What is Web Application Architecture and Why is it Important?

Web apps have surely taken a solid hold of the digital landscape. This has forced businesses to evolve, considering all the latest technologies and the ever-rising expectations for security.

With the market for web apps remaining competitive and the need for safe solutions increasing, web app architecture considerations are now more paramount than ever.

This “foundation” of web app development is seen as the backbone of building an application for your business.

Appropriate architecture ensures your web applications remain responsive, secure, and scalable with a growing company.

In this article, we will discuss the different components, types, and models of web application architecture.

You will always know just which web app architecture fits your needs if you understand the concept of proper architecture for web app development. Keep reading for more!

What Is Web Application Architecture?

Web application architecture is a part of software architecture that refers to the procedures involved in, as well as the structure of, browser-based applications.

That’s why certain developments require a different kind of digital architecture, such as game apps for Android and cloud computing in IoT programs.

The architecture of a web application consists of several components and a description of their logical interaction.

It is as crucial as the solution architecture is important for businesses.

It influences the future design of your product, its IT infrastructure, user experience, and software modules (web architecture design), as well as the marketing and monetization of your future online application.

Primary Goals of Web Application Architecture

» The chief objectives of web application architecture involve significant efforts toward ensuring the efficiency, reliability, and scalability of a digital system.

» It aims to assist in offering a seamless and intuitive user experience by arranging front-end components, including interfaces and interactions, in an order that is convenient for the user.

» The approach deals with the backend functionality. The development keeps in mind a server strong and efficient to perform app logic, process data, and communicate effectively with the frontend frameworks like Next JS vs React.

» The other goal is the scalability approach in the web application architecture, by which the growth of users or volume of data could be managed without disturbing the performance of the system.

» Then, the web application architecture also takes into account security aspects to protect some sensitive information and prevent actual threats.

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What Is the Importance of Web Architecture?

It would be wonderful to know that web application design is the very first step towards developing software. So, what does digital product architecture mean?

The web’s structure is the base of all other elements from which production is made. It will also save significant time and money in future development processes.

If the critical step described is skipped, simplification, scaling, or production of particular components in a specific programming language for app development will be delayed.

The second is that high-level web architecture is notoriously hard to change or modify.

To make such a significant change, you usually need to start from scratch. Your mobile app development using Python architecture may change, causing delivery delays and lost funds.

Third, bad architectural decisions made during the development of your web applications may increase their cost of maintenance.

Architecture Diagram for a Web Application

The user-server process scheme elaborates on the core of web application architecture. Here is the web application architecture diagram for your better understanding:

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Software Architecture vs. Software Design

The architecture of your website is the result of the front-end development phase. The documents that describe such an architecture elaborate on the high-level components and their relationships within the system.

For web application development, the work in digital architecture includes specifying a relevant pattern and other important aspects of the components within your system, such as choosing NoSQL or SQL.

Using the latest web design trends, first define the patterns, the problem of software design is discussed at a late stage of product development, namely, at the code level.

Software design is the process of producing direct code for the elements of a web application’s architecture and aggregating software modules and classes.

Features of Web Application Architecture

Here are some of the features below:

1. Scalability, Flexibility, and Growth

It needs to be designed so that it can handle increasing numbers of users and requests over time.

This involves the ability to add more computing resources, like additional servers, and handle growing amounts of data and traffic too, as cloud computing for small businesses has changed the game.

2. Modularity

It should be modular so that elements such as databases, API development, or front-end interfaces can be developed, tested, and deployed in separate cycles.

This means the work will be more accessible, and the risk of conflicts between components will be reduced.

3. Performance-Based

It can be noted that optimization of web application architecture has been achieved for fast page loading and better convenient access, with smooth use of the application and its features.

Some possible considerations include caching data retrieval and processing on the server side.

4. Advanced Security

It must ensure that users’ information and transactions are secure from any form of attack and intrusion. This calls for secure data storage, communication channels, and access to sensitive information.

5. Maintenance

It should be designed and developed in such a way that this application could evolve and get better with time without hassle to users.

This can be achieved by having excellent documentation in code and proper structure in the components and their dependencies during the system development life cycle.

It also allows the features and technologies to be easily integrated into the application.

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Components of Web Application Architecture

Application components are the most critical but not the only factors in designing a web application. Your database for web applications and middleware system design process should also involve data interaction.

What will finally be functioning, as well as the quality of experience that the user will have with your web application, depends on which components your system has.

