Introduction
When building software, especially mobile and web applications, developers rely on architectural patterns to organize code, separate concerns, and ensure scalability. Among the most widely used are MVC, MVP, MVVM, MVVM-C, and VIPER.
Each has its own advantages, trade-offs, and use cases. Let’s break them down.
1. MVC: Model–View–Controller
How it works:
- Model → Manages data and business logic
- View → Displays the user interface
- Controller → Handles user input and updates the model/view
Examples (Web frameworks):
- JS: Express.js
- PHP: Laravel, Symfony
- Python: Django
- Others: Ruby on Rails, ASP.NET MVC
👉 Simple to implement but can lead to Massive View Controllers in complex apps.
2. MVP: Model–View–Presenter
How it works:
- Model → Data + business logic
- View → UI, passive (does not handle logic)
- Presenter → Middleman that updates the view and interacts with the model
Examples (Web frameworks):
- JS: AngularJS (early versions used MVP-like separation)
- PHP: CodeIgniter (when structured with presenters)
- Python: None widely adopted in web, but can be implemented with Flask patterns
- Others: Google Web Toolkit (GWT), legacy Android apps
👉 Clear separation, but the Presenter can become bloated as apps grow.
3. MVVM: Model–View–ViewModel
How it works:
- Model → Data and logic
- View → UI
- ViewModel → Binds data to the view (via reactive data binding)
Examples (Web frameworks):
- JS: Vue.js, Angular (with two-way binding), Knockout.js
- PHP: Laravel Livewire, Symfony UX
- Python: Django with HTMX or Channels (reactive approaches)
- Others: SwiftUI (iOS), Jetpack (Android)
👉 Great for reactive UI and scalable apps. Requires careful handling of bindings to avoid complexity.
4. MVVM-C: Model–View–ViewModel–Coordinator
How it works:
Same as MVVM, but adds a Coordinator to manage navigation and flow between screens.
Examples (Web frameworks):
- JS: Next.js with React Context (navigation handled via coordinators/routers)
- PHP: Symfony with workflow bundles
- Python: Django with complex URL routing patterns
- Others: Common in modern Swift apps
👉 Prevents bloated ViewModels by keeping navigation separate.
5. VIPER: View–Interactor–Presenter–Entity–Router
How it works:
- View: Displays UI
- Interactor: Contains business logic
- Presenter: Prepares data for the view
- Entity: Data objects
- Router: Handles navigation
Examples (Web frameworks):
- JS: Modular React with Redux + Router
- PHP: Hexagonal architecture in Symfony/Laravel
- Python: Clean Architecture in FastAPI or Flask
- Others: iOS enterprise apps (VIPER pattern)
👉 Very structured, highly testable, but can feel too heavy for small apps.
Comparison Table
| Pattern | Best For | Example Frameworks | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| MVC | Simple apps, web apps | Express.js, Laravel, Symfony, Django, Rails, ASP.NET MVC | Controller becomes too large |
| MVP | Legacy Android, structured web frontends | AngularJS, CodeIgniter, GWT | Presenter can get bloated |
| MVVM | Modern mobile & web apps | Vue.js, Angular, Laravel Livewire, Django + HTMX, SwiftUI | Complex data binding |
| MVVM-C | Large apps with complex navigation | Next.js (React), Symfony workflows, Django routing | More boilerplate |
| VIPER | Enterprise apps, modular systems | React + Redux, Symfony Hexagonal, FastAPI Clean Arch, iOS VIPER | Heavy for small apps |
Conclusion
Choosing between MVC, MVP, MVVM, MVVM-C, and VIPER depends on your project scale, team size, and requirements.
For enterprise-grade modularity, VIPER provides unmatched structure.
For simple apps, MVC is still fine.
For reactive UIs, MVVM shines.
For complex navigation, MVVM-C adds clarity.