MERN Chat Application

A real-time chat application built using the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, Node.js) and Socket.io for instant messaging. This application allows users to communicate seamlessly in private or group chats, with real-time messaging capabilities.

Table of Contents

• Features
• Technologies
• Installation and Setup
  • Step 1: Clone the Repository
  • Step 2: Backend Setup
  • Step 3: Frontend Setup
  • Step 4: Environment Variables
  • Step 5: Running the Application
  • Step 6: Accessing the Application
• WebSocket Events
• License

Features

• Real-time messaging using Socket.io.
• User authentication (JWT-based) for secure access.
• Private and group chat functionality.
• MongoDB database for storing users and messages.
• Responsive design to ensure smooth user experience across devices.
• Display of online/offline user status.
• Notifications for new messages.

Technologies

• Frontend: React.js (with Hooks and Context API)
• Backend: Node.js, Express.js
• Database: MongoDB (using Mongoose for schema modeling)
• WebSockets: Socket.io for real-time communication
• Authentication: JWT (JSON Web Token) for securing API routes
• Styling: Chakra UI

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Installation and Setup

Follow these steps to get the project running on your local machine.

Prerequisites

Ensure you have the following installed:

• Node.js: Download and Install Node.js
• MongoDB: Download and Install MongoDB
• Git: Download and Install Git

Step 1: Clone the Repository

1. Open a terminal and run the following command to clone the repository to your local machine:

   git clone https://github.com/anudeep009/ChatApplication.git