“Conversa”: A Real-Time Chat Application

A PROJECT REPORT
Submitted by
[23MCA20462]
[23MCA20583]
[23MCA20585]
[23MCA20592]

in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of

MASTER IN COMPUTER APPLICATION

 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this project report “Conversa”: A Real-time Chat Application” is

the bonafide work of “Keshav Kumar, Sunny Kumar Sharma, Paras Kapoor
and Nikhil Kumar” who carried out the project work under my/our supervision.

SIGNATURE: SIGNATURE:
Mr. Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal
E13150
SUPERVISOR HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT

Submitted for the project viva-voce examination held on

INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Figures. ............................................................................................................................ 7

List of Tables. ............................................................................................................................. 8
List of Standards. ........................................................................................................................ 9
CHAPTER 1.INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 11
1.1. Identification of Client/ Need/ Relevant Contemporary issue ............................................. 11
1.2. Identification of Problem .....................................................................................................11
1.3. Identification of Tasks.......................................................................................................... 11
1.4. Timeline ............................................................................................................................... 11
1.5. Organization of the Report ................................................................................................... 11
CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW/BACKGROUND STUDY ........................................... 12
2.1. Timeline of the reported problem ......................................................................................... 12
2.2. Existing solutions ................................................................................................................. 12
2.3. Bibliometric analysis ............................................................................................................ 12
2.4. Review Summary ................................................................................................................. 12
2.5. Problem Definition ............................................................................................................... 12
2.6. Goals/Objectives .................................................................................................................. 12
CHAPTER 3. DESIGN FLOW/PROCESS ................................................................................... 13
3.1. Evaluation & Selection of Specifications/Features .............................................................. 13
3.2. Design Constraints ............................................................................................................... 13
3.3. Analysis of Features and finalization subject to constraints ................................................. 13
3.4. Design Flow ......................................................................................................................... 13
3.5. Design selection ................................................................................................................... 13
3.6. Implementation plan/methodology....................................................................................... 13
CHAPTER 4. RESULTS ANALYSIS AND VALIDATION ........................................................ 14
4.1. Implementation of solution ................................................................................................... 14
CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK ............................................................... 15
5.1. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 15
5.2. Future work .......................................................................................................................... 15
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................... 16
APPENDIX...................................................................................................................................... 17
1. Plagiarism Report ................................................................................................................... 17
2. Design Checklist .................................................................................................................... 17
USER MANUAL ............................................................................................................................. 18
 ABSTRACT

The "Real-time Chat Application using MERN Stack" is designed to bring seamless and
instantaneous communication to users through a modern, feature-rich messaging platform.
Built using the MERN stack—MongoDB for database management, Express.js as the web
application framework, React.js for the front-end user interface, and Node.js for the server-
side runtime environment—this application provides a robust and scalable solution for real-
time messaging needs.

At its core, this chat application is centered around user convenience and efficient
communication. Users can effortlessly sign up and log in with secure authentication, ensuring
that their data and conversations are protected. Once authenticated, users can engage in
private one-on-one conversations or join group chats, catering to both personal and
professional communication requirements.

Real-time notifications are a standout feature of the application, ensuring users are
immediately alerted to new messages. This is crucial for maintaining the flow of conversation
and ensuring that no important message is missed. Additionally, the app stores message
history, allowing users to revisit past conversations whenever necessary. This feature is
particularly useful for retaining important information and continuing discussions over time.

The user interface, crafted with React, is designed to be intuitive and visually appealing. By
leveraging modern CSS frameworks, the application offers a sleek, responsive design that
adapts to various devices and screen sizes. This ensures a consistent and enjoyable user
experience.

In developing this project, significant emphasis was placed on creating a chat application that
is not only functional but also scalable and responsive. The use of MongoDB allows for
efficient data storage and retrieval, while Node.js and Express.js provide a solid backbone for
server-side operations and API management. React.js ensures a dynamic and interactive user
experience, making the application engaging and easy to use.

