Web Application Architecture: Choosing the Best for Your Product

Web Application Architecture: How to Choose the Best for Your Product

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Web Dev

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Web application architecture is the backbone of any modern web-based product, defining how its components work with one another to deliver a flawless user experience. Choosing the right architecture is critical, as it directly impacts your application’s performance, scalability, security, and maintainability. With different architectural patterns and technologies available, finding the best option for your specific product can be a challenge.

Aspects like the complexity of the application, expected user traffic, future scalability, and security requirements, must all be considered when selecting an architecture. Whether you’re building a simple, single-page application (SPA) or a complex multi-layered enterprise solution, the right architecture ensures optimal functionality and user satisfaction. In this guide, I will: 

  • explore key elements of web application architecture
  • compare popular patterns
  • provide tips on how to choose the best one for your product’s needs, ensuring long-term success and stability

What is web application architecture? 

Let’s start from the very beginning and talk a little about some basic things you need to know about web application architecture. Web application architecture is the foundational framework that shapes the design and development of a web application. It consists of procedures and best practices that determine how various elements of the application — such as the frontend, backend, and database — work together to provide the necessary functionality.

In simpler terms, it’s like a layout that assures smooth interaction between the visible elements users interact with, the server-side logic, and data storage. The goal is to build a seamless, scalable system that meets the application’s functional requirements while also concentrating on performance, security, and ease of maintenance.

Components of web application architecture

Web applications vary in complexity and functionality, which directly impacts the number of layers and components involved in their architecture. Some apps are simple enough to operate as a monolithic structure, where the entire architecture is centralized in one place. However, most web applications consist of multiple components that work together.

Typically, web application architecture is divided into two main groups: user interface components and structural web components. The structural components include both client-side and server-side elements, which interact to provide the necessary functionality.

The architecture of a system can also include both existing third-party services and custom-built solutions. It’s essential to highlight that every architecture is multi-layered, and in this article, we will cover only the fundamentals to explain why understanding architecture is so important. However, don’t expect an in-depth technical explanation here — this article aims to provide an introduction. If you are interested in specific approaches, you can explore them through other articles in our blog or with the help of our consulting services.

Below is an overview of key elements represented in such diagrams:

  • DNS (Domain Name System)

DNS is a critical component that matches domain names with corresponding IP addresses. It ensures that user requests are routed to the correct server. DNS isn’t created from scratch: third-party services are used when it comes to this aspect of the architecture.

  • Load balancer

The load balancer helps distribute incoming user requests across multiple servers, ensuring that no single server becomes overwhelmed. By spreading the traffic evenly, it prevents overloads and ensures consistent performance. Load balancers help create multiple instances of the same service so all servers handle requests identically. Usually, ready-to-use solutions from cloud providers are used. 

  • Web app servers

These servers are responsible for processing user requests and sending the necessary responses back to the browser. To do this, web app servers communicate with various back-end components such as databases, job queues, and caching servers. These components are the base of the web architecture. 

  • Database

Databases store, retrieve, organize, and update data used by the application. The web app server directly interacts with the database to manage this data, performing operations like creating or updating records.

  • Caching service

A caching service facilitates faster data retrieval by storing frequently accessed information. When a user makes a request, the system can return results from the cache, speeding up response times, especially for repetitive or slow queries.

  • Job queue (optional)

Some web applications handle a large number of background tasks or jobs. A job queue organizes these tasks, ensuring they are processed in the correct order by the servers that manage job execution.

  • Full-text search service (optional)

Many applications offer a search feature, allowing users to find relevant information by searching for specific keywords. A full-text search service manages this process by scanning documents or data entries within the system to return the desired results.

  • CDN (Content Delivery Network)

A CDN is responsible for distributing static content, such as images or media files, to users. By utilizing a network of geographically distributed servers, a CDN ensures that content is delivered quickly to users no matter where they are located, reducing load times and improving user experience.

Each of these components plays an essential role in how web applications function, ensuring smooth interaction between users, data, and back-end processes. Keeping these elements in mind is crucial for optimizing performance and scalability in modern web app architecture.  

