Final answer:
A 2-tier architecture is a client-server design where the client handles both the user interface and direct database communication. The main characteristics include direct client-server interaction, simplicity, and potential limitations in scalability. An example is a desktop application that manages its user interface and database operations without an intermediate application server.
Step-by-step explanation:
Main Characteristics of a 2-Tier Architecture
The 2-tier architecture is a client-server system where the client handles the presentation layer and direct database communication happens without an intermediary application server. The main characteristics include:
Direct interaction between the client and the server, specifically the database server.
Simplified architecture compared to 3-tier systems, which can lead to easier implementation and maintenance for smaller applications or scenarios with limited complexity.
Potential limitations in scalability and flexibility as complexities grow, which could lead to performance bottlenecks or difficulties in managing business logic that is distributed between the client and the server.
Example of a 2-Tier Architecture
A concrete example of a 2-tier architecture is a desktop application that interacts directly with a database. The application presents the user interface and also includes the logic to communicate with the database server to perform CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete). This could be visualized as two layers:
Client Layer: The user interface and application logic reside here.
Server Layer: Database Server that processes database queries and returns results.
This type of architecture is commonly seen in small-scale applications where the application performs all logical operations and directly manages the data storage and retrieval with the database server.