An in-depth exploration of Solana application architecture, contrasting with traditional web applications and explaining how on-chain and off-chain components interact.

Overview

Understanding the architecture of Solana applications is essential for building scalable, performant dApps. This guide explains how Solana applications differ from traditional web applications and how the various components work together.

Key topics covered:

• Comparing traditional web architecture with Solana dApp architecture
• Understanding the role of on-chain programs vs. off-chain clients
• Designing data storage with Solana's account model
• Creating effective interfaces between frontend and on-chain logic
• Balancing on-chain and off-chain computation
• Managing state updates and user interactions
• Handling cross-program composition and security boundaries
• Scaling considerations for high-performance applications

Solana's architecture enables high-throughput, low-latency applications that can serve millions of users. Unlike traditional web applications with centralized servers and databases, Solana applications distribute computation and storage across a global network of validators, requiring different design patterns and architectural considerations.