What are the key differences between MVC and MVVM architectures?

730 Sep 2024

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Introduction

MVC (Model-View-Controller) and MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel) are two prominent software design patterns used in application development. Both architectures help in separating concerns, but they approach it in different ways. Below are the key differences between MVC and MVVM.

MVC (Model-View-Controller)

Model
In MVC, the Model represents the data and the business logic. It is responsible for managing the data of the application and responding to requests for information, as well as updates to the data.
View
The View is responsible for displaying the data provided by the Model in a specific format. The View only knows how to present the data but is unaware of how the data is structured.
Controller
The Controller is the intermediary between the Model and the View. It handles the user input, manipulates the Model, and updates the View accordingly.
Flow of Data
In MVC, data flows from the Model to the View through the Controller. The View only renders the data provided by the Model.

MVVM (Model-View-ViewModel)

Model
Similar to MVC, the Model in MVVM is responsible for the application"s data and business logic. However, it has no direct knowledge of the View or ViewModel.
View
The View in MVVM is responsible for defining the structure, layout, and appearance of what the user sees. Unlike MVC, it binds directly to the ViewModel.
ViewModel
The ViewModel in MVVM serves as a middleman between the Model and the View. It manages the data-specific logic and states and provides data binding between the Model and the View.
Data Binding
MVVM supports two-way data binding, allowing automatic synchronization of the View and the ViewModel. This reduces the need for manual updates between the two layers.

Key Differences

MVC relies heavily on the Controller for communication, while MVVM uses ViewModel for binding the View and Model.
MVVM is more suited for applications with dynamic user interfaces that require frequent updates.
In MVC, the View and Controller are more tightly coupled, whereas MVVM provides better separation of concerns.
MVVM reduces the amount of code needed to connect the View and Model through its data-binding feature.