3-Tier & 4-Tire

Architecture

By:
Saifullah &
Ubaidullah nazeer
 Three-Tier Architecture:
• A three-tier architecture is a client-server
architecture in which the functional
process logic, data access, computer data
storage and user interface are developed
and maintained as independent modules
on separate platforms
• Client system handles Presentation layer,
Application server handles Application
layer and Server system handles
Database layer.
• Three Tier application AKA Web Based
application
• A “tier” can also be referred to as a “layer”.
• Three layers involved in the application
– Presentation Layer (Client Tier)
– Application Layer (Business Tier)
– Data Layer (Data Tier)
 Presentation Layer:
• Also called Client layer.
• Top most layer of an application.
• This is the layer we see when we use a software.
• By using this layer we can access the webpages.
• The main functionality of this layer is to communicate with
Application layer.
• This layer passes the information which is given by the user in
terms of keyboard actions, mouse clicks to the Application
Layer.
• For example, login page of Gmail where an end user could
see text boxes and buttons to enter user id, password and to
click on sign-in.
• In a simple words, it is to view the application.
 Application Layer:
• It is also known as Business Logic Layer which is also
known as logical layer.
• As per the gmail login page example, once user clicks
on the login button, Application layer interacts with
Database layer and sends required information to the
Presentation layer.
• It controls an application’s functionality by performing
detailed processing.
• This layer acts as a mediator between the
Presentation and the Database layer. Complete
business logic will be written in this layer.
• In a simple words, it is to perform operations on the
application.
 Data Layer:
• The data is stored in this layer. Application
layer communicates with Database layer to
retrieve the data. It contains methods that
connects the database and performs required
action e.g.: insert, update, delete etc.
• In a simple words, it is to share and retrieve
the data.
 Advantages of using three-tier
architecture:
• It makes the logical separation between business layer and
presentation layer and database layer.
• Migration to new graphical environments is faster.
• As each tier is independent it is possible to enable parallel
development of each tier by using different sets of developers.
• Easy to maintain and understand large project and complex
project.
• Since application layer is between the database layer and
presentation layer so the database layer will be more secured
and client will not have direct access to the database.
• Posted data from presentation layer can be verified or
validated at application layer before updating it to the
database.
• Database Security can be provided at application layer.
• Application layer or middle layer or business layer can be a
protection shield to the database.
• New rules or new validation rules can be defined any time and
changes made to middle layer will not effect presentation
layer.
• Define any logic once within the business layer and that logic
can be shared among any number of components in the
presentation layer.
• We can display only necessary methods from business layer
in the presentation layer.
• We can hide unnecessary methods from business layer in the
presentation layer.
• Easy to apply object oriented concept
• Easy to update data provider queries.
Disadvantage of using three-tier
architecture:
• To implement even small part of
application it will consume lots of time.
• Need good expertise in object oriented
concept (classes and objects).
• It is more complex to build.
• Difficult testing.
 4-Tire Architecture
• 4-tires or layers involved in the application
– client tier
– delivery tier
– aggregation tier
– services tier
 client tier:
• A client tier accounts for the unique
attributes of different devices.
• This boundary allows developers to create
back-end services like flight status and
shipment notification independent of the
mobile app that will consume them.
 delivery tier:
• A delivery tier handles special middle-
and last-mile challenges.
• This element uses intelligence from the
client layer to determine the optimal way to
deliver contextually appropriate content.
 aggregation tier
• An aggregation tier integrates internal
and external services and transforms
data.
• This API layer has two brokerage roles,
– providing discoverability between app
requests and services and
– bidirectional translation between client
requests and back-end or third-party services.
 services tier:
• A services tier spans internally and
externally provisioned data and
functionality.
• This final architectural element
dynamically composes data and business
processes through a set of continuously
deployable services.
• This tier provides data to the layers above
without concern for how that data is
consumed
 Advantages of using 4-tier
architecture:
• In 4 tier architecture, you can add web
service layer between client and app
server through web server.
• Major advantage is SOA (Service Oriented
Architecture) in 4 tier system.
• Systems based on the four-tier
architecture had better platform portability
and the ability to support the mobile
terminals
• Reuseable
• strong scalability
• low coupling and
• high efficiency
 Disadvantage of using 4-tier
architecture:
• The complex structure is difficult to
implement or maintain.
• Additional effort is required due to
increase of performance
• Complexity of Communication
THANKS