Understanding MEAN Stack: What It Is and Is Not

The goal of this article is to explain the components and foundation of MEAN stack development — what it is and what it is not.

Before we define the MEAN stack development environment, let’s talk about what it is not.

What MEAN Stack Development Is NOT

MEAN Stack Development Is Not Full Stack Development

Full stack software developers utilize a full suite of tools and components, including HTML, CSS, PHP, ASP, Node.js, Python, JavaScript, Vue, and AngularJS. They also leverage databases, including SQLite, MongoDB, and MySQL, as well as front-end technologies like HTML, Bootstrap, XML, jQuery, JavaScript, CSS, and GraphQL. On the back end, they may use frameworks like Node.js, Java, C, PHP, and Firebase.

By choosing from and working with a myriad of tools and techniques, they build a custom stack to leverage in the development environment. What is a full stack developer? A full stack developer must have experience with all of these tools. The full stack approach allows enterprises to customize but requires:

• Full stack application developers with skills in all relevant tools and techniques
• The time and budget to complete a more complex development project
• A roadmap and process to ensure appropriate and timely upgrades and bug fixes

MEAN Stack Development Is Not MERN Stack Development

MERN stack is comprised of MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js. These technologies are combined to accommodate front-end and back-end web development. MongoDB provides the database foundation, Express.js is a JavaScript framework for the server, React.js is a JavaScript library to build the user interface, and Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment to execute the code. MERN is open-source and supports mobile applications.

“Because MEAN stack checks all the boxes for cross-platform database management, hybrid mobile application development, and web application development, server framework and management, and support for front-end and back-end, the business can count on rapid development and a resulting solution that will meet requirements and be easy and cost-effective to maintain and support.”

What MEAN Stack Development IS

Now that we understand what MEAN stack is not, let’s look at the MEAN stack development environment. What is MEAN stack?

MEAN stack development is comprised of four components:

• MongoDB as a database
• Express.js as a JavaScript framework for the server
• Angular for the user interface
• Node.js as a JavaScript runtime environment

The MEAN stack framework includes these four components, providing a foundation to support the comprehensive nature of this software development approach. Using MEAN stack application development tools, developers can create simple, intuitive, open-source solutions that are easy to maintain and upgrade.

Detailed Explanation of MEAN Stack Components

MongoDB

MongoDB is a NoSQL, scalable, flexible database. It is a distributed, document-based database suitable for most general purposes. It is designed for modern application development and the cloud. MongoDB allows businesses to filter and sort by fields — even those nested within a document — and provides support for aggregation, geo-based, text, and graph searches.

Express.js

Express.js enables large-scale web and mobile applications using a microservices architecture. Express is a flexible Node.js web application framework with support for both web and mobile applications. It is open-source and easily accessible, offering a library of numerous plugins. It acts as the back end of the MEAN stack, working in concert with MongoDB and a JavaScript front-end library or framework.

AngularJS

AngularJS is a rich, popular framework with powerful tools for cross-platform application development. The AngularJS open-source front-end web framework leverages JavaScript development and is used as the front-end for the MEAN stack or with other programming languages and frameworks. It simplifies development and testing using client-side Model-View-Controller (MVC) and Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) architectures.

Node.js

Node.js streamlines server-side scripting for fast, scalable processing. Node.js is open-source and cross-platform, providing a back-end runtime environment that executes JavaScript outside a web browser. It enables developers to run JavaScript everywhere and is designed to build scalable network applications.

Benefits of MEAN Stack Architecture

MEAN stack architecture design and application development bring together the four components to support both the server-side and client-side environment, including a web application presentation layer.

MEAN stack can produce best-in-class, high-performing, and scalable web and mobile applications. It provides good productivity and helps to manage and render code. Developers and clients like the MEAN stack approach because it is scalable, uses JavaScript across the entire application, and ensures consistent, reusable code. Because it is open-source, MEAN enjoys a large community of developer support and is continuously updated and maintained.

Because MEAN stack checks all the boxes for cross-platform database management, hybrid mobile application development, web application development, server framework and management, and support for front-end and back-end, businesses can count on rapid development and a resulting solution that will meet requirements and be easy and cost-effective to maintain and support.

What Is a MEAN Stack Developer?

A MEAN stack developer has experience using all four components of the MEAN stack and, ideally, has worked on numerous MEAN stack projects, utilizing libraries, tools, and techniques to achieve success.

“MEAN stack development is comprised of four components: MongoDB as a database, Express.js as a JavaScript framework for the server, Angular for the user interface, and Node.js as a JavaScript runtime environment.”

Conclusion

MEAN stack development provides a comprehensive, scalable, and efficient approach to application development by leveraging a single language across the database, server, and client sides. With MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, and Node.js forming a unified architecture, businesses can achieve rapid development cycles, consistent codebases, and solutions that are easy to maintain and support.

By understanding what MEAN stack development is — and what it is not — organizations can make informed decisions when selecting the right development environment for their needs. With its open-source foundation, strong community support, and proven capabilities for cross-platform and hybrid development, MEAN stack remains a robust and effective choice for modern web and mobile application projects.