The Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern is a pattern used for separating presentation details from business domain details. The Model in the pattern is the business model/domain and the business logic of the system. The View is the presentation of the data and the user interface of the system. The View (V) generally speaks to the Model via the Controller, which is usually responsible for gathering data from the V, and interacting with or updating the Model, as well as updating the V (either the V can be explicitly notified that it must be updated by the controller, or will be notified of changes from the Model by following an Observer pattern).

There are different variations to the classic MVC pattern, namely Model2, Model-View-Presenter (MVP), and PresentationModel (also known as Model-View-View-Model or just ViewModel).

PresentationModel is a pattern used in desktop Windows WPF applications and so will not be discussed here ...