Layered Architecture Pattern in Java: Building Scalable and Maintainable Applications

About 3 min

Also known as

N-Tier Architecture

Intent of Layered Architecture Design Pattern

The Layered Architecture design pattern helps organize applications into groups of subtasks at different levels of abstraction, facilitating independent development and maintenance of each layer.

Detailed Explanation of Layered Architecture Pattern with Real-World Examples

Real-world example

Imagine constructing a modern high-rise building, analogous to using the Layered Architecture design pattern in software development. This pattern allows each software layer, such as the data layer, service layer, and presentation layer, to support seamless interaction while maintaining independence, enhancing maintainability and scalability. Just as a building is divided into layers such as the foundation, structural floors, residential floors, and the rooftop, each with specific functions and built using different materials and techniques, a software application can be similarly structured.
In this analogy, the foundation represents the data layer, responsible for managing database operations. The structural floors are akin to the service layer, which contains business logic and rules. The residential floors parallel the presentation layer, which deals with user interfaces and interactions. Finally, the rooftop could be seen as the API layer, allowing external systems to communicate with the application.
Just as each floor in a building is constructed to support the layers above and below, each software layer supports seamless interaction with its neighboring layers while maintaining a degree of independence. This structure allows for easy maintenance and updates, such as refurbishing the interiors (presentation layer) without affecting the underlying structures (business logic and data layers).

In plain words

The Layered Architecture pattern organizes software into hierarchical groups of tasks, each encapsulated in distinct layers that interact with each other, facilitating ease of maintenance, scalability, and clear separation of concerns.

Wikipedia says

In software engineering, multitier architecture (often referred to as n-tier architecture) or multilayered architecture is a client–server architecture in which presentation, application processing, and data management functions are physically separated.

Programmatic Example of Layered Architecture in Java

On the data layer, we keep our cake building blocks. Cake consist of layers and topping.

@Entity
public class Cake {
  @Id
  @GeneratedValue
  private Long id;
  @OneToOne(cascade = CascadeType.REMOVE)
  private CakeTopping topping;
  @OneToMany(cascade = CascadeType.REMOVE, fetch = FetchType.EAGER)
  private Set<CakeLayer> layers;
}

The service layer offers CakeBakingService for easy access to different aspects of cakes.

public interface CakeBakingService {
  void bakeNewCake(CakeInfo cakeInfo) throws CakeBakingException;
  List<CakeInfo> getAllCakes();
  void saveNewTopping(CakeToppingInfo toppingInfo);
  List<CakeToppingInfo> getAvailableToppings();
  void saveNewLayer(CakeLayerInfo layerInfo);
  List<CakeLayerInfo> getAvailableLayers();
}

On the top we have our View responsible for rendering the cakes.

public interface View {
  void render();
}
@Slf4j
public class CakeViewImpl implements View {
  private final CakeBakingService cakeBakingService;
  public CakeViewImpl(CakeBakingService cakeBakingService) {
    this.cakeBakingService = cakeBakingService;
  }
  public void render() {
    cakeBakingService.getAllCakes().forEach(cake -> LOGGER.info(cake.toString()));
  }
}

Layered Architecture Pattern Class Diagram

When to Use the Layered Architecture Pattern in Java

This pattern is suitable for structuring applications that can be divided into groups where each group has a specific role or responsibility. Common in enterprise applications, it simplifies dependencies, enhances maintainability, and supports scaling and technology stack segregation.

Use the Layers architecture when

You want clearly divide software responsibilities into different parts of the program.
You want to prevent a change from propagating throughout the application.
You want to make your application more maintainable and testable.

Real-World Applications of Layered Architecture Pattern in Java

Web applications where the presentation, business logic, and data access layers are distinctly separated.
Enterprise systems where core functionalities are isolated from interface applications and databases.

Benefits and Trade-offs of Layered Architecture Pattern

Benefits

Improved manageability with separation of concerns
Easier to update or modify one layer without affecting others
Promotes reuse of functionalities.

Trade-offs

Potential performance overhead due to layer interaction
Complexity in layer management
Challenges in designing an effective layer distribution.

Model-View-Controller: Shares separation of concerns by dividing application into input, processing, and output. Layered Architecture often implements an MVC within its presentation layer.
Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA): Both patterns emphasize modularization but SOA focuses more on distributed services that can be reused across different systems.