The Role of Business objects in Software Architecture

Business logic and business logic layer play an important role in designing software architecture, separating the business logic from other software layers that usually include a data access layer and user interface. In 3-tier software architecture, the business logic is usually occupying the middle tier, modeling real life business objects like accounts, inventories, schedules, etc. Software developers utilize business logic as a tool to design methods stipulating how business objects are accessed and updated, while developing algorithms for business objects to interact with each other.

Naturally, business logic applied in software architecture development is using business rules referring to real life business policies and objects like prices, products, locations, logistics, etc. In addition, it deals with workflows, which comprise of tasks aimed at passing data from one system to another. Thus, the use of business logic allows developers to further partition businessobjects into business processes and business entities, where business process objects usually contain no actual data elements but feature algorithms and methods prescribing how business entities are supposed to interact with each other. It is most visible in procedures like data exchange between a database and software user interface, but the same communication is also involved in many other processes and procedures that run beneath the surface of a well-designed business software.

Commonly, business logic is developed and applied as a separate module in a multilayered architecture, occupying the business services layer, which is often referred to as the middle tier. Basic principles of modern software architecture, however, allow software developers to combine methods, algorithms, and procedures used in all software tiers, resulting in a complex system where software tiers are interlinked and cross dependent.

Businessobjects within a business software application are expected to manage behaviors and be part of a broader structure of objects linked with strong business relationships. Thus, all and every businessobject should feature a set of properties, which determine its behavior and relationships with other objects. A businessobject can be a “Business Partner,” where its set of properties would include attributes like “Company Name”, “Address”, “Country”, etc. Furthermore, the afore-mentioned businessobject could be associated with contact personnel or other employees to map the object within a broader structure of similar objects.

In fact, object oriented programming deals with various types of objects not limited to financial and business concepts like “business partner”, but covering real-life objects or concepts such as an automobile, where complex data should be dealt with and managed. Furthermore, a business software application can be developed in such a way that its data access layer, after some re-programming, to be able to successfully communicate with other databases using the same business layer and business logic. It is extremely useful when complex modular business systems are implemented that are expected to interact with third party software in the future.

Thus, businessobjects are core elements of any business logic used in software architecture, securing the reliable performance of operations conducted when the so-called business entities interact with each other