Jeffrey Erickson | Content Strategist | June 26, 2024
A developer can choose from many combinations of technologies and programming languages to build an application. Decision points are based on which database, web server, and front-end framework may best meet the requirements of the application and the capabilities of the team. The combination chosen becomes the tech “stack” on which an application is built.
Two of today’s most popular tech stacks are the MEAN stack and the MERN stack. Both are solid choices for building dynamically updatable web and mobile apps, and, as you might deduce from their names, they have many things in common. But there are key differences that can entice a developer to choose one over the other.
The MEAN stack is a combination of open source technologies that are commonly used together for building dynamic web or mobile applications. The technologies are MongoDB, Express, Angular, and Node.js. All these are JavaScript-based or, in the case of MongoDB, work seamlessly with JavaScript technologies.
Like the MEAN stack, the MERN stack is a group of open source technologies used to build web and mobile applications. It also uses JavaScript for its primary programming language and consists of MongoDB, Express, React, and Node.js. This stack has grown in popularity in recent years.
What has helped the MEAN stack gain new followers in recent years? A few key features appeal to today’s developers. Among the most popular are the following:
Developers like the MERN stack because, like the MEAN stack, it offers an efficient way to build web applications. Furthermore, the MERN stack is known for its flexibility and scalability. Other features prized by developers include the following:
The MEAN stack offers a range of benefits, such as flexibility, efficiency, and consistency, across the entire development process. It also allows for the use of JavaScript throughout the entire stack. However, drawbacks include a steep learning curve for beginners and potential security vulnerabilities.
When deciding which stack to use, consider these factors.
The MERN stack has both pros and cons. Advantages include its flexibility and scalability and a large community of developers. However, the requirement for JavaScript fluency can be challenging for those unfamiliar with the language.
When deciding whether the MERN stack is right for you, consider these factors.
The key difference between the MERN stack and the MEAN stack is that in the former, React is used as the front-end framework, while MEAN uses Angular. Although Angular and React are both popular front-end technologies, they have some key architectural differences. Angular is a full-featured framework that follows the model-view-controller (MVC) architectural pattern, while React is a JavaScript library that focuses on the view component only. This means Angular provides a more set structure and includes many built-in features, while React allows for more flexibility and component-based development.
Another difference is the learning curve. Angular has a large and complex API, while React has a simpler API and can be picked up easily by developers who are familiar with JavaScript.
Performance is also a differentiating factor. React uses a virtual DOM, or a document object model, which allows it to efficiently update and render only the components that have changed. This results in faster performance compared with Angular.
Finally, Angular has a larger and more mature community versus React’s fast-growing and vibrant community. Both have a wide range of open source libraries and packages available for integration.
MERN Stack vs. MEAN Stack: Feature Comparison
Feature | MEAN stack | MERN stack |
---|---|---|
Front-end framework | Angular A full JavaScript framework for front-end development. |
React A JavaScript library used to create user interfaces. |
Common use case | Enterprise-level applications The Angular framework helps larger teams with code consistency and maintenance. |
Smaller applications React’s component library and UI layer abstraction make app building fast and simple. |
Skills acquisition | Steeper Angular’s framework, once mastered, can simplify the building of complex and interactive user interfaces. |
Easier React’s extensive component library allows developers to assemble apps in less time. |
A development team weighs a host of factors when choosing a tech stack. Questions to consider include
Did you know you can easily use Oracle Database in place of MongoDB in your MERN and MEAN stack? Oracle Database 23ai has MongoDB APIs, so it can sub in for MongoDB along with the other JavaScript components. This is a seamless replacement.
Another alternative to MERN is using JavaScript APIs built using Node.js with Express as the back-end platform and supporting React or Flutter as the front end. Developers can use the platform to build both web and mobile applications. These APIs work with Oracle Database 19c and with 23ai using an Oracle Database adapter for Parse Platform. Parse Platform is integrated in Oracle Backend for Spring Boot and Microservices. Now you can use a Kubernetes-based back-end platform to run both Spring Boot and microservices as well as JavaScript full-stack applications, bringing DevOps and DataOps together.
The twin open source, full-stack development platforms of MEAN and MERN remain extremely popular for building dynamic web and mobile applications. Both are JavaScript-based and composed of dominant open source technologies in the database, app server, and front-end frameworks—and they enjoy large and enthusiastic community support. Development teams should weigh the scale, cost, and complexity of their projects as well as their current skill sets to determine which of these is the right choice.
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Which is better, MEAN or MERN?
Whether MEAN or MERN is better depends on your project requirements, development team skill set, and preferred technology ecosystem. MEAN is a more established and widely used technology stack, with Angular offering a robust front-end framework. However, MERN is gaining popularity due to the flexibility and efficiency of React for building user interfaces.
What’s the difference between MERN and MEAN in 2024?
In 2024, the main difference between MERN and MEAN is that the popularity of MERN is on the upswing. From a technology point of view, MERN uses React for its front-end framework, while MEAN uses Angular. That has earned MERN more traction and usage compared with MEAN because React is seen as a powerful JavaScript library for building user interfaces, while Angular has experienced some decline in popularity. On the other hand, Angular has a larger and more mature user community versus React.
Is MERN outdated?
No, MERN—the stack comprised of MongoDB, Express, React, and Node.js—isn’t outdated. In fact, it’s a popular and widely used set of technologies for developing full-stack web applications. React is one of the most widely adopted JavaScript libraries for building user interfaces, and there’s a vibrant user community offering documentation, support, and a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing among developers.