Back when I built my first web app, I thought, "How hard could it be? Frontend talks to backend, backend talks to a database—done."

Days later, I was buried in failing requests and tangled components.

It quickly became clear: without understanding architecture, everything falls apart.

When I finally sat down to untangle that mess, I realized web app architecture isn’t just about connecting dots, it’s about creating a system that doesn’t crumble under real-world pressure. It all comes down to 3 foundational pillars:

1. Flow of Requests (DNS & Load Balancers)

   Where does every user request start, and how do we ensure it reaches the right place without overwhelming the system?

2. Brains of the App (Backend Logic & Databases)

   Where decisions are made, data is validated, and everything starts to make sense—or fall apart.

3. Keeping the System Healthy (Observability & Security)

   Can you spot a problem before your users do? And can you stop threats before they become crises?

Every web app architecture lives or dies by these pillars. Nail these, and everything else becomes easier. Looking back, that tangled mess of requests and components was one of my best teachers.

If this breakdown made your mental diagram clearer, tap the ❤ — it means a lot.

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I'm Sketech | Unfiltered Dev Notes, Software Tech Lead & Project Manager, crafting tech visuals engineers love (I call them Sketech, easy to find when you need them) sketechnews.substack.com