The MEAN stack is a powerful and popular technology stack used for developing dynamic web applications. It comprises four key technologies: MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, and Node.js. Each of these components plays a specific role in the full stack web development process, working together to create robust and scalable web applications. This stack leads to faster development as well as the deployment of the Web Application. Angular is a Frontend Development Framework whereas Node.js, Express, and MongoDB are used for Backend development as shown in the below figure.

1. Introduction to MEAN Stack:
What it is and How it Works

2. The MEAN stack is a powerful and popular technology stack used for
developing dynamic web applications. It comprises four key technologies:
MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, and Node.js. Each of these components plays
a specific role in the full stack web development process, working together to
create robust and scalable web applications.
This stack leads to faster development as well as the deployment of the Web
Application. Angular is a Front End Development Framework whereas
Node.js, Express, and MongoDB are used for Backend development as
shown in the below figure.
This article will provide a detailed introduction to the MEAN stack, explaining
what it is and how it works.
Introduction

3. The MEAN stack is a collection of JavaScript-based technologies used for
developing full-stack web applications. MEAN stack is a fusion of four key
technologies that develop the layers of the stack. These include MongoDB,
Express, Angular, and Node and MEAN stack is an abbreviated form of these
constituents.The acronym MEAN stands for:
MongoDB: A NoSQL database that stores data in JSON-like documents.
Express.js: A web application framework for Node.js, designed to build web
applications and APIs.
Angular: A front-end web application framework developed by Google, used
to build dynamic single-page applications (SPAs).
Node.js: A JavaScript runtime that allows server-side execution of JavaScript
code.
What is the MEAN Stack?

4. The MEAN stack operates as an integrated system, with each
component playing a distinct role in the development process.
Here's a detailed look at how each part of the MEAN stack works:
It uses object-oriented organization instead of a relational model. In
the MEAN stack, MongoDB stores the application's data. Because
both the application and the database use JavaScript, there's no
need to translate the object as it journeys from the application to the
database and back.
How the MEAN Stack Works

5. 1. MongoDB (Database)
MongoDB is a NoSQL database known for its flexibility and scalability. It stores
data in a binary-encoded JSON format called BSON (Binary JSON), which allows
for dynamic schema design. This flexibility means that data structures can evolve
over time without requiring major changes to the database schema. MongoDB
document-oriented storage format aligns well with JavaScript objects, making it a
natural fit for applications built using the MEAN stack.
Key Features:
Schema-less: Flexible data models without predefined schemas.
Scalability: Easily scales horizontally by adding more servers.
High Performance: Optimized for read and write operations, making it suitable for
applications with large volumes of data.

6. 2. Express.js (Backend Framework)
Express.js is a minimal and flexible Node.js web application development
framework that provides a robust set of features for web and mobile applications.
It simplifies the development of server-side applications by providing a set of tools
and middleware for handling HTTP requests, routing, and other web application
functionalities.
Key Features:
Middleware: Functions that process requests between the server and the client,
such as authentication and logging.
Routing: Defines how an application responds to client requests to specific
endpoints.
Scalability: Efficiently manages server-side logic and can handle multiple requests
simultaneously.

7. 3. Angular (Frontend Framework)
Angular is a comprehensive front-end framework maintained by Google, used to
build dynamic and interactive single-page applications (SPAs). It extends HTML
with additional features, allowing developers to create complex user interfaces
with ease. Angular uses a component-based architecture, where the application is
divided into reusable components, each encapsulating its own logic and view.
Key Features:
Two-Way Data Binding: Automatically synchronizes data between the model and
the view, simplifying the development process.
Component-Based Architecture: Encourages modular development and code
reuse.
Dependency Injection: Improves the testability and reusability of code by allowing
dependencies to be injected into components.

8. 4. Node.js (Runtime Environment)
Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. It allows
developers to execute JavaScript code on the server side, enabling the
development of full-stack applications using a single programming language.
Node.js uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model, which makes it lightweight
and efficient, particularly suitable for real-time applications.
Key Features:
Event-Driven Architecture: Handles multiple connections concurrently, making it
ideal for I/O-heavy applications.
Non-Blocking I/O: Executes operations asynchronously, improving performance
and scalability.
NPM (Node Package Manager): A vast ecosystem of open-source libraries and
tools that can be easily integrated into applications.

9. How MEAN Stack Components Work Together
The MEAN stack components are designed to work seamlessly together, providing a
unified development environment. Here's how they integrate to form a complete web
application:
Client-Side (Angular): The application starts with Angular, where the user interface
and client-side logic are developed. Angular communicates with the backend via
HTTP requests to retrieve or send data.
Server-Side (Express.js and Node.js): When Angular makes a request, it is
handled by Express.js, which runs on Node.js. Express.js processes the request,
interacts with the database if needed, and sends back the appropriate response.
Database (MongoDB): If the request involves data retrieval or storage, Express.js
communicates with MongoDB. MongoDB stores the data in a JSON-like format,
making it easy to manipulate and query using JavaScript.

10. Advantages of the MEAN Stack
The MEAN stack offers several advantages that make it a preferred choice for
many developers:
Single Language Development: Using JavaScript for both client-side and server-
side development streamlines the development process and enhances
productivity.
Scalability: MongoDB and Node.js provide excellent scalability options for
handling large-scale applications.
Performance: The non-blocking architecture of Node.js ensures high
performance and efficient resource utilization.
Rich Ecosystem: A vast ecosystem of libraries and tools available through NPM
simplifies development and enhances functionality.

11. Conclusion
The MEAN stack is a comprehensive and cohesive technology stack
that empowers developers to build dynamic, high-performance web
applications. By leveraging the strengths of MongoDB, Express.js,
Angular, and Node.js, developers can create full-stack applications
using a single programming language, JavaScript. The seamless
integration of these components ensures efficient development,
scalability, and maintainability, by the mean stack development
companies for the popular choice for modern web development.