Testing MEAN Stack Applications: A Complete Guide
Today, the internet hosts millions of web applications. Some with similar features and others exhibit unique functionality In such a crowded market, it takes work to stand out. Every day, several businesses launch their projects. The only way to keep up with this speed is to hire a MEAN stack development company.
They help you meet client and server-side requirements that offer flexibility and agility Also, you can save a significant sum, as you do not need separate developers for each side.
Before you look for the best MEAN stack development in the US, know what MEAN stack developers are.
These professionals are full-stack experts with hands-on experience in JavaScript-oriented technologies such as MongoDB, Express JS, Angular JS, and Node JS. MEAN stack developers, also known as JavaScript full-stack web developers, are well-suited for crafting dynamic user interfaces and applications. They possess the necessary skills to integrate advanced features and functionalities for the front-end and back-end aspects of development.
If you are new to the MEAN stack, it is vital to understand the benefits. Therefore, you can make an informed decision that meets your needs and goals.
Why should you hire MEAN stack development services for your upcoming project?
* It is free
Since the MEAN stack consists of four open-source technologies: Express, Angular, MongoDB, and Node.JS, utilising this stack can reduce development costs. Moreover, the supportive communities behind each technology provide readily available boilerplate codes that aid in creating exceptional user interfaces.
* Easy to implement
JavaScript serves as the foundation of the MEAN stack. Thus, implementing it is a straightforward process. And developers can seamlessly execute MEAN stack applications.
* It is cost-effective
One of the prominent reasons to hire a MEAN stack development company is its affordability As a full-stack framework, you don’t have to search for multiple developers because it covers both sides of the application.
* It offers flexibility and efficiency
MEAN Stack has gained popularity because of its unmatched versatility and efficiency It means a JavaScript framework can handle your project of any size and complexity.
The ability to write a client-side and server-side app with entirely JavaScript-based code streamlines the development process.
* It delivers high performance
All the components of the MEAN stack are high-performing JavaScript technologies. Thus, your MEAN stack development company can help you create a modern and innovative application.
* It allows superior scalability
Scalability is one of the significant advantages of the MEAN stack. Each component (MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, and Node.js) can handle large amounts of data and traffic effectively.
MongoDB, a NoSQL database, can scale horizontally. It allows the distribution of data across multiple servers. Express.Js, a lightweight framework, is capable of managing a large number of requests concurrently Angular.Js has features like two-way data binding and a dependency injection system, making it an excellent choice for building scalable single-page applications.
Finally, Node.js is a highly scalable server-side runtime environment that uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model. These four technologies make the MEAN stack highly scalable, allowing it to handle increasing traffic and data loads.
* It exhibits high-end security
MEAN stack offers robust security features. Therefore, it is suitable for building high-end secure web applications. For example, MongoDB has built-in security features such as role-based access control, encryption, and authentication.
Express.Js supports HTTPS, secure cookie storage, and various authentication strategies, such as passport.js.
Angular.JS comes with default cross-site scripting (XSS) protection, which enables secure client-side validation.
Lastly, Node.js also offers several security features. These are TLS/SSL encryption, secure storage, and the ability to handle secure sockets.
Given these advantages, it is clear why there is a surge in demand for MEAN stack developers. The tech stack offers everything you need to create a modern-day, enterprise-level web application.
But to ensure your application works as expected and is free of bugs, extensive testing is essential. What is testing? It plays a vital role in developing any software application, including MEAN stack applications. If you want a successful launch, do not miss out on testing. Below, we will explore the different techniques a reliable MEAN stack development company uses for testing. First, you need to know the importance of testing.
Top reasons to consider testing in the MEAN stack development
The primary purpose of testing is to ensure your application functions well. Here are some reasons to consider testing before launching your MEAN stack application.
* Ensures functionality
Testing helps to know that the application works perfectly. With automated testing tools, developers can create test cases based on user behaviour As a result, the application behaves correctly under various conditions.
* Improves code quality
It allows your MEAN stack development company to identify defects and errors in the early stages. Thus, you can save time and money by reducing the cost of fixing bugs later in the development cycle.
