for its component-based architecture, which promotes code reusability and maintainability. Developers can create modular components that encapsulate specific functionality, making it easier to manage and scale complex applications.
While not directly related to web development, React Native, which is based on React, allows developers to use their React skills to build cross-platform mobile applications. This can be an advantage for projects that require both web and mobile development.
Cons:
React, being a library rather than a full-fledged framework like Angular, provides developers with more flexibility but less built-in structure.
In some cases, setting up a React project may require more manual configuration compared to Angular, which provides a more structured and opinionated approach out of the box. This flexibility can be an advantage but might also lead to more time spent on configuration and decision-making.
React, with its component-based architecture and JSX syntax, might have a steeper learning curve for beginners compared to Angular. Developers familiar with traditional HTML and JavaScript might find React's approach unfamiliar initially.
Connect with our MEAN and MERN experts to see what is best for your idea. **Contact us **
Quick comparison between MEAN and MERN
Parameter
MEAN
MERN
Components**
MongoDB, ExpressJS, AngularJS, NodeJS
MongoDB, ExpressJS, ReactJS, NodeJS
**Description**
Full-stack JavaScript framework with Angular
Full-stack JavaScript framework with React
**Frontend**
Angular framework for building UI
React library for building UI
Usage Widely used for building SPAs and dynamic apps Preferred by developers who favour React
Performance Angular's two-way data binding may affect performance in large apps React's virtual DOM enhances performance by minimizing DOM manipulation
SEO Can enhance SEO for web applications React's server-side rendering (SSR) capabilities contribute to SEO
Native Mobile Apps Integration with Ionic or NativeScript Integration with React Native for building native mobile apps
Developer preference Suitable for developers comfortable with Angular's architecture and conventions Attracts developers who prefer React's component-based approach and ecosystem
What to choose: MEAN or MERN?
Choosing between MEAN and MERN has always been a subjective matter of discussion. While both the tech-stacks have their own pros and cons, according to Nimblechapps’ expert team of developers, there are some points which can be taken into account while choosing between MEAN and MERN.
Choose MEAN when:
You have a clear vision of your app's structure and workflow, and you want a framework that enforces certain conventions to help you maintain a consistent codebase.
Your app involves complex features on both the user interface (what users see) and the server-side (how data is processed). Angular provides an integrated solution for building both parts within a single framework.
Your team prefers having a set of pre-built components and features provided by the framework, which can save development time. Angular offers a comprehensive set of tools and components out of the box.
Choose MERN when:
Your app concept is unique, and you want the flexibility to choose and customize different tools and libraries to meet your specific needs. React's modular nature allows you to pick and choose the components you need.
Your app will have various interactive components, and you want to build them in a way that allows for easy reusability.
Your app involves dynamic updates and real-time interactions. React's use of a virtual DOM can make these updates more efficient, leading to a smoother user experience.
Conclusion
Whether it’s MEAN or MERN, choose your tech-stack wisely and after a thorough discussion with your in-house development or a web app development company. MEAN and MERN both are here to stay for long and both have their own pros and cons as we explore in the blog above. MEAN and MERN, the differentiating factor is the frontend technology where the former has AngularJS and the latter has ReactJS for creating the web based applications. Understand your audience, team’s ability, budget, and time constraints before choosing.
Nimblechapps tries to facilitate it’s readers with an in-depth analysis by various technology comparison pieces.
You can go ahead and read more about:
- [Flutter vs React Native](https://www.nimblechapps.com/blog/flutter-vs-react-native-a-comprehensive-guide-on-what-to-choose-2024)
- [Angular vs React](https://www.nimblechapps.com/blog/angular-vs-react-a-comprehensive-guide-on-what-to-choose-in-2024)