Micro-frontends extend microservices principles to frontend development. This architecture enables teams to build, deploy, and scale frontend applications independently.
What Are Micro-Frontends?#
Micro-frontends decompose a frontend application into smaller, independent units that can be developed and deployed by separate teams.
Traditional Monolith Micro-Frontend Architecture
┌─────────────────────┐ ┌──────┬──────┬──────┐
│ │ │ Team │ Team │ Team │
│ Single Frontend │ → │ A │ B │ C │
│ Application │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ Auth │ Shop │ Blog │
└─────────────────────┘ └──────┴──────┴──────┘
Implementation Approaches#
1. Module Federation (Webpack 5)#
Module Federation allows loading remote modules at runtime:
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Use remote modules in the host:
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2. Web Components#
Framework-agnostic approach using custom elements:
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3. Single-SPA Framework#
Orchestrate multiple frameworks:
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Shared State Management#
Custom Event Bus#
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When to Use Micro-Frontends#
Good fit:
- Large teams (10+ developers)
- Multiple business domains
- Need for independent deployments
- Legacy migration scenarios
Avoid when:
- Small teams or projects
- Tight performance requirements
- Simple applications
Conclusion#
Micro-frontends provide organizational scalability at the cost of technical complexity. Start with a clear organizational need and choose the simplest integration approach that meets your requirements.