It’s important to understand that each module in architecture is not just an isolated functional block — it is a system in itself that impacts multiple architectural metrics. The role of the architect in proper design is to consider all business requirements and attempt to incorporate business preferences into the architecture. The challenge lies in creating a system that fulfills these needs, although in practice, it is far more complex than that. For instance, there are numerous subsets of architectural metrics, not to mention the variety of specific business requirements that need to be met simultaneously.

What is a 3-tier web architecture?

A 3-tier web architecture is a basic software design pattern that divides a web application into three distinct layers, each responsible for a specific set of tasks. This partition helps improve the scalability, maintainability, and flexibility of the application. The three layers in the architecture are the following:

1. Presentation or client layer (frontend) 

This is the user interface (UI) of the application and is responsible for displaying information to the user and handling user inputs. It typically consists of the web pages or application screens that users interact with, built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The presentation layer sends requests to the business logic layer and displays the results to the user.

2. Logic layer (application/business logic) 

The business logic layer processes user inputs, performs computations, and manages the core functionality of the application. This layer communicates with both the presentation layer (frontend) and the database layer, acting as a bridge between the two. It is where the application’s key operations and decision-making processes happen. This layer is usually implemented using programming languages such as Python, Java, .NET, or Node.js.

3. Data layer (database) 

This layer is responsible for storing, retrieving, and managing data. It communicates with the business logic layer to provide or save information. The data layer is where databases (SQL or NoSQL) reside, allowing persistent storage of the application’s information, such as user details, transactions, or content.

Benefits of 3-Tier web architecture include:

  • Separation of concerns: Each layer handles a specific responsibility, making the system easier to develop and maintain.
  • Scalability: Since each layer can be scaled separately, this architecture supports the growth of large-scale applications.
  • Flexibility: Components in one layer can be updated or replaced without affecting the others, improving the adaptability of the system.

Legacy vs Modern Architecture: What is the Difference?

The term legacy typically refers to outdated or old legacy systems, frameworks, or technologies used in the design and development of software, along with web applications. When it comes to legacy architecture, architecture can only be considered legacy if it was originally designed to meet business goals that are no longer relevant. These systems were usually developed utilizing technologies and practices that were common at the time, but have since been overtaken by more modern, efficient, and scalable approaches to solve your business challenges. 

When comparing legacy architecture and modern architecture in software and web development, several factors come into play, including scalability, flexibility, maintainability, and the ability to meet current technology demands. There are a lot of metrics that are typically used to evaluate architecture. In the table below, you’ll find an example of the basic metrics that can be used to understand the differences between legacy and modern architectures.

Legacy vs modern architecture

# Metrics Legacy architecture Modern architecture
1 Design Often follows monolithic designs, where all components of the application (UI, business logic, database access) are in a single codebase. Tends to use modular approaches where applications are split into independent services that can communicate with each other.
2 Scalability Scaling is often difficult and inefficient. Scaling a monolithic system typically means duplicating the entire application, which can be resource-intensive and costly. Microservices and containerization (e.g., using Docker, Kubernetes) allow for horizontal scaling, where individual components can be scaled independently based on demand. This results in more efficient resource usage and cost savings.
3 Deployment and updates Since all components are tightly coupled, new deployments and updating one part often requires redeploying the entire system, which can lead to downtime and complications. Modern systems embrace CI/CD pipelines (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment), allowing for automated testing, faster deployment, and more frequent updates. Individual microservices can be updated without affecting the entire application.
4 Technology stack Usually relies on older technologies and frameworks, such as COBOL, C++, or on-premise infrastructure, which may not be compatible with new tools or cloud environments. Utilizes modern languages and frameworks like Python, Node.js, JavaScript, and cloud-based services (AWS, Azure). It integrates cutting-edge technologies like APIs, GraphQL, cloud computing, and DevOps tools.
5 Maintenance and costs Maintenance costs are high due to outdated technology, and the difficulty of implementing changes. Legacy systems require specialized knowledge and the technical debt increases causing higher costs. Easier to maintain and evolve. By breaking down the system into smaller, independent components, technical debt is minimized.
6 Security Can be more vulnerable due to outdated software, lack of regular updates, and difficulty in patching systems. Modern architectures often have built-in security practices, including regular updates, automated patching, and secure cloud environments.
7 Flexibility Limited flexibility. Changes to one component often require changes to the entire system. Integrating new technologies or adapting to new business needs is typically slow and complex. Highly flexible and adaptable. Modular design means new features, services, or technologies can be easily added without disrupting the rest of the application. APIs and microservices make integration with third-party services straightforward.
8 Performance Performance can decrease as the application grows, especially with monolithic systems where all requests are processed by the same server or cluster. Performance is optimized through distributed architectures, such as microservices and cloud-based solutions, which allow for better resource management and faster response times.