Overall, this project highlights the capabilities of the MERN stack in building a real-time chat
application that excels in performance, security, and user experience. It serves as a testament
to how modern web technologies can be integrated to create an effective communication tool,
bridging gaps and connecting people in real-time.
 INTRODUCTION

In today’s fast-paced world, instant communication is more critical than ever. The ability to
connect with others in real time, whether for personal or professional purposes, has become
an essential aspect of daily life. To address this need, the "Real-time Chat Application using
MERN Stack" project was conceived. This application aims to deliver a sophisticated yet
user-friendly platform for real-time messaging, leveraging the power of modern web
technologies.

The MERN stack—comprising MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js—has been

chosen for its comprehensive approach to building dynamic web applications. MongoDB
provides a flexible, document-oriented database system, enabling efficient storage and
retrieval of messages. Express.js serves as the middleware framework, facilitating smooth
server-side operations and API management. React.js offers a robust framework for
developing a responsive and interactive user interface, while Node.js ensures a powerful
runtime environment for server-side processes.

The primary objective of this project is to create a chat application that not only meets the
demands of real-time communication but also provides a seamless and engaging user
experience. Key features of the application include user authentication for secure access,
private and group messaging for versatile communication, real-time notifications to keep
users updated, and message history storage to retain important conversations.

The user interface of the application is designed with a focus on simplicity and aesthetics. By
utilizing modern CSS frameworks alongside React, the application delivers an intuitive and
visually appealing experience across various devices and screen sizes. This ensures that users
can easily navigate the app, whether they are on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.

In summary, this project represents an effort to harness the MERN stack’s capabilities to build
a real-time chat application that is efficient, scalable, and user-centric. It reflects a
commitment to integrating advanced web technologies to enhance communication and
connectivity in a digital age.
 REQUIRED TECH STACK

To build the "Real-time Chat Application using MERN Stack," the following technologies
and tools are required:
1. MongoDB:
o Purpose: NoSQL database for storing user data, messages, and chat history.
o Role: Provides a flexible, scalable database solution to handle dynamic data structures and
large volumes of messages.
2. Express.js:
o Purpose: Web application framework for Node.js.
o Role: Handles server-side logic, manages API requests, and facilitates communication
between the front-end and back-end.
3. React.js:
o Purpose: JavaScript library for building user interfaces.
o Role: Develops a dynamic, responsive front-end, allowing for real-time updates and
interactive user experiences.
4. Node.js:
o Purpose: JavaScript runtime environment.
o Role: Executes server-side code, handles asynchronous operations, and supports real-time
data processing through WebSocket connections.
5. Socket.io:
o Purpose: Library for real-time web applications.
o Role: Enables real-time, bidirectional communication between the server and clients,
crucial for instant message delivery and notifications.
6. JWT (JSON Web Tokens):
o Purpose: Token-based authentication.
o Role: Manages user authentication and session management securely.
7. Bcrypt.js:
o Purpose: Password hashing library.
o Role: Ensures secure storage of user passwords by hashing them before saving to the
database.
8. Bootstrap / Tailwind CSS:
o Purpose: CSS frameworks.
o Role: Provides pre-designed components and utilities for creating a responsive and visually
appealing user interface.
9. Axios:
o Purpose: HTTP client for making requests.
 o Role: Facilitates communication between the client-side React application and the server-
side Express API.
10. Webpack / Babel:
o Purpose: Module bundlers and transpilers.
o Role: Bundles JavaScript files, transpiles modern JavaScript syntax to be compatible with
various browsers, and optimizes the application for performance.
11. Postman:
o Purpose: API development and testing tool.
o Role: Used for testing and debugging API endpoints during development.
12. Git:
o Purpose: Version control system.
o Role: Manages source code changes, facilitates collaboration, and tracks project history.
13. Heroku / AWS / DigitalOcean (optional for deployment):
o Purpose: Cloud hosting platforms.
o Role: Provides a platform to deploy and host the chat application, ensuring it is accessible
to users over the internet.
1.1 Identification of Client / Need / Relevant Contemporary Issue
1. Client Identification: The primary clients for the "Real-time Chat Application using
MERN Stack" include individuals, businesses, and organizations that require efficient and
instant
communication tools. This encompasses a wide range of users such as:
i. Individuals: Friends and family members looking for a reliable platform to stay connected.
ii. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): Businesses needing a streamlined way to
manage internal communications and client interactions.
iii. Large Organizations: Corporations requiring secure and scalable messaging solutions for
team collaboration.
iv. Educational Institutions: Schools and universities seeking a platform for students and
staff to communicate effectively.
v. Communities and Interest Groups: Groups needing a central communication hub for
discussions and coordination.

