How to Build Your First Full-Stack MERN App: A Beginner’s Guide

Content:
Introduction:

↪ If you're new to full-stack development, the MERN stack is one of the best ways to dive in. MERN stands for MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js—a powerful stack for building modern web apps.

In this guide, we’ll create a simple MERN app step-by-step. Whether you’re a beginner or just looking to sharpen your skills, you’ll learn the fundamentals of building a full-stack application.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Development Environment
Before diving into the code, make sure you have the following installed:

1.Node.js and npm: Download Here
2.MongoDB: Install Locally or Use MongoDB Atlas
3.Code Editor: VS Code is recommended (Download Here)

Step 2: Initializing Your MERN Project
Backend Setup:
1.Create a new folder:

mkdir mern-app
cd mern-app

2. Initialize a Node.js project:

npm init -y

3.Install Express and Mongoose:

npm install express mongoose cors

4.Create a basic server in server.js:

const express = require('express');
const mongoose = require('mongoose');
const cors = require('cors');

const app = express();
app.use(cors());
app.use(express.json());

const PORT = 5000;
app.listen(PORT, () => console.log(`Server running on http://localhost:${PORT}`));

Frontend Setup:
1.Navigate to your project folder and create a React app:

npx create-react-app client

2.Start the React app

cd client
npm start

Step 3: Building the MERN App
Connect Frontend and Backend:
↦ Set up a simple API in your backend to fetch and post data.
↦ Use Axios in React to call your backend API.
Example Axios Call in React:

import axios from 'axios';

const fetchData = async () => {
  const response = await axios.get('http://localhost:5000/api/data');
  console.log(response.data);
};

Step 4: Deploy Your MERN App
↦ Host your frontend on Visit Vercel.
↦ Host your backend on Host on Render or any platform of your choice.
↦ Use MongoDB Atlas for the database.

Conclusion
Congratulations! 🎉 You’ve just built your first full-stack MERN app. With the basics in place, you can now explore more features like authentication, state management, and advanced deployment techniques.

Got questions or feedback? Drop a comment below or share your experience with building a MERN app!