This document discusses web application architecture and design patterns. It describes a three-layer architecture with presentation, application, and data layers. For the presentation layer, forms are commonly used to structure user interfaces. The application layer focuses on business processes and components. The data access layer exposes database data. Popular design patterns like MVC, PAC, and others are explained as ways to achieve separation of concerns and improve maintainability. MVC divides the presentation layer into separate controller and view components. PAC defines a hierarchical structure of cooperating agents with presentation, abstraction, and control components.