One Tier Architecture Example
One-tier architecture is the simplest application architecture used. It can only work if the database system is embedded because non-embedded databases cannot run in an individual process.
The 1 tier architecture is ideal for simple applications where scalability and security are not primary concerns. However, it can become a problem as the application grows in complexity.
Presentation Layer
The presentation layer, or level 6, in the OSI model ensures that data transferred between devices is presented in a common format for application layers to understand. It also formats and compresses data, allowing it to be transmitted more efficiently over the network. For example, it may encode ASCII codes into EBCDIC code to make it easier for different computers to read the information.
It can also translate complex data structures into flat byte strings for transmission and storage. This process is called serialization and is very important in ensuring that communication between two different devices can be completed.
It can also establish the connection between a device and a network server, and it can create security protocols that protect against SQL injections and other attacks. It also provides a way for end-users to interact with databases, including creating, modifying and viewing database content. The presentation layer can be separated from the business and data layers if desired, although this can add to complexity and may lead to a loss of speed and efficiency.
Business Layer
The Business Layer is responsible for the internal procedures of the application. For example, if the presentation layer sends a request to get customer information, it is up to the business layer to know how to format that data for display on the screen and what modules in the system are needed to process the request.
The business layer should use techniques that decouple it from the presentation and database layers as much as possible. The best way to do this is by using a model-to-text mapping technique such as SOAP XML and tools like Entity Framework and Hibernate for.NET.
This layer includes technology passive structure elements that are manipulated by behavior, such as business processes and functions, and represents concepts that a company thinks about in its domain. It also contains representations of business objects that are used in the application. The Business Layer is a key component in achieving scalability. Separating the business logic from the database and presenting it to the user through the presentation layer increases application performance and scalability.
Data Layer
The Data Layer is where all the data that’s collected in your digital context goes. It carries information that will be used by all the other analytics tools on your website and in your marketing campaigns. It should be built with a clear idea of the business goals and objectives you have in mind for each area you want to track.
The most common use for the Data Layer is for ecommerce tracking and personalization. Depending on the setup and the tools you are using, it could contain visitor information, product and sales data or any other kind of data that you want to make available for all your analytics platforms.
The Data Layer is a complex part of the architecture, and it should be treated as such: as a living model that’s constantly in flux. It needs to be optimized, elaborated, divided, conjoined, cleaned and refactored as often as possible, to keep up with the changing needs of the business.
Database Layer
The database layer performs the physical implementation of the data access logic. This layer uses the DBMS’s native database API and supports both late and early binding. Late binding allows for the database layer to preserve data in its original form until it is requested by a higher level, while early binding allows the lower layers to pass a request directly to the database layer.
In the 1 tier architecture, the user interface, business and data access layer reside on the same machine. This architecture is often used for single users or for applications that need fast response time from the database. This architecture is also cost-efficient, since it does not require the installation of additional hardware.
In the 3-Tier architecture, the client application program communicates with an application server that in turn communicates with the DBMS system. The end-user is unaware of any existence beyond the application layer and the DBMS system. This architecture increases security by preventing direct interaction between the client and the database system.