Architecture & DesignBeginner
N-tier Architecture
Pronunciationen-tyer AR-ki-tek-chur
Definition
N-tier architecture is a software design pattern that divides an application into logical layers, such as presentation, business logic, and data storage, with each layer running on separate infrastructure or managed independently.
Where you hear it
- In system design interviews - During backend architecture discussions - When scaling enterprise applications
Examples
The team uses an N-tier architecture to separate the user interface from the core business logic and database.
In our N-tier setup, each layer communicates only with the layer immediately below it.
Common mistake
Confusing tiers with layers, where "layers" refer to logical code separation, while "tiers" mean the physical separation of those layers across different servers or machines.
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