* Increases reliability
A well-tested application is more reliable and less likely to crash or have other issues. It will increase user satisfaction and reduce support costs.
* Facilitates collaboration
Testing facilitates collaboration between developers, QA engineers, and other stakeholders. After all, it provides a shared understanding of the application’s behaviour and requirements.
* Enables faster development
Automated testing can speed up development by identifying issues. And the MEAN stack developers can fix them before they cause problems.
In short, testing is the best way to understand your application’s quality, reliability, and functionality Here are some techniques you may employ to test your MEAN stack application.
1. Unit testing
Unit testing focuses on testing individual code components or units. The best thing about these tests is they are written to test the smallest unit of code possible, like a function or a class. The agencies offering the best MEAN stack development services in New Jersey use tools like Mocha, Jasmine, and Karma for unit testing. Here, we will learn more about them.
* Mocha is a popular testing framework for Node.js applications that provides a simple and flexible API for creating unit tests. Developers can use it to test server-side and client-side code in a MEAN stack application.
* Karma is a test runner, which MEAN stack developers use with Mocha or Jasmine to automate the execution of unit tests in a web browser. It allows professionals to run tests in multiple browsers and provides detailed feedback on test results.
* Much like Jasmine, Mocha is a popular testing framework used for Node.js applications. It has a simple and flexible API. Thus, MEAN stack programmers can create unit tests and conduct synchronous and asynchronous testing. Mocha allows developers to write tests in a BDD (Behaviour Driven Development) or TDD (Test Driven Development) style and provides a wide range of features and options to support testing in various y problems or defects that may hinder its performance.
Your MEAN stack development company may use tools like Protractor for integration testing. It is an end-to-end testing framework for Angular applications.
Protractor uses Selenium WebDriver to simulate user interactions and test the application’s behaviour in a real browser environment. Besides the intuitive API for
creating tests, it provides built-in support for features like synchronisation, page object model, and reporting. The following are some key benefits of using a Protractor
* It offers end-to-end testing, allowing developers to test the entire application from the user’s perspective.
* Developers run tests in an actual browser environment. Hence, it offers a more accurate representation of how the application will behave for end-users.
* It supports Angular-specific features like two-way data binding, dependency injection, and directives.
* Protractor is easy to set up and configure, which allows developers to test applications quickly
2. End-to-end testing
As the name suggests, end-to-end testing focuses on testing the application as a whole. That means the developer will check the application flow from start to finish. As mentioned already, Protractor is a popular E2E testing tool. It involves the automation of testing of AngularJS web applications.
Built on WebDriverJS, a JavaScript-based API, Protractor helps in controlling browsers. It provides a high-level API for interacting with AngularJS applications, making it easy to simulate user interactions and test the complete flow of the application.
Some examples of user interactions are clicking buttons, entering text into input fields, and navigating to different pages. Thus, your MEAN stack development company can test the application quickly and reliably without manual testing.
Overall, end-to-end testing is an essential part of the software development process. After all, it ensures to meet the requirements of the users.
3. Code coverage testing
What is code coverage testing? It is a technique that measures the amount of code executed during testing. With this, developers can identify untested code and provide insight into the overall quality of the tests.
For example, Istanbul is a popular code coverage testing tool for MEAN stack applications. It offers detailed reports on the code coverage of the tests.
The best MEAN stack development company in the US uses code coverage with continuous integration testing. It is a practice where developers integrate their changes into a shared code repository and then run automated tests to detect any issues.
Jenkins is a widely used tool for continuous integration testing in MEAN stack applications. It allows developers to automate the testing process and provide feedback on code changes.
The final word
Testing is essential for any software development, including MEAN stack applications. These techniques can help ensure that the application functions as desired and is reliable and bug-free. By incorporating testing into the development cycle, developers can catch issues early and deliver a high-quality product. If you wish everything to be done right, work with an experienced MEAN stack development company
If you are searching for the best MEAN stack development services in New Jersey, SoftProdigy is your best bet. We house a team of skilled developers delivering top-notch services.