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Concepts

Micro Frontends

Architectural pattern extending microservices to the frontend, allowing independent teams to develop and deploy parts of a web application autonomously.

seed#micro-frontends#architecture#react#module-federation#frontend

What it is

Micro frontends extend the microservices concept to the frontend. Instead of a frontend monolith, the application is composed of independent fragments developed by autonomous teams, integrated at runtime or build time.

Integration strategies

StrategyIntegrationExample
Build-timenpm packagesMonorepo with packages
Runtime (JS)Module FederationWebpack/Vite MF
Runtime (iframe)iframesLegacy integration
Server-sideSSI/ESIEdge composition

Module Federation

The most popular technique: each micro frontend exposes modules that others can consume at runtime, without needing to rebuild.

When to use

  • Multiple teams working on the same product
  • Need for independent deployments per section
  • Gradual technology migration
  • Large enterprise applications

When NOT to use

  • Small team (single team)
  • Simple application
  • When integration complexity exceeds the benefit

Why it matters

Micro-frontends apply microservices principles to the frontend, allowing independent teams to develop, deploy, and scale parts of the interface autonomously. They are the solution when a frontend monolith becomes an organizational bottleneck.

References

  • Micro Frontends — Martin Fowler.
  • Module Federation — Official documentation.
  • single-spa — single-spa, 2024. Micro frontends framework.

Related content

  • React

    JavaScript library for building user interfaces through declarative, reusable components, with an ecosystem spanning from SPAs to full-stack applications with Server Components.

  • Monorepos

    Code organization strategy where multiple projects coexist in a single repository, sharing dependencies, configuration, and build tooling.

  • Microservices

    Architectural style structuring an application as a collection of small, independent, deployable services, each with its own business logic and data.

  • Web Components

    Native web standards for creating reusable, encapsulated components that work in any framework or without one.

  • React MFE Template

    Reusable template for creating micro frontends with React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, and Vite. Includes design system, testing, and CI/CD.

  • React MFE Shell

    Micro frontend shell with a complete design system, 24 components, 666 tests, and WCAG AA compliance. Published on npm as @jonmatum/react-mfe-shell.

  • React MFE Shell Demo

    Interactive demo application for the React MFE Shell design system with PWA support, automated metrics, and component showcase.

  • State Management

    Patterns and libraries for managing frontend application state predictably, from local component state to shared global state.

  • Backend for Frontend

    Architectural pattern where each client type has its own dedicated backend adapting microservice APIs to that client's specific needs.

Concepts