Understanding DBMS Architecture A Database Management system is not always directly available for users and applications to access and store data in it. A Database Management system can be centralised (all the data stored at one location), decentralised (multiple copies of database at different locations) or hierarchical , depending upon its architecture. 1-tier DBMS architecture also exist, this is when the database is directly available to the user for using it to store data. Generally such a setup is used for local application development, where programmers communicate directly with the database for quick response. Database Architecture is logically of two types: 2-tier DBMS architecture 3-tier DBMS architecture 2-tier DBMS Architecture 2-tier DBMS architecture includes an Application layer between the user and the DBMS, which is responsible to communicate the user's request to the database management system and then send the response from the DBMS to