Introduction
Software architecture defines the fundamental structure of a software system. It describes the organization of components, their relationships, and how they interact. A well-designed architecture ensures scalability, maintainability, and performance.Architectural Styles
Software architecture follows different styles depending on the system requirements. Here are some commonly used architectural styles:1. Monolithic Architecture
- A single, unified application where all functionalities are tightly integrated.
- How it Works: The entire application is built and deployed as a single unit.
- Pros: Simple development, easy debugging, and performance efficiency.
- Cons: Hard to scale, difficult maintenance, and risk of entire system failure.
2. Microservices Architecture
- A collection of loosely coupled, independently deployable services.
- How it Works: Each service handles a specific function and communicates via APIs.
- Pros: Scalability, maintainability, and fault isolation.
- Cons: Increased complexity and communication overhead.
3. Layered Architecture
- Divides software into different layers (e.g., Presentation, Business Logic, Data Access).
- How it Works: Each layer interacts only with the adjacent layer.
- Pros: Modular, easier to maintain.
- Cons: Performance overhead due to multiple layers.
4. Event-Driven Architecture
- Uses events to trigger communication between components.
- How it Works: Components publish and subscribe to events.
- Pros: Asynchronous processing, scalable.
- Cons: Difficult debugging, increased complexity.