Microservices architecture | Characteristics, uses, and example

We’ve been building systems for a long time. Several technologies and patterns have emerged. Microservices is an architectural pattern that arose from the worlds of domain-driven design, continuous delivery, platform, and infrastructure. Also, automation, scalable systems, polyglot programming, and persistence. Continue reading to learn about microservices architecture.

What is micro services architecture?

Robert C. Martin coined the phrase ‘single responsibility principle,’ which states, ‘gather together those things that change for a similar reason, and separate those things that change for dissimilar reasons.’

A microservices architecture extends this approach to loosely coupled services that can be developed, deployed, and maintained independently. Each service is in charge of a specific task and can communicate with other services via simple APIs to solve a more significant and complex business problem.

Microservices architecture characteristics

There is no standard model that you can see represented in every system on the basis of this architectural style. Also, there is no formal definition for the term microservices. However, most microservice systems share some characteristics. Below are the six attributes of microservices-

Multiple components

On can divide it into several component services. Why? So that each service can be deployed, tweaked, and redeployed independently without jeopardizing the application’s integrity. This way, you may only need to change one service. However, this approach has drawbacks such as expensive remote calls, coarser-grained remote APIs, and increased complexity when redistributing responsibilities.

Business approach

Microservices architectures are typically organized around business capabilities and priorities. Unlike traditional monolithic development approaches, where different teams specialize in user interfaces, databases, technology layers, or server-side logic, microservice architecture employs cross-functional teams. Each unit is in charge of creating specific products based on individual services that communicate via message bus.

Simple routing

Microservices function similarly to traditional UNIX systems, receiving requests, processing them, and generating a response. It is contrary to how many other products, such as ESBs (Enterprise Service Buses), operate. It is where high-tech systems for message routing, choreography, and the application of business rules come into play. Microservices have intelligent endpoints that process information and apply logic and ‘dumb pipes’ through which the data flows.

Decentralized

Because microservices involve a variety of technologies, traditional methods of centralized governance are ineffective. The microservices community prefers decentralized control so its developers can create tools others can use to solve similar problems. 

Microservice architecture, like decentralized governance, favors decentralized data management. Monolithic systems use a single logical database to support multiple applications. Each service in a microservice application typically manages its database.

Failure resistant

Microservices, like a well-rounded child, are built to deal with failure. Because several different services communicate, one of them may fail (for example, if the supplier is unavailable). In these cases, the client should allow its neighboring services to continue operating while gracefully exiting. 

On the other hand, monitoring microservices can help reduce the risk of failure. This requirement, for obvious reasons, adds complexity to microservices compared to monolithic system architecture.

Evolutionary

It’s an evolutionary design ideal for evolutionary systems where you can’t predict which devices will access your application in the future. Many applications begin with a monolithic architecture, but as new requirements emerge, they can gradually revamp them to microservices that interact with an older monolithic architecture via APIs.

What is the microservice architecture used for?

Microservices are typically put into use to accelerate application development. Microservices architectures built with Java are common, particularly those constructed with Spring Boot. Comparisons between service-oriented architecture and microservices are common. Both have the same goal- to break down monolithic applications into smaller components, but their approaches differ. Here are some examples of microservices architecture.

Website migration

They can migrate a complex monolithic platform-hosted website to a cloud-based, container-based microservices platform.

Media content

Using a microservices architecture, one can store images and video assets in a scalable object storage system and services directly to the web or mobile.

Transactions and invoices

Payment processing and the order can be separated as distinct service units, allowing payments to be accepted even if invoicing is unavailable.

Data processing

A microservices platform can supplement modular data processing services with cloud support.

Benefits of microservice architecture

Easier to implement	Deploy in chunks to avoid interfering with other services.
Easier to comprehend	Because the function is isolated and less dependent, the code is easier to follow.
Reusable throughout the business	Distribute small services such as payment or login systems throughout the organization.
Improved defect isolation	When a test fails or a service goes down, isolate it as soon as possible.
Minimized risk from change	Avoid committing to specific technologies or languages; instead, change on the fly with minimal risk.

Example of microservices

Netflix has a widely used architecture that has progressed from monolithic to SOA. Every day, it receives over one billion calls to its streaming-video API from over 800 devices. Each API call results in approximately five additional calls to the backend service.

Amazon has also made the switch to microservices. They receive countless calls from various applications, including those that manage the web service API and the website itself, which would have been impossible to handle with their previous, two-tiered architecture.

Key takeaways

• There are six main characteristics of microservices architecture- multiple components, business approach, simple routing, decentralized, failure resistant, and evolutionary.
• One can use it for website migration, media content, transaction and invoices, and data processing.
• Microservice architecture is easier to implement, comprehend, and reuse in business and has minimized risk from change.
• Netflix and Amazon are examples of microservice architecture.

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FAQs

Q1. What are the three components of a microservice?

Answer- A typical Microservice Architecture (MSA) should include the following components- Clients, Identity Providers, and API Gateway.

Q2. How is microservices different from API?

Answer- Microservices is a method of developing applications that divide their functionality into modular components. APIs are components of an application that allow it to communicate with other applications. Hence, one can use APIs to enable microservices. As a result, you can make software development easier.

Q3. What is the best language for microservices?

Answer- Java (41%), JavaScript (37%), and Python (25%) are the three most popular languages for microservices development.