Software Testing Class

What is Difference Between Two-Tier and Three-Tier Architecture?

In my previous post I have outlined points to be considered while testing Web based applications. In today’s software testing class we are discussing about the Two-Tier and Three-Tier architecture.

All projects are broadly divided into two types of applications 2 tier and 3 tier architecture. Basically high level we can say that 2-tier architecture is Client server application and 3-tier architecture is Web based application. Below I am concentrating on the difference between Two-Tier and Three-Tier Architecture, what all advantages, disadvantages and practical examples.

Two-Tier Architecture:

The two-tier is based on Client Server architecture. The two-tier architecture is like client server application. The direct communication takes place between client and server. There is no intermediate between client and server. Because of tight coupling a 2 tiered application will run faster.

Two-Tier Architecture
Two-Tier Architecture

The above figure shows the architecture of two-tier. Here the direct communication between client and server, there is no intermediate between client and server.

Let’s take a look of real life example of Railway Reservation two-tier architecture:

Let’s consider that first Person is making Railway Reservation for Mumbai to Delhi by Mumbai Express at Counter No. 1 and at same time second Person is also try to make Railway reservation of Mumbai to Delhi from Counter No. 2

If staff from Counter No. 1 is searching for availability into system & at the same staff from Counter No. 2 is also looking for availability of ticket for same day then in this case there is might be good change of confusion and chaos occurs. There might be chance of lock the Railway reservation that reserves the first.

But reservations can be making anywhere from the India, then how it is handled?

So here if there is difference of micro seconds for making reservation by staff from Counter No. 1 & 2 then second request is added into queue. So in this case the Staff is entering data to Client Application and reservation request is sent to the database. The database sends back the information/data to the client.

In this application the Staff user is an end user who is using Railway reservation application software. He gives inputs to the application software and it sends requests to Server. So here both Database and Server are incorporated with each other, so this technology is called as “Client-Server Technology“.

The Two-tier architecture is divided into two parts:

1) Client Application (Client Tier)
2) Database (Data Tier)

On client application side the code is written for saving the data in the SQL server database. Client sends the request to server and it process the request & send back with data. The main problem of two tier architecture is the server cannot respond multiple request same time, as a result it cause a data integrity issue.

Advantages:

  1. Easy to maintain and modification is bit easy
  2. Communication is faster

Disadvantages:

  1. In two tier architecture application performance will be degrade upon increasing the users.
  2. Cost-ineffective

Three-Tier Architecture:

Three-tier architecture typically comprise a presentation tier, a business or data access tier, and a data tier. Three layers in the three tier architecture are as follows:

1) Client layer
2) Business layer
3) Data layer

1) Client layer:

It is also called as Presentation layer which contains UI part of our application. This layer is used for the design purpose where data is presented to the user or input is taken from the user. For example designing registration form which contains text box, label, button etc.

2) Business layer:

In this layer all business logic written like validation of data, calculations, data insertion etc. This acts as a interface between Client layer and Data Access Layer. This layer is also called the intermediary layer helps to make communication faster between client and data layer.

3) Data layer:

In this layer actual database is comes in the picture. Data Access Layer contains methods to connect with database and to perform insert, update, delete, get data from database based on our input data.

Three-tier Architecture
Three-tier Architecture

Advantages

  1. High performance, lightweight persistent objects
  2. Scalability – Each tier can scale horizontally
  3. Performance – Because the Presentation tier can cache requests, network utilization is minimized, and the load is reduced on the Application and Data tiers.
  4. High degree of flexibility in deployment platform and configuration
  5. Better Re-use
  6. Improve Data Integrity
  7. Improved Security – Client is not direct access to database.
  8. Easy to maintain and modification is bit easy, won’t affect other modules
  9. In three tier architecture application performance is good.

Disadvantages

  1. Increase Complexity/Effort

This is the common Question asked in the Interview. Hope this article helped you understanding Two-Tier and Three-Tier Architecture with example.
Thanks and Happy Testing!!!

I think this will have an idea of two-tier and three-tier architecture. To get software testing articles in your inbox click here to Subscribe with your email address link. Also I would like all of you to please join this discussion and add more valuable points to it. Thanks.

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74 thoughts on “What is Difference Between Two-Tier and Three-Tier Architecture?”

  28. It is really good. Can you name some Application Server? And,please tell me if Banking application is 3-tier application? My understanding from above explanation is Yes Reason being: All Customers information and account information,Amount Balance are kept in Data Source(3rd layer as per the example shown above).Front end is nodoubt is Presentation layer and where the transaction happens ( like, Transfer 50000 from Account A TO B ) is Business layer. Please correct me if am wrong in understanding.

    Reply

  30. It would have been useful to explain how the 3-tier model resolves the issue of the two ticket agents making simultaneous requests.

    Reply

  46. The “What is Difference Between Two-Tier and Three-Tier Architecture?” was a useful information for me but I wanted to know a bout the author of this topic but unfortunately I couldn’t find the author, in-cause of not plagiarizing this topic, I wanted to cite the reference.

    Reply

  66. it’s a nice article , clear to understand the difference between the two architectures . It’s really helpful for me . Thank you

    Reply

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