Introduction to MEAN Stack: What is MEAN Stack and Other Questions

Technologies are constantly evolving. Earlier restricted to desktops, modern-day applications can be run directly from the cloud, and people are no longer restricted to using a single device for daily activities. Hence businesses are also investing in developing their own web-based applications for multiple devices. To create functional and practical web applications, different software development companies opt for technology stacks based on different Javascript flavors. One of the most popular and preferred technology stacks is the MEAN stack, and this article will serve as an introduction to the MEAN Stack.

What is a MEAN Stack?

The MEAN stack is a JavaScript-based framework for developing web applications. The term MEAN is an acronym for the different components in the stack, namely: MongoDB, Express, Angular, and Node.

• MongoDB – Database Management
• Express js – Web framework for Node.js
• Angular js – Client-side JavaScript framework
• Node js – Server-side JavaScript web environment

By replacing Angular.Js with React.js, you get a completely new technology stack called the MERN stack. You can learn more differences about MERN V/s MEAN technology stacks here.

Different Components in MEAN Technology Stack

Let’s learn more about how the different Javascript frameworks work together in the MEAN stack.

MongoDB is a schemaless NoSQL database system. Using MongoDB, the developer can save the data in binary JSON format, making it easier to pass data between client and server.

Express is a framework for developing web applications in Node.js. It has a lot of powerful tools for creating single-page and multi-page web apps.

Google’s Angular framework is a JavaScript framework. It has impressive features, such as two-way data binding. It’s a one-stop framework for front-end development that’s both fast and beautiful.

Node is a JavaScript execution environment that runs on the server. It’s a platform based on the V8 JavaScript engine in Google Chrome. It aids in the rapid development of highly scalable and concurrent applications.

Benefits of Each Component in the MEAN Technology Stack

MongoDB

Below are a few reasons why one should start using MongoDB:

• MongoDB is a NoSQL database, which means that instead of storing data in a relational style, it saves them in binary JSON format documents. MongoDB’s flexibility and adaptability to real-world business scenarios and requirements are due to this capability.
• MongoDB produces indexes to speed up search results. In a MongoDB document, indexing may be applied to any field.
• MongoDB enables the idea of sharding, or horizontal scaling, by separating data across several instances. Even if there is a hardware failure, MongoDB can balance the load and/or replicate the data to keep the system functioning.

Express.JS

• Easy to learn for developers familiar with Javascript
• An ultra-fast I/O
• Asynchronous and single-threaded.
• It has an MVC (Model–View–Controller) like structure.
• Express has many robust APIs that make routing easy.
• Easy to configure and customize.

Angular.JS

• High Performance
• Supports Single Page Applications
• Handles Dependencies using the in-built dependency injection system
• A combination of MVC(Model-View-Controller) and MVVM(Model-View-ViewModel) reduces line coding
• Supports Parallel Development
• Angular js guides developers through the entire journey of building an app, including designing the UI, writing the business logic, testing, etc.
• Extends HTML support by adding tags, attributes, and expressions.
• It allows easy event handling and also supports data binding.
• Built-in support for AJAX, HTTP, and Observables
• Large community support.
• Codes are cleaner and crisp; it is also good at error handling.

Node.JS

• Easy to Scale
• Allows High-Quality streaming
• Wide community support
• Quicker Responses
• Multiple Technology Friendly
• Shallow Low Learning Curve
• Faster Web App Development

How does the MEAN stack work?

Being a web-based application, MEAN stack works as the data channel between the client-side browser and the server-end. Whenever the client performs a task like putting in credentials or adding an entry into a form field or storing a file on the server, the browser uses MEAN stack to communicate with the server. Angular is the frontend framework that accepts the request and forwards it to Node. Node uses Express to parse the request and convert it a format that MongoDB understands. MongoDB identifies the request and pulls/pushes (depending on the request type) the data to a specified location.

When fetching data, MongoDB returns the data to Node via Express. The Node passes the requested data to the user using Angular frontend. Angular displays the requested data on the browser. The overall interaction can be summarized in the following way.