Web Application Architecture Overview

Web Application Architecture

• Web application architecture refers to the structure and organization of a web application system, defining the relationship between different components.
• It enables the definition of functionality and logic between the server and client side.

Need for Web Application Architecture

• As web applications become increasingly complex, a well-defined architecture is crucial.
• It addresses increasing complexity and demands of modern web applications, providing a structured approach to design, develop, and maintain web applications.
• Benefits include scalability, manageability, maintainability, reusability, and enhanced performance and security.

Benefits of Web Application Architecture

• Scalability: enables accommodation of increasing user traffic and concurrent user demands through horizontal scaling.

Types of Web Application Architecture

• Monolithic Architecture: a traditional approach where the entire application is built as a single unit.
• Microservices Architecture: a modular approach where the application is divided into smaller, independent services.
• Serverless Architecture: applications built using serverless functions or "Functions as a Service" (FaaS) platforms.

Monolithic Architecture

• Characteristics:
  • Single Codebase: the entire application is written and maintained within a single code repository.
  • Centralised Database: all data access and storage functions are handled by a centralised database shared across the application.
  • Tight Coupling: components are interconnected, making it challenging to modify or replace individual elements without affecting the entire application.
  • Workflow: developers work on different parts of the application within the same codebase.
• Pros: simplicity; cons: scalability issues.

Layers of Modern Web Application Architecture

• User Interface (UI) Layer: handles presentation and user interaction using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript frameworks.
• Application Layer: implements business logic, validation, and data processing.
• Data Layer: manages storage and retrieval of data, often through relational or NoSQL databases.
• Infrastructure Layer: includes servers, networking, and other components required to host and deploy the application.

User Interface Layer

• Responsible for rendering the user interface and managing user interactions.
• Utilizes HTML, CSS, and JavaScript frameworks to create responsive and engaging UIs.
• Enables client-side interactivity, AJAX requests, and handling events.

Application Layer

• Implements the core logic of the web application.
• Handles user requests, performs data processing, and communicates with the data layer.
• Can be built using server-side frameworks, microservices, or serverless functions.

Data Layer

• Manages the storage, retrieval, and manipulation of data.
• Includes databases, such as relational databases or NoSQL solutions.
• Involves techniques like data modeling, querying, and caching.

Infrastructure Layer

• Provides the necessary infrastructure for hosting and deploying the web application.
• Involves servers, cloud services, load balancers, and networking components.
• May use technologies like containers, virtual machines, or serverless platforms.