Most web applications, however, are built from many layers of components. Usually, the web application architecture is categorized into two groups: structural web components and user interfaces (UI/UX).

The structural web components also included both client-side and server-side components.

Modern web application architecture uses UI/UX components. The first set of elements is developed in Python vs Java or NodeJS.

The designers create UI and UX roadmaps. Moreover, a functional web application interface is commonly developed from their design layouts as well.

Descriptions alone may need to understand the whole system because numerous components are involved clearly.

That is where a web application architecture diagram comes in handy, for it offers a visible representation of the components and their interactions.

Let’s take a closer look at the key elements shown in this diagram.

1. DNS (Domain Name System)

Abbreviated DNS stands for domain name system. The DNS part matches up IP addresses with domain names. In this way, one given server receives the request passed along by a given end user.

2. Load Balancer

This directs incoming requests from application users to one of multiple servers, so when too many users are active concurrently, the load spreads better.

Most often, the web application services take the form of several copies that replicate each other to ensure that all the servers process requests in the same manner.

Additionally, the load balancer is an element that distributes tasks so they won’t overcharge.

3. Web App Servers

It is an application deployment descriptor. It takes into account the requests of users and sends back some outcomes to a few initial browsers.

The backend infrastructure must be used, which may include the database, job queue, cache server, latest backend languages, etc.

4. Database

The meaning of this component is pretty straightforward. It offers various instruments to perform, delete, organize, and update data entries.

Mainly, web app servers interact with functional servers without any intermediary. You also have to consider how blockchain is different from traditional database models.

5. Caching Service

The component grants easy and quick data storage and search. When the user receives the info from the server, search results can be cached. As a result, future requests will be returned much faster.

These are the cases in which caching proves to be effective:

» Slow or repeated computation

» Where a client gets almost the same result in response to an input request

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6. Job Queue

It is made up of two components: a job queue and servers, which service the jobs. Most web servers handle a large number of jobs that are not crucial.

A job to be serviced goes in a queue and would be serviced according to the schedule.

7. Full-Text Search Service (Optional)

There are a variety of web applications allowing for search by text. At this point, if the application retrieves the required results of the relevant user, that process is called a full-text search

Consequently, it will find the requested data by keyword among all available documents within a system.

8. CDN

The abbreviation CDN stands for the content delivery system. This system delivers static content, including images and other files.

Strictly speaking, there are several servers located geographically closer to end-user locations than the app database.

Thus, CDN delivers the content much better to users who are located all over the world, hugely decreasing the load times.

9. Data Warehouse

New applications rely on efficient and streamlined processing of data. Data is first passed through a “firehose,” ensuring that it is streamed continuously.

The raw, processed, and additional data collected are then housed in secure, scalable cloud storage.

10. Services

As a web application grows to a certain degree of complexity, the introduction of services will automatically be an intrinsic part of that application.

The services appear as discrete applications, though they may not necessarily be given any apparent presence on the interface of the web application.

In all these, the critical role of these services cannot be overlooked since they seem to work in perfect combination with the leading web application and other services connected to the same application.

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Types of Web Application Architecture

There are various types of web app architecture depending on the logic that separates how a web app is distributed between the server side and the client side.

These include, among others, the following:

Single Page Application (SPA) Architecture

Single-page application is the technique of developing web applications that feel very similar to those developed using traditional desktop and mobile applications.

The most crucial difference between SPA and traditional web application architecture is that SPA utilizes only a single page to render most of the application’s content.

This makes it faster to surf through and thus improves the user experience.

Single-page application (SPA) architecture advantages:

» Speedy Performance

» Flexible UI/UX

Single-page app architecture disadvantages:

» The testing process takes more time

» Unsaved work might be lost

» It takes more time to load the first page

Microservices

It is a design approach, let’s say to build a Flutter web app, in a manner that reduces complexity and improves scalability.

The microservices architecture consists of small units of code known as services that work together to offer one function or service.

Since each service works independently, they are also easy to test, deploy, and manage. Like cloud services for databases as a service.

Microservice architecture advantages:

» It is easier to scale up

» It provides better fault tolerance

» The codebase is easy to understand

» Independent modules can be deployed

Microservice architecture in disadvantages:

» Testing and debugging issues

» Complexity in Deploying

Serverless Architectures

Serverless architecture is one of the kinds of web app architecture; it gives the freedom to focus on building their platform rather than managing infrastructure.

The most significant advantage of serverless architectures is the fact that it’s possible to scale applications on demand without worrying about the infrastructure going on underneath.