2. Need Identification: The need for the "Real-time Chat Application using MERN Stack"
arises from several key factors:
i. Instant Communication: In an era where timely information exchange is crucial, there is
a growing demand for applications that provide real-time messaging capabilities.
ii. Remote Work and Collaboration: The rise of remote work has amplified the need for
reliable communication tools that can support team collaboration and coordination from
different locations.
iii. Security: With increasing concerns over data privacy, there is a need for secure
communication platforms that protect user information and conversations.
iv. User Experience: Users seek applications that are not only functional but also offer an
intuitive and enjoyable user experience, with features like real-time notifications and
message
history.
v. Scalability: Businesses and organizations require scalable solutions that can grow with
their communication needs, accommodating more users and messages without
compromising
performance.
3. Relevant Contemporary Issues: The development of this chat application addresses several
contemporary issues:
i. Data Privacy and Security: In light of recent data breaches and privacy concerns,
ensuring secure communication has become paramount. This application employs robust
authentication mechanisms and encryption to safeguard user data.
 ii. Digital Transformation: As more businesses and organizations embrace digital tools,
there is a pressing need for advanced communication platforms that integrate seamlessly
with other digital solutions.
iii. Remote Work and Virtual Collaboration: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the
adoption of remote work, highlighting the necessity for effective communication tools that
support virtual collaboration and maintain productivity.
iv. User Engagement and Retention: With numerous communication apps available, users
gravitate towards platforms that offer real-time interaction, reliability, and a pleasant user
experience. This application aims to meet and exceed these expectations.
v. Integration with Other Services: Modern users expect their communication tools to
integrate with other services such as file sharing, task management, and social media,
providing a comprehensive solution for their communication needs.
1.2 Identification of Problem
In today's digital era, efficient and secure real-time communication is crucial for personal and
professional interactions. Despite numerous available messaging platforms, several
significant issues persist, underscoring the need for a new, robust chat application:
vi. Fragmented Platforms: Existing tools often require users to switch between multiple apps for
different types of interactions, leading to inefficiencies and a disjointed experience.
vii. Lack of Real-Time Features: Many chat applications fail to deliver truly instant messaging
and notifications, hindering effective communication when timely information exchange is
critical.
viii. Security and Privacy Concerns: Data breaches and security vulnerabilities in current
platforms raise significant concerns over user data protection. Users need a messaging
application with robust encryption and secure authentication.
ix. Scalability Issues: As user numbers and message volumes grow, some platforms struggle to
maintain performance and reliability, affecting the user experience.
x. Poor User Experience: Many messaging apps offer non-intuitive, subpar interfaces. Users
expect a visually appealing, responsive design that works seamlessly across various devices.
xi. Lack of Integration: Users require messaging applications that integrate with other services
like file sharing and task management. The absence of such integrations limits utility and
complicates workflows.
xii. Remote Work Challenges: The rise of remote work has highlighted the need for reliable
communication tools optimized for virtual collaboration. Many existing platforms do not
effectively support remote work environments.
 1.3 Identification of Tasks
The development of the "Real-time Chat Application using MERN Stack" involves a series of
well-defined tasks to ensure a structured and efficient project workflow. These tasks include:
1. Requirement Analysis and Planning: Understanding client needs, defining project scope,
and outlining features.
2. Design Phase: Creating wireframes and mockups for the user interface, and planning the
database schema.
3. Setting Up the Development Environment: Installing and configuring MongoDB,
Express.js, React.js, and Node.js.
4. Front-End Development: Building the user interface with React, integrating modern CSS
frameworks for styling, and ensuring responsiveness.
5. Back-End Development: Developing the server-side logic using Express.js and Node.js,
setting up the database with MongoDB, and implementing API endpoints.
6. Real-Time Features Implementation: Integrating Socket.io for real-time messaging and
notifications.
7. User Authentication and Security: Implementing JWT for secure user authentication and
Bcrypt.js for password hashing.
8. Testing and Debugging: Conducting unit testing, integration testing, and user acceptance
testing to ensure functionality and performance.
9. Deployment: Deploying the application to a cloud hosting platform like Heroku, AWS, or
Digital Ocean.
10. Maintenance and Updates: Providing ongoing support, fixing bugs, and adding new
features based on user feedback.
1.4 Timeline
To ensure timely completion, the project is divided into phases with specific milestones:
• Week 1-2: Requirement Analysis and Planning
• Week 3-4: Design Phase
• Week 5: Setting Up the Development Environment
• Week 6-8: Front-End Development
• Week 9-11: Back-End Development
• Week 12-13: Real-Time Features Implementation
• Week 14-15: User Authentication and Security
• Week 16-18: Testing and Debugging
• Week 19: Deployment
• Week 20 onwards: Maintenance and Updates
1.5 Organization of the Report
The project report provides a comprehensive overview of the development process,
methodologies, and outcomes, organized as follows:
Introduction
• Background and objectives
• Importance of real-time communication
Literature Review
• Overview of existing chat applications
• Analysis of technologies used
Methodology
• Description of the MERN stack
• Detailed explanation of the development process
System Design
• Architectural design
• User interface design
• Database schema design
Implementation
• Front-end development
• Back-end development
• Real-time features integration
• User authentication and security
Testing and Evaluation
• Testing methodologies
• Results and performance analysis
Deployment
• Steps for deploying the application
• Challenges and solutions
Conclusion and Future Work
• Summary of findings
• Potential enhancements and future developments
References
• Bibliography of sources and references used
 Chapter-2

