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What is the difference between Layer and Tier?

I am confused about these two terms. What do these two terms mean? What is the difference between Layer and Tier?

Solution

  • Sometimes people use them interchangeably but in my mind a layer is a logical separation (GUI, data access, business logic etc)and a tier is a physical separation (separate servers...ie web server, database server etc).

    See the entries in Wikipedia: Multitier Architecture vs Multilayered architecture