Architectural patterns provide a high-level structural framework for software applications, describing the major components, their relationships, and the overall shape and structure of the software. They're essentially reusable solutions to common problems faced in software architecture.

When to Use

• When starting a new project and deciding on its overarching structure.
• When refactoring an existing application to cater to new requirements or to solve identified design problems.

Fundamental architectural patterns

Microservices

An architectural style that structures an application as a collection of loosely coupled services, which can be developed, deployed, and scaled independently.