In modern web development, applications are becoming larger and more complex. While Microservices have revolutionized backend development, Micro Frontends bring similar advantages to the frontend world. This approach allows independent teams to develop, test, and deploy different parts of a web application separately, leading to better scalability and maintainability.
In this blog, we will explore what Micro Frontends are, why they are useful, how they work, and how to implement them in a project.
What is Micro Frontends Architecture?
Micro Frontends is an architectural pattern where a web application is broken down into smaller, independent frontend components or applications that can be developed, deployed, and managed separately. These micro applications are then composed together to create a seamless user experience.
Key Characteristics:
Independent Development: Different teams can work on different frontend components.
Technology Agnostic: Different parts of the frontend can be built using different frameworks (React, Angular, Vue, etc.).
Decentralized Deployment: Individual components can be updated and deployed without affecting the entire application.
Scalability: Enhances scalability by allowing independent teams to manage different parts of the frontend.
Understanding Micro Frontends with an Example
Consider a company that provides multiple applications to its customers:
ERP System: Used for managing business processes and resources.
E-commerce Admin Dashboard: Used for managing products, orders, and customers.
License Management System: Used for managing software licenses.
A single customer may use all three applications, and they share a single login application that handles authentication and user management.
Using a Micro Frontends Architecture, each of these applications can be developed independently while still being seamlessly integrated into a single unified experience.
How Micro Frontends Help in This Scenario:
Independent Deployment: Each system (ERP, E-commerce Admin, License Management) can be updated separately without affecting others.
Shared Authentication: The login application can be a standalone Micro Frontend, shared across all systems.
Technology Diversity: Different teams can use different frontend frameworks suitable for their needs.
Scalability: New applications can be added without disrupting existing ones.
For instance, the login application could be built with React, while the ERP dashboard might use Angular, and the License Management system might be developed in Vue.js. With Micro Frontends, these different frontend technologies can co-exist within the same ecosystem while still functioning as a cohesive application.
Challenges and Best Practices
Challenges
State Management - Managing state across multiple frontend modules can be complex.
Routing - Coordinating navigation between different Micro Frontends requires careful planning.
Styling Conflicts - Different Micro Frontends may have conflicting styles, which needs to be handled properly (e.g., using CSS Modules or Shadow DOM).
Best Practices
Use Module Federation for seamless integration.
Implement Shared State Management using Redux, Context API, or Event Bus.
Adopt Consistent Design Guidelines to maintain uniformity across Micro Frontends.
Utilize CI/CD Pipelines for automated deployment of individual Micro Frontends.
Conclusion
Micro Frontends Architecture is a game-changer for scalable and modular frontend applications. It enables independent development, faster deployments, and the freedom to use different technologies within the same project. By leveraging Module Federation, Single SPA, or Web Components, you can create maintainable and efficient frontend applications.
Top comments (2)
adidas.com/us this site is based that system
I didn't knew that. Can you me tell how they divided their applications ?