MEAN Stack and MERN Stack Differences

In the world of web development, full-stack frameworks have gained significant popularity due to their ability to streamline the development process and enhance productivity. MEAN Stack and MERN Stack are two prominent frameworks that have emerged as go-to choices for building robust and scalable web applications. Voypost has been working with these technologies, and with their help, we’ve successfully released dozens of projects.

Hence, in this article, we will delve into the differences between MEAN Stack and MERN Stack. Our aim is to shed light on their unique characteristics and help you make an informed decision for your next web development project.

MEAN Stack

First of all, MEAN Stack is an acronym. Under its umbrella are the following technologies: MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, and Node.js. Each component in the stack represents a different layer of the application development process. Let’s get to it in more detail.

1. MongoDB is a popular NoSQL database that stores data in a flexible, JSON-like format. Its main advantages are scalability, high performance, and the ability to handle large amounts of data. MongoDB’s document-based structure allows for easy integration with JavaScript.
2. Express.js is a lightweight and flexible web application framework for Node.js. The highlights of this framework are that it’s able to simplify the process of building server-side applications, handle routing, and middleware, and manage HTTP requests and responses. Express.js provides a robust foundation for creating RESTful APIs and handling backend logic.
3. Angular is a powerful front-end framework developed by Google. It is used for building dynamic single-page applications (SPAs). This technology offers a comprehensive set of tools and features for structuring and managing complex UI components, data binding, and handling user interactions. Angular follows the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture, promoting code reusability and maintainability.
4. Node.js is a server-side JavaScript runtime built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. It allows developers to run JavaScript code outside the browser, so it’s safe to call this tech an ideal solution for server-side scripting. Node.js provides non-blocking I/O operations, enabling highly scalable and efficient web applications.

MERN Stack

MERN Stack, likewise, is an acronym that includes MongoDB, Express.js, and Node.js as well. But instead of Angular, MERN features React technology. Similar to MEAN Stack, each component in the stack serves a specific purpose in the development process. So, opposed to MEAN Stack, components of MERN Stack have the following differences:

1. MongoDB offers scalability and high performance.
2. Express.js, being a backend web application framework, handles server-side logic, routing, and middleware functions.
3. React, developed by Facebook, is a popular front-end JavaScript library used for building user interfaces. It provides a component-based architecture, allowing developers to create reusable UI components and efficiently manage state and UI updates. It also enables efficient rendering and improves application performance.
4. Node.js, as we described earlier, acts as the server-side runtime environment, executing JavaScript code on the server.

Differences between MEAN Stack and MERN Stack

The primary difference between MEAN Stack and MERN Stack lies in the front-end frameworks used.

MEAN Stack employs Angular for building dynamic SPAs, while MERN Stack utilizes React as its front-end library. Angular, as we mentioned above, is a comprehensive framework that provides a structured approach to development, offering features like dependency injection, two-way data binding, and a robust ecosystem of libraries.

React, in turn, is a more lightweight library. It is focused on the UI layer, providing a flexible and component-based approach to building user interfaces.

Another difference is the database layer. Both MEAN Stack and MERN Stack use MongoDB, a popular NoSQL database. MongoDB’s flexible document structure allows for easy integration with JavaScript, making it suitable for both stacks.

Choosing between MEAN Stack and MERN Stack 

Here are a few factors you can consider when choosing between MEAN Stack and MERN Stack. We at Voypost picked out these factors by hand to help you figure out this complex process.

1. Assess your team’s skill set and familiarity with each technology. If your team has expertise in Angular, MEAN Stack might be the better choice. Conversely, if your team is more comfortable with React, aim your choice at MERN Stack.
2. Evaluate the specific requirements of your project. Pay special attention to real-time updates, data complexity, and user interface interactivity. MEAN Stack may be a better fit for projects that require a comprehensive framework with robust features, while MERN Stack is more suitable if your project is focused on UI development and real-time updates.
3. Both MEAN Stack and MERN Stack have vibrant communities and extensive ecosystems. So, what will shape your choice? The available libraries, resources, and community support for each stack.
4. MEAN and MERN Stacks offer scalability and performance. However, MongoDB’s flexible document structure makes it particularly well-suited for handling large amounts of data. So, the need of your project for advanced data management and scalability will influence your choice.

Ultimately, the choice between MEAN Stack and MERN Stack depends on your project’s specific needs. Carefully assess the differences between the stacks, consult with your team, and consider the unique requirements of your project to make an informed decision. We advise you to have a conversation with your technical partner as well. As a software vendor, Voypost always helps customers make these choices.