Legacy architecture often has issues with scalability, flexibility, and maintenance due to its structure and reliance on outdated technologies. The most important thing to note is that business requirements change over time. What worked in the past may no longer be sufficient, which means both the approach and the architecture need to evolve to address new business challenges. In contrast, modern architecture leverages microservices, cloud infrastructure, and automation to provide a scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solution that aligns with current technological and business needs.

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Modern Web Application Architecture Layers

Modern web application architecture consists of several key components that work together to deliver a fully functional application. These components are typically divided into three main components: the frontend (client-side), the backend (server-side), and the database layer. Each plays a distinct role in ensuring smooth operation, scalability, and user interaction. Here’s a brief explanation of the key components:

1. Frontend (Client-Side)

The frontend, or client-side, is the part of the web application that users directly interact with. From the technological point of view, it might  include:

  • HTML, CSS, JavaScript: for example, these technologies form the core of the user interface, allowing the creation of interactive elements, styles, and layouts.
  • Single-Page Applications (SPA): popular frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js are used to build SPAs, where the content dynamically updates without fully refreshing the page.

2. Backend (Server-Side)

The backend handles the business logic, processes user requests, and communicates with the database. Key components include:

  • Server: manages incoming requests, processes them, and sends the appropriate responses to the frontend side.
  • Application logic: this includes the main business rules and functionality of the application, executed by using programming languages like Node.js, Python, Ruby, Java, or .NET.
  • APIs: used to enable communication between the frontend and backend, for example, RESTful APIs or GraphQL.

3. Database layer

The database stores and manages the application’s data. It can be:

  • Relational databases (SQL): databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, or Oracle organize data into tables and use structured query language (SQL) for management.
  • NoSQL databases: like MongoDB or Cassandra, these are used for large amounts of unstructured or semi-structured data.

Together, these components create the architecture that allows a web application to function, assuring data flows smoothly between the client and server.

3 Types of Web Application Architecture

Web application architecture defines how different components of a web app communicate and interact. The architecture layers might be divided into client-side architecture, server-side architecture, and a hosting approach. They affect how the application operates, performs, and scales. Let’s take a look at some common types of web application architecture in detail. 

1. Client-side Architecture

Client-side architecture refers to the structure and design of applications where the majority of the processing and user interface logic is executed on the user’s device. Let’s take a closer look at it.

Single-Page Application (SPA) Architecture

The single-page application architecture focuses on displaying only the necessary content, improving the overall user experience. It works by initially loading the web page and then updating only the required elements dynamically as users interact with the site, rather than continuously reloading entire pages. In simple words, SPAs avoid sending full-page requests to the server, instead bringing only the needed data.

This design leads to better navigation and a more user-friendly experience. The key point is that when we deal with a large amount of visual data in the form of diagrams, charts, and tables, we need to adjust to the specifics of the content. This approach to architecture was chosen specifically to make the user interaction smoother and more intuitive.

Advantages of SPA architecture include:

  • faster performance
  • greater flexibility in user experience

Disadvantages of SPA architecture include:

  • longer testing times
  • the potential risk of losing unsaved data
  • slower initial load time

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

Progressive web apps (PWAs) are a popular trend in web development due to their special format that merges the best of web and mobile applications. Through shared URLs, PWAs deliver an efficient and seamless user experience across browsers and devices. They’re frequently used in industries like entertainment, eCommerce, and finance. 

