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name: architecture-paradigm-layered description: | Use a Layered (N-Tier) architecture to separate presentation, domain logic, and data access responsibilities within a system.

Triggers: layered architecture, n-tier, separation of concerns, presentation layer, data access layer, service layer, traditional architecture, monolith structure, layer enforcement, dependency direction

Use when: building traditional applications with clear boundaries, working with moderate-sized teams, needing familiar and well-understood patterns, compliance requirements demand clear separation

DO NOT use when: selecting from multiple paradigms - use architecture-paradigms first. DO NOT use when: high scalability needs independent component scaling. DO NOT use when: teams need independent deployment cycles - use microservices.

Consult this skill when implementing layered patterns or enforcing layer boundaries. version: 1.0.0 category: architectural-pattern tags: [architecture, layered, n-tier, separation-of-concerns, monolith] dependencies: [] tools: [dependency-validator, layer-enforcer, architecture-compliance-checker] usage_patterns:

• paradigm-implementation
• legacy-system-modernization
• team-structure-alignment
• compliance-requirements complexity: low estimated_tokens: 700

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The Layered (N-Tier) Architecture Paradigm

When to Employ This Paradigm

• When teams need clear architectural boundaries and a familiar structure for moderate-sized systems.
• When compliance or operations teams require clear separation of concerns (e.g., UI vs. domain logic vs. persistence).
• When the deployment artifact remains a monolith, but code clarity and separation are degrading.

When NOT to Use This Paradigm

• When high scalability demands require independent scaling of components
• When multiple teams need independent deployment cycles
• When complex business logic requires frequent cross-layer communication
• When microservices architecture is already planned or in place
• When real-time processing requirements make layered communication too slow

Adoption Steps

1. Define the Layers: Establish a clear set of layers. A common stack includes: Presentation -> Application/Service -> Domain -> Data Access.
2. Enforce Dependency Direction: Code in a given layer may only depend on the layer immediately below it. Forbid any "upward" dependencies or imports.
3. Centralize Cross-Cutting Concerns: Implement concerns like logging, authentication, and validation as centralized middleware or policies, rather than duplicating this logic in each layer.
4. Test Each Layer Appropriately: Apply testing strategies suitable for each layer, such as unit tests for the domain layer, service-layer tests for orchestration logic, and integration tests for persistence adapters.
5. Document and Enforce Interactions: Maintain up-to-date dependency diagrams and use automated architecture tests to prevent developers from creating "shortcut" dependencies that violate the layering rules.

Key Deliverables

• An Architecture Decision Record (ADR) that captures the responsibilities of each layer, the allowed dependencies between them, and the policy for any exceptions.
• A formal dependency diagram stored with the project documentation.
• Automated architectural checks (e.g., using ArchUnit, dep-cruise, or custom scripts) to prevent rule violations from being merged.

Technology Guidance

Layer Implementation Patterns:

• Presentation Layer: React/Vue/Angular (Frontend), MVC Controllers (Backend)
• Application Layer: Service classes, Application services, Use case orchestrators
• Domain Layer: Business entities, Domain services, Business rules validation
• Data Access Layer: Repository pattern, ORM mappers, Data access objects (DAO)

Architecture Enforcement Tools:

• Java: ArchUnit for dependency rule testing
• JavaScript/TypeScript: ESLint rules with dependency tracking
• C#: NDepend for architectural analysis
• Python: Custom decorators and import analysis tools

Common Layer Stacks:

• 3-Layer: Presentation → Business Logic → Data Access
• 4-Layer: Presentation → Application → Domain → Infrastructure
• 5-Layer: UI → Controller → Service → Domain → Persistence

Real-World Examples

Enterprise ERP Systems: SAP and Oracle ERP use layered architecture to separate user interfaces from business logic and database operations, enabling different frontend applications to share the same business rules.

Banking Applications: Financial institutions employ layered architecture to maintain strict separation between customer-facing interfaces, transaction processing, and secure data storage for regulatory compliance.

E-commerce Platforms: Traditional e-commerce sites use layered architecture to separate product catalogs, shopping cart logic, order processing, and payment handling into distinct layers.

Risks & Mitigations

• Excessive Rigidity and Latency:
  • Mitigation: For features that span multiple layers, strict adherence can lead to excessive "pass-through" code and increased latency. In such cases, consider using a Façade pattern to provide a more direct interface where appropriate.
• "Leaky" Layers:
  • Mitigation: Developers may be tempted to bypass architectural rules for expediency, which degrades the architecture. Treat all architectural violations as build-breaking failures or critical issues in code review.