What Is the Difference Between MVC and MVVM

Short answer

MVC separates models, views, and controllers. MVVM separates models, views, and view-models that bind data automatically.

Key differences

• Controller vs ViewModel: Controllers handle user input and update models. ViewModels expose data that views bind to directly.
• Data binding: MVVM relies heavily on two-way data binding; MVC typically uses one-way updates.
• Testability: ViewModels are easier to unit test than controllers because they lack view dependencies.

When to use each

• Use MVC for server-rendered applications and traditional web frameworks.
• Use MVVM for rich client applications with complex UI state, such as WPF or Vue.js.