architecture Last modified: Tuesday, January 31, 2006
(n.) A design. The term architecture can refer to either hardware or software, or to a combination of hardware and software. The architecture of a system always defines its broad outlines, and may define precise mechanisms as well. An open architecture allows the system to be connected easily to devices and programs made by other manufacturers. Open architectures use off-the-shelf components and conform to approved standards. A system with a closed architecture, on the other hand, is one whose design is proprietary, making it difficult to connect the system to other systems. Also see a diagram of n-tier application architecture in the quick reference section of Webopedia.
•E-mail this definition to a colleague• For internet.com pages about architecture . Also check out the following links! Hardware Central  Detailed test reports on the latest desktop and laptop computers. Plus news on trend-setting products just coming into the pipeline. University of Wisconsin's WWW computer architecture page  This resource page offers numerous links to computer architecture groups and projects, individuals and technical organizations, commercial information, literature, and publications. Internal Processor Architecture and Operation Describes processor instruction sets and modes, internal architectural components, the instruction execution process, and performance enhancing architecture features. This page is from "The PC Guide." Yahoo!'s page of computer architecture Yahoo!'s directory of computer architecture.	Computer Science Hardware Software COE EDA Flynns taxonomy MIMD MISD SIMD SISD UMA UPnP VLIW Give Us Your Feedback Shopping architecture Products Compare Products,Prices and Stores Shop by Category: Office Supplies 13 Store Offers Clothing 3392 Store Offers Motherboards 230 Model Matches Luggage 23 Store Offers