What is MERN?
React — Frontend Library
At the forefront of the MERN stack is React, a JavaScript library for building user interfaces. React enables developers to create reusable UI components, making it easier to manage and update the user interface efficiently. This component-based approach enhances code maintainability and scalability, crucial aspects of any robust front-end architecture.
Node.js + Express — Backend API
On the server side, we have Node.js, a JavaScript runtime, and Express.js, a web application framework for Node.js. Together, they form the backend of the MERN stack. Node.js allows developers to use JavaScript on the server side, unifying the language used across the entire application. Express.js simplifies the creation of robust APIs, making it easier to handle HTTP requests, define routes, and interact with databases.
MongoDB — NoSQL Database
MongoDB serves as the database layer in the MERN stack, offering a flexible and scalable NoSQL solution. Its document-oriented data model allows developers to store and retrieve data in a JSON-like format. This flexibility is particularly advantageous when dealing with varying data structures, providing a more dynamic and agile approach to database management.
How it works
Now, let’s explore how these components work together to create a cohesive full-stack application:
How MERN stack work
Now, let’s explore how these components work together to create a cohesive full-stack application:
Frontend (React)
1.The user interacts with the website through a browser. React, functioning as the frontend library, runs directly on the browser, powering the website.
2.The React application runs in the user’s browser, rendering the user interface and managing the client-side logic.
3.React handles routing within the browser, ensuring a seamless navigation experience as users interact with different pages of the website.
4.To display data or authenticate users, the frontend initiates a request to the backend.
Frontend (React)
1.The user interacts with the website through a browser. React, functioning as the frontend library, runs directly on the browser, powering the website.
2.The React application runs in the user’s browser, rendering the user interface and managing the client-side logic.
3.React handles routing within the browser, ensuring a seamless navigation experience as users interact with different pages of the website.
4.To display data or authenticate users, the frontend initiates a request to the backend.
Backend (Node.js + Express)
1.The backend is typically an Express.js application running on a Node.js environment..
2.js simplifies API creation, providing a framework for handling HTTP requests and defining routes.
3.When the frontend needs to fetch or submit data, it sends requests to the backend API, triggering the corresponding Express.js route.
4.Once the backend retrieves the required data from the database, it sends a response back to the frontend. The React application on the frontend processes this response, dynamically rendering the data within predefined templates or components.
Database (MongoDB)
1.MongoDB stores and retrieves data based on the requests received from the backend.
2.js handles the communication between the backend and MongoDB, performing CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations as needed.
Middleware
1.The Node.js + Express backend acts as middleware between the frontend and the database.
2.This middleware layer is crucial for security and data protection. Exposing sensitive data directly to the frontend could pose a security risk, and using middleware helps mitigate this by controlling access and handling authentication.