Advantages of PWA architecture include:

  • available across multiple browsers
  • mobile-first design
  • increased user traffic
  • effective performance even when offline

Disadvantages of PWA architecture include:

  • limited browser compatibility
  • restricted access to some native APIs
  • lower level of security (not the best option, for example, for Fintech) 

2. Server-side Architecture

Server-side architecture refers to the design and structure of software that runs on a server, handling requests from clients. It involves managing databases, business logic, authentication, and security. Common components include web servers, databases, and application logic layers.

Microservice architecture

Microservices offer an alternative to traditional monolithic web application architectures by breaking down functionality into small, modular services. These services are flexibly connected and communicate through APIs, helping developers deal with complicated business problems more efficiently. One of the main benefits is that individual components can be developed using different programming languages. Microservice architecture has gained popularity for its flexibility, especially with giant enterprises like Amazon, eBay, and Netflix, which rely on it for handling complex systems.

Advantages of microservice architecture include:

  • better scalability
  • enhanced fault tolerance
  • simplified codebase management
  • independent deployment of modules

Disadvantages of microservice architecture include:

  • complex testing and debugging processes
  • deployment can be challenging 
  • requires more time for development

MobiDev’s success story: Moving from Monolith to Microservices

Our client had an online platform and suite of tools designed for marketers and growth experts who leverage data-driven strategies and modern techniques for business growth. The business wanted to accelerate product development and upgrade its existing ecosystem to better align with current industry standards.

How we delivered: 

  1. Transitioning from monolith to microservices: MobiDev was tasked with supporting the website and modernizing its architecture. Our team conducted a thorough software audit and figured out the main issues to deal with. The primary challenge was moving away from the WordPress-based monolithic structure, which had become limiting. To address this, we transitioned to a microservices architecture and rebuilt the Community platform using Ruby on Rails (RoR). The initial concern was performance, but we overcame this by optimizing interactions with smart caching and leveraging Redis to boost efficiency.
  2. Advancing the System: Growth and Automation. As the system evolved, additional software was integrated to accommodate expanding functionality. Key components — such as user authentication, integrations, and billing — each required specific testing and deployment procedures. We utilized Docker to create high-performance virtual containers, ensuring smooth microservice interactions. The unified system was deployed on Heroku, with PostgreSQL as the database. Using Trailblazer for domain-driven design in RoR, we structured the business logic into entities like cards, projects, and integrations, making the system easy to navigate and onboard new team members quickly.
  3. Supporting product growth: With a twice-weekly release cycle and a team of up to 12 people, managing the dynamic project efficiently required careful coordination. We ensured transparency with the client and handled routine operations, allowing them to focus on scaling their business while we supported continuous product evolution.

Business outcomes

  • Advancing the system with a new architecture 

As the platform’s functionality grew, new software was added to support expansion. Key elements like user authentication, billing, and integrations required distinct testing and deployment processes. The team implemented Docker to create high-performance virtual containers, enabling seamless microservice interactions. 

  • Scaling the product and supporting growth

With a fast-paced release cycle, efficient project management became crucial. MobiDev ensured transparent communication with the client and handled routine operations, allowing the client to focus on scaling their business. The result was a continuously evolving platform, fully equipped to support long-term growth and innovation.

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MOVING FROM MONOLITH TO MICROSERVICES

3. Hosting approach

A hosting approach defines how websites or applications are stored, managed, and accessed online, balancing performance, scalability, security, and cost-effectiveness for users.

Serverless architecture

Serverless architecture allows web applications to outsource server and infrastructure management to third-party cloud providers, such as Amazon or Microsoft. This frees up developers to focus on front-end tasks and app logic, as the back-end infrastructure is handled by the provider. Serverless architecture is well-suited for companies looking to delegate server management to a reliable partner, allowing them to concentrate on developing specific features or functions within their app.

Advantages of serverless architecture include:

  • simplified infrastructure management
  • flexibility and scalability

Serverless architecture offers flexibility and cost-efficiency, but it has several disadvantages.

