A common pattern for solution architecture are different layer (aka tiers) e.g, frontend, backend and database. The common approaches such as micro-service and self contained (aka CSC- self contained system) are just different kinds of commonly used layer.
- Micro-service: architecture usually share a common frontend layer – usually the load balancer – which distributes in the independent lanes of services.
- CSC: Nothing is shared, the client has to manage the different services lanes by its own.