In this blog, we will learn and discover the fundamentals of web application architecture and discuss its working, types, components, models, and much more.
2. A book has a manuscript.
A car has a design.
A building has a structure.
A human body has a skeleton.
In the same way, a web application
has a web application architecture.
3. CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. What is Web Application
Architecture?
3. How does Web Application
Architecture work?
4. Web Server Architecture Diagram
5. Web Application Architecture
Components
6. Web Application Architecture
Models
7. Web Application Architecture Types
8. Best Practices in Web Application
Architecture
9. Conclusion
5. We are surrounded by web applications right
from the start of our day to its end. It’s so simple
and easy to click, navigate and select whatever
you want on such web apps. But have you ever
imagined how much it takes to develop these
apps?
Web app development has progressed
exponentially for a few decades. The days of the
static pages are bygone. Over time, the
dynamicity of web apps has impressed the users
and increased user interactions as well. But, do
you know before starting with web app
development, it is primary to explore web app
architecture?
This detailed guide will discuss web application
architecture, working, components, types,
models, and best practices. The foremost lesson
to be kept in mind is: Building web applications is
not just coding! The development can be done
when architecture is done and dusted. So, let’s
start with the definition of web application
architecture.
7. Web application architecture is a skeleton
of a web application. It describes different
interactions taking place between
components, middleware, databases, and
user interfaces. Due to such interactions,
applications work together. Web application
architecture deals with the flow and
communication of the entire application
and handles the major aspects and
components of the product.
Web application architecture consists of
components having a logical description. It
determines the future design of the
application, user experience, infrastructure,
and software modules. Therefore, working
on the architecture is the foremost step for
developing a product.
Now, you might wonder how web
application architecture works? Your
answer is in the next section.
9. To understand better here’s a basic working
example of web app architecture.
We all know that web applications have two
sides- front-end and back-end.
The front-end of a web application is said to
be client-side, which interacts with users.
The front-end is written in HTML, CSS, and
Javascript. So when you open a web
application, whatever you see and interact
with comes under the front-end part.
10. Whereas the back-end is on the server-side
and inaccessible by the users. On the
server-side, the data is stored that can be
accessed and manipulated easily.
The HTTP requests of the back-end use the
data received by the users in the form of
images, text, and files. Back-end can be
easily developed using JS, Java, Python,
PHP, Rails, etc.
Whenever the user visits a web page, the
web server fetches the data and sends the
response to the browser based on the user’s
requests. Once the browser receives the
response, the interaction begins. This whole
process includes various components and
models, which we will explore in the next
section.
11. reduces bugs, poor user experience, and response
time
increases the application’s efficiency
Offers security
Solves business issues
Enhances visual aesthetics
Guarantees fast and better user experience
Enables A/B testing
Ensures higher automation level
Sustainable
Placing the web app architecture correctly
So, be careful and precise when it comes to dealing
with web application architecture.
Here are few attributes of the architecture:
Quick Read: Difference between Front-End, Back-
End, and Full-Stack Development
15. Components are the core part of web
application architecture. It determines the
functionalities of your application and the
quality of the user experience offered to the
users. The web application architecture is
categorized into two types:
1. UI/UX components
(client-side)
It includes the interface elements, input
controls, navigational components,
dashboards, statics and analytical elements,
admin panel, activity tracking, tools, design
layouts, and many more.
16. 2. Structural components
(server-side)
Web (client) browser
Web application server
Database server
It includes database storage and server
control. As the name suggests, it focuses on
the structural part of the web app. It mainly
comprises of:
While building components, we need to
figure out the appropriate and suitable
model. So, let’s proceed to our next section.
18. The model is selected based on architecture
and databases. Thus, for choosing the right
architecture model, you need to know these
three types of models.
One database, One Web
Server
One database, one web server is the most
basic and simple model used in web
application architecture models. As the
name suggests, developers use only a single
database and web server to develop the
application.
This is one of the most used models for
mobile application architecture. But, it has
one limitation: if the server is down, then
the whole application will be down.
Therefore, the model is less preferred for
web applications because of its limitation.
19. One database, Multiple Web
Servers
One database, a multiple web servers
model, is best for those applications where
data storage is not done using web servers.
Instead, the data is processed by the web
server and stored over the database.
This is a stateless architecture that consists
of at least two web servers. It is used for
avoiding impromptu issues causing failures.
For example, whenever one server fails due
to some reason, the second server would
take its place and executes the requests.
20. Multiple databases,
Multiple Web Servers
Multiple databases and multiple web
servers model is the most efficient model
that ensures no point of failure, neither for
web servers nor databases. The models
contain two kinds of database models that
store identical data and are distributed
evenly.
22. In this section, we will discuss the types of
web app architecture classified based on
front-end and back-end.
23. Front-end
Single Page Applications (SPAs)
Single Page Apps are more famous in this
minimalism era. A web page takes time to load
entirely, which kills user experience. But, SPAs
don’t allow loading the web pages completely.
Thus, it provides great and dynamic user
interaction.
Server Side Rendered Apps (SSR)
SSR is used to render the client-side Javascript
framework to HTML and CSS on the server-side.
Due to SSR, the delivery of the most important
assets is done quickly and thus renders the page
as soon as possible.
On every request, the server compiles the
information and serves a new HTML document to
the client-side. When the CSS is received, the UI is
designed accordingly, with no need of waiting for
JS to load.
24. Back-end
Microservices
Microservice is one of the service-oriented
architecture. Generally, microservices are
lightweight and small functionalities that execute
a single service. Also, there’s no boundation of
working with technology or programming
language. It means that developers can pick
language as per their will. There’s no inter-
dependency as they have their individual tasks to
deal with.
Serverless Architecture
Serverless architecture lets you outsource certain
operations and services using cloud-based
services.
The entire infrastructure of the architecture is
backboned by third-party providers. The provider
offers infrastructure management and
outsourcing servers.
26. Component flexibility
System flexibility
Easy detection of bugs
Performance level
Scalability
Reliability
Stability
Clear code structure
Reusability
Fast response time
Doesn’t crush
No point of failure
Secure
A properly planned and opted web application
architecture minimizes many impromptu issues
and bugs, saving a heck of development time
and resources. High-level architecture planning
is indeed the best way to get started with the
product.
Here are few parameters which one should
consider for evaluating an app structure:
28. Web application architecture is certainly
the backbone of applications. However, the
miscalculations and inaccuracy at this stage
are very costly; the product release date
could delay, or the budget/resource losses
could be encountered.
So, wisely put all the pieces together,
considering technical requirements, users,
and product goals.
The blog post has covered key parameters
and criteria which should be taken care of
and evaluated thoroughly for a viable
architecture. If you still have any doubts or
want a helping hand for better web
application architecture, contact Top-Grade
Custom Software Development Company.