Disadvantages of serverless architecture include:

  • cold starts which can cause latency issues
  • vendor lock-in, which can make it difficult to switch to another service or run workloads elsewhere
  • less control over the server environment and infrastructure settings
  • complex debugging and troubleshooting
  • Sometimes it can cause high costs, so you need to make some calculations during the consultation stage

To sum up, each type of web application architecture has its unique strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different project needs.

Depending on your business needs, and the maturity of your development and infrastructure team, GCP offers App Engine or Cloud Run, Compute Engine, or Kubernetes Engine for building scalable architecture web apps.

How to Choose the Best Web Application Architecture

Choosing the best web application architecture is crucial for the success of your project, as it influences performance, scalability, security, and ease of maintenance. To make the right decision, you need to consider several factors, including your application’s requirements, user base, and long-term goals. Here’s a guide to help you choose the best web application architecture for your product.

1. Understand your web application’s requirements

First, the business requirements are gathered and then translated into technical specifications by the architect. Based on this, the system is designed. At the same time, you need to consider some aspects like: 

  • Complexity: Determine how complex your web application is. A simple content-based site may only need a single-page application (SPA), while a large-scale enterprise platform may require a more layered or distributed architecture, such as microservices.
  • Functional needs: Assess key functionalities such as user authentication, real-time updates, or third-party integrations.
  • Performance requirements: High-performance applications, like e-commerce or real-time platforms, may require an architecture designed to handle high loads and fast responses, for example, microservices. 

2. Think about scalability

  • Current and future traffic: Consider the number of users your application will need to support, both now and as it grows. If you expect traffic spikes or rapid growth, choose an architecture that can easily scale horizontally (e.g., microservices or serverless).
  • Modular design: Consider architectures like microservices, where individual components can be scaled independently based on demand.

3. Assess development speed and the necessary flexibility

  • Time-to-market: If fast deployment is a priority, consider frameworks and architectures that allow for faster development and updates, such as modular architectures with reusable components.
  • In-house expertise: Choose a tech stack that your development team is comfortable with. If your team specializes in specific technologies (for example, React for frontend, Node.js for backend), utilize architectures that align with those technologies. You can enhance your team’s capabilities by considering a dedicated development team model, where external experts fully integrate into your project for long-term goals. Alternatively, team augmentation allows you to temporarily bring in skilled developers to fill specific expertise gaps, helping to meet project deadlines or tackle complex challenges.

4. Consider security

  • Data sensitivity: Applications that manage sensitive data, such as financial or healthcare information, must prioritize security by design. It’s essential to choose architectures that incorporate robust web application security measures, including encryption, secure APIs, and multi-layered security features to protect against potential threats. This ensures that data remains secure throughout all stages of processing and transmission.
  • Compliance: Ensure the architecture adheres to industry standards and regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA, especially if your application deals with sensitive or regulated data.

5. Think about maintainability

  • Seamless updates: Choose an architecture that allows for easy updates and maintenance. For example, microservices and modular architectures allow you to update individual services without disrupting the entire system.
  • Technical debt: Opt for architectures that minimize complexity and technical debt. Simple applications may benefit from monolithic architectures, but for larger, evolving systems, modularity can reduce long-term maintenance costs.

6. User experience is a key

  • Client-side performance: Choose architectures that ensure fast load times and smooth user interactions, such as single-page applications (SPAs) for dynamic content, or progressive web apps (PWAs) that offer offline functionality.
  • Responsiveness: If real-time updates (for example, notifications and messaging) are critical, consider architectures that support WebSockets or server-sent events (SSE).

7. Leverage Cloud Services and Infrastructure

  • Cloud vs. on-premise: Decide whether your application will be hosted on-premise or in the cloud. Modern architectures, such as serverless or microservices, are well-suited for cloud environments, delivering flexibility and reducing infrastructure management.
  • Cloud-native tools: Take advantage of cloud-native tools for serverless applications that allow for auto-scaling, high availability, and reduced infrastructure overhead.

8. Consider your budget

  • Cost evaluation: Some architectures, such as such as monolithic or microservices, require more initial investment in development, while others, like serverless, may offer lower costs due to a pay-as-you-go model. 
  • Cost management: Balance your budget with your web application’s long-term goals and growth expectations.

