Popular Software Architecture Patterns You Should Know

Software architecture patterns are key when it comes to building software that’s easy to scale, maintain, and test. These patterns help tackle specific challenges by reusing code and making better use of resources.

A great example is the microservices architecture, which breaks down an application into smaller, independent services that communicate through APIs. The benefit of this architecture is that if one service fails, it doesn’t take down the entire application. That's why it is popular for developing systems that need to be running all the time.

Another popular pattern is the Model-View-Controller (MVC) structure, which divides responsibilities to keep the application organized and easier to maintain.

But there’s no one-size-fits-all architecture, so it’s important to know about the different patterns to choose the right one for your next project.

These architecture patterns are the "blueprint" of software—laying out the structure and organization, like using a microservices or layered setup. Let’s explore some popular architecture patterns and see what benefits each brings.

Common Software Architecture Patterns

1. Layered Architecture Pattern

Layered architecture organizes software into layers with specific responsibilities, like presentation, business logic, data access, and the database. Each layer handles a different aspect of the application.

For instance, in an e-commerce app, the presentation layer manages user interaction, while the business layer calculates the cart total, and the data layer interacts with the database.

You can develop scalable applications with this pattern.

It’s also helpful for teams who want a straightforward structure or have limited architectural knowledge.

2. Event-driven Architecture Pattern

Event-driven architecture uses components that communicate asynchronously through events, making it great for handling large data flows and complex workflows.

Imagine an e-commerce site where adding an item to the cart generates an event that updates totals, sends notifications, and reserves inventory, all without a central orchestrator. This setup lets services scale independently, ideal for applications needing real-time processing, like IoT data or financial transactions.

3. Microkernel Architecture Pattern

The microkernel architecture splits a system into a core and plug-in modules. The core handles essential functions, while plug-ins extend features as needed. Think of it like a task scheduler: the core handles the scheduling, and plug-ins define specific tasks. This pattern works well for systems that need frequent updates, as new plug-ins can be added without changing the core system.

Each pattern has its place and offers unique advantages based on the needs of your project. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into these and other popular patterns to help you make the best architectural choice for your software.

Click here to read the full article.