What is MVC?
MVC stands for Model-View-Controller. It’s a way of organizing code so that the data (Model), the user interface (View), and the logic that ties them together (Controller) are kept separate.
Let's break it down
- Model: the part that holds and manages the data, like a spreadsheet or a database.
- View: what the user actually sees on the screen, such as buttons, text, and images.
- Controller: the “traffic cop” that receives user actions (like clicks), updates the Model, and tells the View what to show.
Why does it matter?
Keeping these three pieces separate makes programs easier to understand, change, and test. It also lets developers work on different parts at the same time without stepping on each other’s toes.
Where is it used?
- Web frameworks such as Ruby on Rails, Django (with a similar pattern), and ASP.NET MVC.
- Mobile apps built with iOS’s UIKit or Android’s architecture components.
- Desktop applications like Microsoft’s Windows Forms or Java Swing.
- Game development tools that separate game data, rendering, and input handling.
Good things about it
- Clear separation of concerns → cleaner, more maintainable code.
- Reusable components: the same Model can serve multiple Views.
- Easier testing: you can test the Model and Controller without a UI.
- Parallel development: designers work on Views while developers focus on Models and Controllers.
- Scalable: large projects stay organized as they grow.
Not-so-good things
- Can add extra layers of code, making simple projects feel heavyweight.
- Learning curve: beginners must understand three moving parts instead of one.
- Over-engineering: for tiny scripts or prototypes, MVC may be unnecessary complexity.
- Tight coupling can still happen if the boundaries aren’t respected, leading to “spaghetti” code.