Introduction

In the rapidly growing world of web development, staying ahead of the competition can be an uphealing task. However, staying updated about the latest trends can be helpful to ace the competition. One such trend in MEAN stack development is known as MEAN Stack architecture.

This technology stack consists of MongoDB, Express.js, Angular.js, and Node.js, which offers developers a powerful toolkit for creating dynamic websites and applications.

In this article, we’ll first learn What is MEAN Stack development, how it works, and 10 Trends of MEAN Stack architecture. Let’s first begin by understanding what the MEAN stack is.

What is MEAN Stack?

Before understanding the trends of MEAN Stack architecture, it is important to understand what MEAN stack is. MEAN stack is an acronym for MongoDB, Express.js, Angular.js and Node.js. Each component plays a vital role:

• MongoDB stores your back-end application's data as JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) documents, making it a document database..
• Express.js is a back-end web application framework running on top of Node.js that makes the request-handling processes faster and more flexible.
• Angular.js is a front-end web application framework that allows you to extend HTML vocabulary for your application, thus resulting in a more expressive, readable, and quicker approach to the development environment.
• Node.js is a platform that is built on Chrome’s JavaScript runtime to easily build a faster, scalable network application.

Now, let’s understand how MEAN Stack Development works.

How does MEAN Stack Development Work?

The MEAN Stack development facilitates full-stack JavaScript development by eliminating the need to learn multiple languages more common in traditional LAMP or a .NET stack. Below is the summary of each component technology and how they are interconnected.

MongoDB

It is an open-source, non-relational database that stores a flexible JSON-like document with dynamic schemas. It is designed to scale rapidly on commodity server hardware and handle a large volume of read-heavy application data in a distributed highly-available cluster.

As a NoSQL database, MongoDB makes it easier for developers to store unstructured or nested application data without the need for complex table schemas enforced by a traditional SQL database.

Express.js

Express.js is a minimal yet very powerful server-side web application framework that runs over Node.js. It simplifies a common web development task like basic routing between application endpoints, connecting a middleware layer for requesting processing, rendering server-side templates for dynamic HTML generation, and handling cookies and sessions.

Express.js provides an MVC architectural foundation for a powerful NOde.js backend and REST API development. The simplicity yet customizability of Express.js helps MEAN stack developers craft a production-ready service.

Angular.js

Angular.js is a mature, stable client-side JavaScript framework to build a responsive UI component with dynamic data binding. It greatly simplifies web application development with a structured MVC code, a reusable component, and a two-way DOM data flow.

For MEAN Stack Development, Angular.js handles all UI rendering and user interactions, communicating with the backend Express+Node layer for data. The declarative nature of AngularJS uses a plain HTML for templates which are paired with powerful directives, thus making it easier to visualize the application UI flows.

Node.js

Node.js is a cross-platform JavaScript runtime to easily build a fast, scalable backend service. It has an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model which works fine for a real-time app that needs to handle a bunch of data and run on multiple devices.

Node.js accommodates the required level of concurrency for modern web apps through its asynchronous execution With Node.js handling a resource-intensive task outside of the browser, a client-side UI is freed up to focus purely on presentation and user experience.

In short, these technologies work together to support full-stack JavaScript development, using JSON to manage data consistently across all parts of the application. This close integration speeds up the process of building modern web applications.

Now, let’s understand a few trends of MEAN Stack Architecture

What are the 10 Trends of MEAN Stack Development?

MEAN Stack Development is an evolving technology with some exciting trends in the lineup that streamlines and enhances web application building.

Let’s understand all of them briefly.

Trend 1: Modular Architecture

MEAN Stack Developers are shifting towards a modular approach, breaking applications into smaller parts that can be managed, tested, and upgraded with ease. This method would speed up development and help the application to grow smoothly as and when the business needs to expand.

Trend 2: Hybrid Mobile Development

With an increased number of users of mobile phones, MEAN stack developers are increasingly using various frameworks like Ionic or React Native. This enables the creation of a mobile app that works across various platforms that use using same code for web applications, thus making development faster and maintenance simpler.

Trend 3: Real-time Application Development

Real-time features are now essential. MEAN stack’s use of Node.js and Socket(.)io supports live updates and interactions within apps, ideal for chat apps, notifications, or collaborative tools.

Trend 4: Full-stack JavaScript Environment

Using JavaScript from both server-side as well as client-side development would simplify the development process, as it allows the developers to use the same language throughout the application to improve efficiency and minimize errors.

Trend 5: Enhanced Cloud Integration

MEAN stack applications are increasingly integrating with cloud platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Node.js’s compatibility with these platforms will enhance the app's performance and scalability when reducing costs.

Trend 6: Performance Optimization

There is a very strong focus on making apps run faster and smoother. Developers use server-side rendering and advanced caching techniques to boost speed and improve user experience, which is crucial to keep users satisfied and improve SEO..

Trend 7: Security Enhancements

As web apps are more complex, security is also becoming crucial. A MEAN stack developer incorporates an advanced security measure like JSON Web Token and an OAuth to ensure safer data transmission and authentication.

Trend 8: Progressive Web Applications

MEAN stack, specifically Angular, is being used to build PWAs that offer a higher-quality user experience with varied features like offline use and background updates.

Trend 9: AI and Machine Learning Integration

AI and machine learning are becoming an important part of any MEAN Stack development, thus allowing for more intelligent and interactive applications. This includes personalized content and advanced data analytics.

Trend 10: GraphQL over REST API

GraphQL is replacing the REST API for many developers because it allows clients to precisely define what data they need, which enhances performance and efficiency.

How can Acquaint Softtech help you in building a Flexible MEAN Stack Architecture

Acquaint Softtech is an Indian company specializing in software development and IT staff augmentation company. We primarily use the Laravel framework for web development, offering custom solutions tailored to clients' needs. We can help you hire mean stack developers that are available at $15 per hour, with an onboarding process that can bring developers on board in just 48 hours. We're expanding into MEAN Stack Development, inviting clients to hire from our skilled team for innovative and efficient projects.

Wrapping Up!

A MEAN stack Development is not just about keeping up but it is also about pushing forward with innovations that improve the scalability, performance, and user experience of a web app. From adopting a modular structure to integrating cutting-edge technology, MEAN stack has become a top choice for remote developers who aim to build a dynamic and efficient web application.

These trends show how flexible and powerful a MEAN stack continues to be in addressing the modern-day needs of web development by using its four elements, i.e. MongoDB, Express.js, Angular.js, and Node.js.