Why is MERN a better Choice as Compared to WordPress for Website Development
While designing an eCommerce website, the very first step is to choose a stack of technologies that will support your business goals in the long run.
This article will help you make an informed decision on whether you should opt for every developer’s favorite “MERN stack” or for a popular website builder “WordPress”
MERN Stack in a Nutshell
MERN is one of the most sought-after platforms to develop a scalable website or portal as it helps developers gain agility in creating dynamic web pages. MERN stack is favored due to its optimum experience offered to developers in creating websites in a short amount of time as well as for using a programming language that is easy to learn and adapt to Javascript.
The MERN is a collection of technologies and tools that are backed by the JS framework. These technologies include MongoDB, Express, React, and Node.js that form the complete package- the backend, frontend, and database- of a website. Here are some of the features of the individual components of the MERN Stack:
#1 MongoDB: This is a NoSQL, document-oriented database that supports JSON as its query language. MongoDB is known for its feature of “sharding”, i.e. replicating the data across multiple servers in order to facilitate data backup and recovery. MongoDB has the ability to seamlessly scale as the load on the database increases.
#2 Express.js: Express is a backend web framework with a minimalist structure and extensive features/plugins that assist in creating fast web applications and APIs. Express supports code reusability which increases the efficiency in web app development.
#3 React.js: React is a front-end web library that helps in creating SPA’s (Single Page Applications) with user interfaces that can be rendered in HTML. In the case of a SPA, only the elements of the page that are tweaked/changed will be refreshed, instead of refreshing the entire web page when a single change is made.
#4 Node.js: Node.js is a JS runtime environment with an event-based and unblocking input/output model. Node.js runs on Chrome’s V8 JS engine and provides and helps in faster web application development.
Each of these technologies plays a vital role in creating an end-to-end framework for the website.
WordPress in a Nutshell
WordPress is one of the most commonly used web development tools and is a popular choice among startups in creating websites based on already available templates. Forbes says that approximately 48.3% of the internet is powered by WordPress websites. WordPress was created as a simple tool to create and publish blogs. Now, this platform has turned into a Content Management System (CMS) giant that enables businesses to set up their own websites, create and run online stores, manage their CRMS, and much more.
WordPress is basically the engine under your website that allows you to run the site, edit site content, create new blogs/posts/pages, and ensure that the website displays correctly on all devices. This CMS allows you to seamlessly host and build websites with its plugin architecture and a template system and empowers businesses to customize their website to fit their business portfolio.
Now that we have seen an overview of both the technologies, let’s understand which of these should be an ideal choice for website development.
MERN V/S WordPress
#1 Website Performance
MERN
In terms of speed and scalability, the MERN stack offers the best performance. Node.js utilized in the MERN stack enables the website to perform a range of actions simultaneously and asynchronously. The website can handle heavy user requests with ease and without any lag. Additionally, if the load on the website increases, MongoDB can scale horizontally to accommodate this load very easily.
WordPress
Since WordPress is developed on legacy languages like PHP, websites based on WordPress have a comparatively lesser performance than websites developed via the MERN. Though there are multiple plugins developers can choose from to speed up the website, MERN clearly has an edge above WordPress in this category.
#2 SEO Optimization
MERN
Website speed and load time heavily influence website ranking on any search engine. MERN offers a very fast page load time due to the presence of React that creates SPA’s.Due to this, websites created via MERN positively influence SEO parameters and stand a higher possibility of ranking on the first page of search results.
WordPress
WordPress has the capability to display insights and analytics to boost SEO rankings. It enables developers to install plugins to automatically disable elements that slow down website performance. However, this needs a manual intervention from the developers’ end and can slow down the overall time to develop the website.
#3 Website Scalability
MERN
Any e-commerce website requires continuous modifications and changes. Additionally, during the period of sales and offers, your website should be able to handle thousands of user requests, seamlessly. MERN is powered by MongoDB which is one of the best databases for scalability whilst also supporting cloud compatibility features.
WordPress
Websites created by WordPress are extremely scalable in handling millions of requests and search queries. A simple page with a light theme and just the necessary plugins can work seamlessly without problems. However, since WP depends on MySQL or MariaDB, if the plugin usage increases, so do the database demand and usage to run the site. Such simultaneous database connections during a high traffic surge can cause excessive pressure on the server leading to a break in connection on the users’ browser.
#4 Security
MERN
MERN comes with a set of prebuilt testing tools that can be leveraged by the developers to test every component of the website. Websites developed using the MERN stack can be easily integrated with 3rd party hosting service providers to secure all user’s data and keep it confidential without the occurrence of online vulnerabilities and threats.
WordPress
WordPress does not have the best security features as compared to MERN. WPWhiteSecurity reveals that almost 70% of WordPress installations are susceptible to online threats, hacks, and attacks. The entire security responsibility is on the website owner or the developer as there are no default security features that come with WordPress.
#5 Code Reusability
MERN
The code written on a MERN website can be reused on other eCommerce websites. This means that developers can leverage already created features from other websites to enhance your own e-commerce website. It also lowers the costs involved in website development and drastically decreases the time taken to develop a website.
WordPress
WordPress does not support code reusability. Developers have to choose from a library of pre-coded templates and install plugins to get their website up and running. This is a bottleneck in terms of customization.
Based on all the above pointers, MERN is a clear winner from the comparison of features between MERN and WordPress. It offers developers a lot of edge in the development process and helps them create custom, scalable websites with an elevated user experience.
Final Thoughts
MERN is a game-changer when it comes to creating smooth-functioning websites. Our developers at FargoWiz are well equipped with the MERN Stack and can help you create custom websites that align with your business goals.
To learn how our professionals can help you in putting your best foot forward in creating value-added products and services, send an email at contact@fargowiz.com or request the below quotation form.
