Exploring Model View Controller
At first glance, Model View Controller (MVC) may show some similarities with the classical three-tier architecture. You have the classification of your logical objects into three kinds and a clear separation between presentation and data layers. However, MVC and the three-tier architecture are two different concepts that often coexist.
The three-tier architecture is an architectural style where the elements (presentation, business, and data) are split into different deployable artifacts (possibly even using different languages and technologies). These elements are often executed on different servers in order to achieve the already discussed goals of scalability, testability, and so on.
On the other hand, MVC is not an architectural style, but a design pattern. For this reason, it does not suggest any particular deployment model regarding its components, and indeed, very often the Model, View, and Controller coexist in the same application layer...