9. Think about adaptability

  • Long-term vision: Choose an architecture that can develop with your web application’s future needs, such as adding new features or integrating with emerging technologies (for example, AI or IoT).
  • Modularity: Architectures like microservices allow you to easily incorporate new features without compromising existing functionality.

10. Consider different popular approaches to designing architectures

There are several popular architectural approaches, but it’s important to note that these are just for a basic understanding of web architecture principles. In practice, hybrid approaches are often used, combining modules from different architectural approaches to create the most efficient structure.

Some architectural approaches and use cases 

# Suitable cases Pros&Cons
1 Monolithic Best for simple applications with low complexity Easier to develop and deploy but can become difficult to scale and maintain as the application grows. Can be complex to manage
2 Serverless A choice for applications with fluctuating demand, as it automatically scales and reduces infrastructure management. It automatically scales and reduces infrastructure management. Suitable for cost-effective, event-driven architectures.
3 Single-Page Applications (SPA) Best for dynamic, interactive user interfaces. Initial load time may be a challenge
4 Multi-Page Applications (MPA) Suitable for larger applications where SEO and traditional page loading are important. It's easier to manage complex functionality but may not offer the fluid user experience of SPAs.

Choosing the best web application architecture depends on your product’s complexity, scalability needs, user base, security requirements, and long-term goals. Balancing these factors with budget and development resources will help you make an informed decision. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of different architectures can help you to be sure that your application is developed with performance, scalability, and maintainability in mind.

Our experts will design an architecture tailored specifically to your business, considering clear business requirements. In most cases, it will likely be a hybrid architecture, because this approach is more comprehensive and adaptable. This reflects the reality that, in real-world scenarios, everything tends to be mixed, and ideal, one-size-fits-all cases rarely exist. We blend different architectural models to ensure all critical aspects are covered, delivering an architecture that aligns perfectly with your business needs.

12 Web Application Architecture Best Practices

Implementing best practices in web application architecture allows you to build an application that is scalable, secure, maintainable, and performs efficiently. Following the best practices can help you avoid common pitfalls and optimize the development process for long-term success.

1. Adopt modular design

Split your application into distinct layers—frontend, backend, and data layer—so that each part of the system handles specific tasks. This reduces interdependencies and makes it easier to manage updates or changes. For large-scale applications, consider microservices where each service handles a specific function, allowing independent updates, scaling, and deployment.

Use reusable components in the frontend, especially in single-page applications (SPA) built with frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular, for easier maintenance and scalability.

2. Ensure scalability

Design your architecture to support horizontal scaling, where additional servers or instances can be added to handle increasing loads. Leverage cloud-based services such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure for auto-scaling capabilities, cost-effective resource management, and high availability.

3. Implement caching strategies

Use caching mechanisms like Redis, Memcached, or Varnish to store frequently accessed data and reduce the load on your database. Implement browser caching and CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) to cache static assets like images, scripts, and stylesheets, improving page load times. Cache API responses, especially for data that doesn’t change often, and reduce the need for repeated server queries.

4. Optimize performance

Use lazy loading to defer loading non-critical resources until they’re needed, speeding up initial page load times. Ensure your database queries are efficient and indexed properly. Consider using NoSQL databases for unstructured data or when high scalability is required. Enable compression for resources like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to reduce the size of data transferred over the network.

5. Enhance security

Always use HTTPS and SSL/TLS encryption to protect data in transit between the client and server. Implement strong authentication (OAuth, JWT) and authorization (role-based access control) mechanisms to protect sensitive areas of your web application. Prevent common vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS), by validating and sanitizing all user inputs. Perform regular code reviews and vulnerability assessments to identify and patch security gaps.

6. Enable Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) and  implement DevOps and automation

Integrate automated testing (unit, integration, and end-to-end tests) into your CI/CD pipeline to catch bugs early and ensure quality with every deployment. Use continuous deployment to ship code quickly and efficiently, reducing the risk of large-scale errors and enabling faster feedback cycles. Implement rollback strategies so that in the event of a failed deployment, the system can revert to the last stable state without downtime.