LITERATURE REVIEW/BACKGROUND STUDY

2.1 Timeline of the Reported Problem

The evolution of real-time communication platforms has been rapid, particularly with the rise of
digital collaboration tools in the 21st century. From early chat applications like IRC and AOL
Instant Messenger to modern platforms like WhatsApp and Slack, the need for efficient, instant
communication has continually grown. Key milestones in this development include:

• Early 2000s: The advent of basic chat rooms (e.g., IRC) that allowed for real-time text-
based communication but lacked advanced features like media sharing or encryption.
• Mid-2000s: Introduction of platforms like MSN Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger, which
offered richer features like voice and video calls but were primarily desktop-based.
• 2010-Present: A surge in mobile-first communication apps like WhatsApp and Telegram,
offering real-time chat, media sharing, and end-to-end encryption.
• Recent Trends: With the rise of remote work post-2020, platforms such as Slack and
Microsoft Teams have become essential for workplace communication. These platforms
integrate file sharing, video conferencing, and third-party applications, but often fall short
in terms of simplicity and real-time processing efficiency.

Despite the many advances, current solutions still face significant challenges in terms of
scalability, real-time efficiency, security, and usability. "Conversa" seeks to address these
problems by utilizing cutting-edge technology like the MERN stack and WebSocket to enhance
performance, real-time messaging capabilities, and security.

