Isolated Component Architecture in Micro Frontends

1. Introduction

Isolated Component Architecture is a key approach in Micro Frontends, enabling teams to develop, deploy, and scale individual components independently. This architecture supports modularity, scalability, and maintainability by allowing developers to work on separate parts of an application without impacting others.

2. Key Concepts

2.1 Micro Frontends

Micro Frontends is an architectural style where a frontend application is composed of smaller, independent applications or components. Each component is developed, deployed, and maintained independently.

2.2 Isolated Components

Isolated components are designed to function independently from other components. They encapsulate their state, styles, and logic, making them reusable and easier to manage.

3. Architecture

The architecture of an isolated component typically consists of:

Independent Build Processes
Decoupled Routing
API Gateway for Communication
Shared Libraries for Common Functionality

3.1 Example Structure


        ├── app
        │   ├── component1
        │   ├── component2
        │   └── shared
        │       └── utils.js
        ├── api
        └── gateway

3.2 Communication Between Components

Components communicate through APIs or event buses. Each component exposes its APIs and listens for events to maintain isolation.

Note: Ensure that components do not directly depend on each other to maintain isolation.

4. Best Practices

Use versioning for APIs to manage changes.
Implement lazy loading for better performance.
Emphasize on documentation for each component.
Utilize shared libraries to reduce duplication.
Monitor and log component performance regularly.

5. FAQ

What is the main advantage of using Isolated Component Architecture?

The main advantage is the ability to develop and deploy components independently, reducing dependencies and enabling faster releases.

Can isolated components share state?

While isolated components should ideally manage their own state, shared state can be managed through external stores or APIs when necessary.

How do you handle styles in isolated components?

Styles can be encapsulated within each component using CSS Modules or Shadow DOM to prevent style leakage.

5.1 Flowchart of Isolated Component Implementation


        graph TD;
            A[Start] --> B[Define Component];
            B --> C[Develop Independently];
            C --> D[Test Component];
            D --> E[Deploy Component];
            E --> F[Integrate into App];
            F --> G[Monitor and Maintain];
            G --> H[End];