Use IaC tools like Terraform, Ansible, or AWS CloudFormation to automate the provisioning and management of your infrastructure, ensuring consistency and efficiency. Implement Docker and Kubernetes for containerization and orchestration, allowing applications to run consistently across environments and making it easier to manage microservices.

7. Use API-first design

Design your web architecture with API-first principles to ensure that your backend services are decoupled from the frontend. This allows multiple clients (web, mobile) to use the same APIs. Always version your APIs to avoid breaking changes when you release new updates, maintaining backward compatibility for existing clients.

8. Use asynchronous communication

Implement asynchronous messaging systems using tools like RabbitMQ, Kafka, or AWS SQS to handle tasks that don’t need to be processed immediately (e.g., sending emails or processing large data sets). For real-time communication (e.g., live chats, and notifications), consider using WebSockets, Server-Sent Events (SSE), or long polling to provide a seamless, interactive user experience.

9. Data management and integrity are important

Implement automatic data backups and create procedures for data restoration to prevent data loss. Use database partitioning (e.g., sharding) for large-scale systems to manage and distribute the data load more effectively. For applications handling sensitive or financial data, ensure that transactions are processed reliably using techniques like ACID compliance in SQL databases or eventual consistency in NoSQL.

10. Optimize for mobile & cross-browser compatibility

Ensure your application is mobile-friendly and works seamlessly across various devices and screen sizes by employing responsive web design techniques, such as flexible grids and media queries. In addition, regularly test your application across multiple browsers and platforms to guarantee consistent performance and appearance for all users. It’s also crucial to conduct web accessibility testing to ensure that your application is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Learn more about it in our comprehensive web accessibility testing guide.

11. Monitoring and logging

Use monitoring tools like Prometheus, Grafana, or Datadog to keep track of your application’s performance and identify issues before they escalate. Implement comprehensive error logging using services like Sentry, ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) to quickly detect and diagnose issues in production environments.

12. Focus on maintainability

Ensure clear documentation of code, APIs, and system architecture to make future maintenance easier. Continuously refactor code to reduce technical debt and improve overall code quality. Keep your code modular and clean, which helps in debugging, updating, and scaling the application.

Following these best practices ensures that your web application architecture is designed for performance, security, scalability, and ease of maintenance. By adopting modern tools, automation, modular design, and strong security measures, you can create a resilient, future-proof application that evolves with your business needs.

Options like PWA are not a fit for startups. It’s rather efficient if a business is stable, and the product owner knows who his end users are and what type of experience they expect (for example, the majority of them are Android users). The support of progressive web apps is not that extensive though. Recently, Firefox (which still makes 6.3% share of the U.S. market) stopped supporting PWA”, which proves that this web architecture type is still unstable.

Sergey Rykov

JavaScript Team Leader

Why build your web app with MobiDev

Building your web app with MobiDev offers a comprehensive, high-quality development experience tailored to your specific business needs. MobiDev combines expertise in cutting-edge technologies with a deep understanding of various industries, ensuring that your web application is both innovative and practical. Our team of skilled developers specializes in full-stack development, from frontend interfaces to backend services, ensuring a seamless, integrated product that performs efficiently. We understand that right now you’re probably not looking for a new development team because you most likely have one already. However, if the time ever comes when you decide to make a change, we invite you to check out our article on switching software development teams. Also, feel free to download our one-page guide on why you should build your web application with MobiDev to quickly learn about the advantages of working with us.

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What sets MobiDev apart, is its focus on custom solutions tailored to specific business needs. Our team takes the time to understand your business objectives and create an application that aligns with your goals. Whether you’re building a simple platform or a complex, scalable enterprise app, MobiDev’s agile approach ensures flexibility and adaptability throughout the development process. In addition, MobiDev’s long-term commitment to support and maintenance ensures that your application evolves with your business, providing ongoing updates and improvements. By choosing MobiDev, you are working with a reliable, forward-thinking development team that will help you bring your vision to life while ensuring scalability, performance, and sustainability.

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