Serverless architecture advantages:

» No server management

» Highly Scalable

» Minimized Latency

» Fast and Agile

Serverless architecture disadvantages:

» Security issue

» Complexity is very high

Progressive Web Apps

Progressive web apps are top-rated in the entertainment, finance, and eCommerce app development industries.

Their main advantages include being lightweight, cost-effective, a cross-platform app development framework, able to attract web traffic, and having a complete experience.

Progressive web app architecture advantages:

» Availability of browsers

» Mobile-first approach

» Increased traffic

» Effective offline performance

Progressive web app architecture disadvantages:

» Restricted browser support

» Narrow utilization of native APIs.

The Layers of a Web Application’s Architecture

The logic of layers allows for making a more accurate estimate of the development cost of a web application:

Presentation Layer (PL)

It is responsible for collecting input data and processing it, and finally, it presents the response given by the server on the client’s browser. The presentation layer constitutes the whole of the user interface.

Besides this, it encompasses each constituent of the UI design principles and all interactions that may take place between a user and a web page.

Business Layer (BL)

Depending on the choice between monolithic or microservice architecture, your web application has specific features. To share with the user, you must implement them as a function in the system’s business logic layer.

These functions are login, online ordering, chatting, and different types of interaction on the content of the page.

Data Access Layer (DAL)

This layer also forms part of the regular web architecture build. Secondly, it serves as an interface to the data that you store away in the memory of the server.

This layer will, therefore, grant you access to and modification of your data. This includes creation, reading, updating, and deleting, or what is commonly known as CRUD.

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Web Application Architecture Models

The web application’s model is decided based on the best database for web development and servers used by the web application. This can be any of the following three options:

One Database, One Web Server

Every application service has dedicated databases. This pattern of architecture is ideal for applications that require low latency, isolation, and availability from multiple data centers.

The single drawback is higher operational complexity. It is where the microservices architecture comes in handy.

One Database, Multiple Web Servers

With this type of web application component model, no information will be stored on the web server.

The web server accepts information from a client, processes it, and then inputs it into a database that is run independently of the server. Sometimes, the term “stateless architecture” is used to describe this.

It is a web application architecture model that calls for at least two web servers. All this is in a bid to prevent failure. If one of the servers is shut down, the second web server will take over.

Multiple Databases, Multiple Web Servers

This is the most efficient model. There are two options presented to the users of the multi-server model: they either store all their data within the used databases or scatter it across those databases.

The first case usually requires fewer than two databases, whereas the second scenario potentially loses some data in case of a database failure. The two scenarios benefit from normalization by the DBMS.

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Web Application Architecture Best Practices and Current Trends

We have covered all the aspects of the web app architecture, so let’s focus on some of the best practices and latest trends regarding the same.

Best Practices of Architecture of Web Apps:

Latest Trends Relating to the Architecture of Web Apps:

Final Thoughts

The associated technologies, as well as the best frameworks, evolve with the web. Modern web application development has replaced the old legacy architecture and basic building blocks.

Thus, it is essential to choose the proper web application architecture because it would impact how well this web app performs.

The speed and robustness of the web app, plus its security aspect, shall also determine how responsive the app is.

Arramton Infotech is a leading web development company, and we make sure that the features required for developing that web app are integrated while developing it and that all the critical aspects are well included in it.

Therefore, if you require app development services and you need some help regarding its architecture, then do not hesitate to contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is Web Application Architecture?

Ans: Web application architecture is the structural outline that guides the web application design and development. It includes principles and best practices that set how various parts of the application work to meet the needs and functions that the application targets.

Q. What are the types of web architecture?

Ans: Here are some kinds of web application architecture:

Serverless

It eliminates the need to handle the infrastructure and thus lets programmers build applications faster.

Microservices

Pops is a famous architecture for building large, distributed web applications. It is loosely coupled, and hence, services could be updated, changed, and scaled independently.

Single-page application (SPA)

Load when the user opens the site; no constant reloads are required.

Progressive web application

It is a single software application running on multiple operating systems and even accessed in the absence of an internet connection.

Q. What is the 3-layer architecture of web applications?

Ans: Three-tier architecture is a well-established software app architecture that categorizes applications into three logical and physical tiers: the presentation tier, or user interface; the application tier, wherein data is processed; and the data tier, where application data is stored and managed.

Q. What is an architecture diagram for a web application?

Ans: The web application architecture diagram states its components, interactions, and different layers as a representation for developers, designers, and stakeholders concerning how the app works.