MVC - A PATTERN OR A FRAMEWORK?

[Pradeep bhatt]

HI,
Is MVC a pattern or framework ?
I understand it as a pattern but my friend say it is a framework.

[Frank Carver]

This question has cropped up here a few times. I believe the consensus is that what most people know as "MVC" is an "architectural pattern" which in turn can make use of several "design patterns", if needed.
A framework is an actual implementation of some sort, designed to be extended, adapted or customised as appropriate to the needs of your application.

[Prakash Nulu]

MVC is a Design Pattern and the Struts is the Framework to implement MVC

[Ilja Preuss]

I would agree with Frank that MVC is rather an Architectural Pattern than a Design Pattern - but the distinction probably isn't that important.
Struts is *one* implementation of the pattern - there are, of course, an uncountable amount of others.

[Pradeep bhatt]

Hi all,
whatz the difference between design patterns and architectural pattern

[Ilja Preuss]

Originally posted by Pradeep Bhat:
Hi all,
whatz the difference between design patterns and architectural pattern

It's mostly a matter of magnitude:
- a Design Pattern is a solution to a rather localized problem - like "how can several classes share and customize a basic algorithm" -> Template Method.
- an Architectural Pattern is a solution to a rather global problem and therefore often more abstract than a Design Pattern - like "how can I shape the system, so that changes in the UI don't affect the model" -> MVC

[Fisher Daniel]

Dear all,
In J2EE, there are a lot of design patterns, like Session Facade, Value Object, etc...
Are these Architectural Patterns ?
thanks
daniel

[Ilja Preuss]

Originally posted by Fisher Daniel:
Dear all,
In J2EE, there are a lot of design patterns, like Session Facade, Value Object, etc...
Are these Architectural Patterns ?

No, those are Design Patterns - they are rather affecting a small number of objects instead of the whole architecture, afaik.