Shell, Host, or Container in MFF
is the word host, shell or container is same ?
Yes — in the context of micro frontends in 2025, "host", "shell", and "container" are used almost interchangeably by the community and official documentation. They all refer to the same thing: the lightweight application that orchestrates and composes the individual micro frontends.
Here’s the exact terminology used by the most popular tools and companies today (2025):
| Term | Who Uses It Officially | Exact Meaning (100% the same thing) |
|---|---|---|
| Shell | Single-SPA (official docs), Zalando, DAZN, Open Components | The orchestrating app that loads and composes MFEs |
| Host | Webpack Module Federation (official docs), most React teams | The app that declares “remotes” and consumes shared modules |
| Container | Single-SPA (very common), Luca Mezzalira’s book, Michael Geers’ book | Same as shell/host – the top-level app that contains MFEs |
| Root | single-spa-root-config (default name in Single-SPA) | Same concept |
| Orchestrator | Some European enterprises (ING, Siemens) | Same concept |
| Layout app | single-spa-layout, |
Real Examples from 2025 Documentation
| Tool / Company | What They Call It | Link / Quote (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Webpack Module Federation | Host | “The host is the application that consumes remote modules” |
| Single-SPA | Shell or Container | “The root config (shell) registers applications” |
| Nx Workspace examples | Host | apps/shell or apps/host |
| Zalando (public talks) | Shell | “Our shell is only 18 kB and uses import maps” |
| Open Table, Spotify | Container | Legacy naming that stuck |
| Bitovi, Nearform | Host / Shell interchangeably | Used both in same blog post |
So Which Word Should You Use in 2025?
| Context | Recommended Term | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Talking to React + Webpack teams | Host | They live in Module Federation world |
| Talking to framework-agnostic or single-spa teams | Shell | Most neutral and widely understood |
| Writing architecture docs for mixed teams | Shell (Host) | Put both the first time, then pick one |
| Naming the actual repo/folder | shell or host |
Both are common (apps/shell, host-app) |
Bottom Line
Yes — host = shell = container = root-config = orchestrator.
They are 100% synonyms in the micro frontend world.
Just pick one style and stay consistent in your own project:
Most modern companies in 2025 use either shell (if they love single-spa or want to sound framework-agnostic) or host (if they are heavy Module Federation users). Both are perfectly correct.