2.2 Existing Solutions

The current landscape of chat applications offers a wide range of solutions, each tailored to
different user needs. However, none have been able to fully address all key requirements—real-
time communication, scalability, security, and user experience—simultaneously. Some of the
major platforms include:
• WhatsApp: A leading mobile-first messaging app with robust end-to-end encryption.
While WhatsApp excels in personal communication, its lack of integration for business or
large organizations limits its scalability.
• Slack: Designed for workplace collaboration, Slack offers message threading, file sharing,
and integrations with third-party tools like Google Drive and Jira. However, Slack’s
pricing model and performance issues when handling large user volumes are often cited as
limitations.
• Microsoft Teams: Positioned as a comprehensive communication tool for enterprises,
Teams integrates chat, file sharing, and video conferencing. However, it has been
criticized for its complex user interface and steep learning curve, particularly for small
businesses or individual users.
• Telegram: Known for its robust security features, Telegram offers cloud-based chats,
media sharing, and end-to-end encryption. However, it is often used in a personal context
and lacks features tailored to professional use.
"Conversa" aims to differentiate itself by addressing the common shortcomings of these
platforms: improving scalability, simplifying user interfaces, and enhancing real-time
communication through advanced technologies like WebSocket.

2.3 Bibliometric Analysis

An analysis of academic literature and research papers shows increasing interest in real-time
communication technologies, with key topics being security, user experience, and performance
optimization.

• Security: Numerous papers have been published addressing security vulnerabilities in real-time chat
systems, particularly around user authentication and data encryption. The integration of technologies like
JWT (JSON Web Tokens) and encryption algorithms such as AES and RSA is a critical part of modern
chat applications.
• Real-Time Data Transmission: Research on WebSocket and Socket.io highlights their importance in
enabling real-time, bidirectional communication, making them superior to traditional HTTP-based polling
methods.
• Scalability: MongoDB’s document-oriented data model has been favored in recent studies for handling the
scalability requirements of real-time applications due to its flexibility and ability to store large volumes of
data efficiently.

The increasing prevalence of these studies underscores the importance of security and scalability in
modern chat applications like "Conversa."

2.4 Review Summary

The literature review points to several key gaps in existing real-time communication tools:

• Insufficient Security: While encryption is increasingly common, many platforms still have vulnerabilities
in authentication and user data protection.
• Lack of Scalability: As user bases grow, many platforms struggle with performance, particularly in terms
of handling large numbers of simultaneous users and messages.
• Complex User Interfaces: While platforms like Slack and Teams offer extensive features, they often
overwhelm users with their complexity, making them less accessible for casual or small business use.

"Conversa" seeks to address these issues by offering a platform that combines robust security measures,
scalable architecture, and an intuitive, user-friendly interface.

2.5 Problem Definition

The primary problem "Conversa" aims to solve is the lack of a streamlined, secure, and scalable real-time
messaging platform that leverages modern web technologies. Many existing chat platforms either:

• Overcomplicate the user experience with too many features, making them difficult for non-technical users
or small teams.
• Suffer from performance issues as user volume increases, especially when dealing with large-scale
communication across multiple channels.
• Have security vulnerabilities related to user authentication, data breaches, and the storage of sensitive
information.

By leveraging the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, Node.js) alongside WebSocket for real-
time communication, "Conversa" aims to provide a solution that is secure, efficient, and scalable.

2.6 Goals/Objectives
The objectives of the "Conversa" project are to create a chat application that:

• Real-Time Messaging: Uses WebSocket via Socket.io to ensure instant, bidirectional communication
between users, enabling seamless real-time conversations.
• Scalability: Utilizes MongoDB’s document-oriented NoSQL database for handling large volumes of
messages and scaling with an increasing user base.
• Enhanced Security: Implements JWT for user authentication, alongside encryption techniques to ensure
data privacy and security, safeguarding user information.
• Optimized User Experience: Delivers a sleek, responsive, and intuitive interface using React.js and
modern CSS frameworks (like Bootstrap or Tailwind CSS). The design ensures ease of use across various
devices—desktop, tablet, and mobile.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Ensures that the application works smoothly across different operating
systems and devices, maintaining consistent performance and functionality.
• User Authentication and Session Management: Uses Bcrypt.js for secure password management and
hashing, ensuring that user credentials are protected from unauthorized access.