Layered Architecture

Introduction to Layered Architecture

The project structure is categorized into four types such as presentation, application, domain, and infrastructure. These are called layers, and the entire architecture in the project is called layered architecture. These layers have objects of matter which concerns the layer and signifies its presence in the architecture. This is a client-server architecture, and all the layers are separated from each other. Three-tier architecture is the most widely used architecture in the projects. Also, these layers are called as presentation, business, persistence, and database. There can be more than four layers, but these are the most common layers.

What is a Layered Architecture?

• Data moves from one level to another level for processing is called layered architecture. Basically, any architecture with more than two layers is called multitiered or layered architecture.
• The user interface is separated from business logic, and it gives an idea as to how to maintain and balance the work in each layer. This business logic is separated from data access logic so that all the layers can work independently and data processing is done according to the need of the user.
• All the interface is developed as independent modules and developed on separate platforms so that data processing is done and maintained well in each layer of the architecture.
• The presentation layer is where the client interacts, and it has different pages so that user input can be collected, processed in different layers, and the result is given to the user as output. If the user is not satisfied with the outcome, he can change the input, and the process repeats again.

Layered Architecture Explanation

• Layered architecture is needed so that the data can be maintained well, is made flexible, and can scale to any levels in the architecture. Solutions are built in different components so that interoperations can be made with different layers with flexible implementation.
• Clarity is made related to architectural layers and the separation of different blocks with their functions so that applications can be made to communicate with each other over networks or connectivity protocol. As a result, applications are easily deployed with this architecture without changing the entire layer of the application.
• Systems can be made run in either fiber optic cable or network connections above the physical layer without interaction with any of the other layers in the network. Thus, top to bottom change is not needed in the implementation.
• Application need not be aware of the network separation or subnets within the application layer so that communication between the systems or application layers are done without any disturbance.
• Always the top layer provides an interface to the user where the user enters input and receives output. The bottom layer consists of the connectivity of systems or layers between each other to enhance the communication and working of the application.
• Layers are maintained with the concept of layers of isolation where the activities of one layer are not known in the other layer so that the operations are done in a smooth manner.
• The business layer serves as an intermediate between the presentation layer and the persistence layer, where the separation of data into different chunks is carried out. This logic layer helps identify patterns of data and classify them according to the patterns in the data.
• The persistence layer helps to do the operations needed in the data as the data is classified already in the business layer. This helps to communicate between different layers and to retrieve information about data. This data is presented in the presentation layer as output to the user. Object-relational mapping is done in the persistence layer.
• The persistence layer also helps to store data in the layer where data can be stored permanently. In order to achieve that, they take the help from the database layer.
• The components are organized in a horizontal manner so that the components are made self-dependent. The components are connected with each other but are independent and can work without other components.
• The layers are connected between the network and the components so that one component can enhance the work of another.
• If there are common instances in a layer, the objects are kept together, and if isolation is needed, they are isolated. Thus, interdependency and independence are achieved.
• If additional layers are added to the architecture, then it is called hybrid layered architecture. For example, a service layer can be added between the business layer and the persistence layer. There is no specific necessity for the service layer, and the objects with no logics pass through this layer. This is called the architecture sink-hole pattern in the structure.

Benefits

1. The layered architecture is easy to understand and implement in any project. The layers are self-explanatory, and they help in communicating with other layers in the architecture.
2. All the operation is dependent on one another in the architecture and is consistent with all the layers in the system. Data transfer is consistent and made available always in the layers.
3. All the objects in the architecture are kept together so that if any changes are to be made, it is easy to find the object within the layer.
4. Layering helps to differentiate between the tasks assigned to each layer of the architecture so that when a task has to be identified, it is easy to figure it out using the layering structure.
5. Within a layer, scalability is possible as the objects increase in the project. This helps to identify the objects working within the layer and to assign tasks to the layers. But outside the layers, scalability is impossible, and it hinders the project’s growth if not known early.
6. Any business is supported in the architecture as layered architecture is basically to improve the agility and value of the business.

Conclusion

In this architecture, we cannot scale the project as per the need of the organization, and extra resources are needed for the same. This acts as a disadvantage for the architecture. Also, the dependencies are direct and do not change if there are any changes in the layers of the architecture.

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This is a guide to Layered Architecture. Here we discuss the Explanation of Layered Architecture along with the Benefits of the Architecture. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –

1. Logical Architecture
2. MapReduce Architecture
3. EJB Architecture
4. Integration Architecture