Comment by bdcravens
4 years ago
Most SPAs don't interact directly with the datasource, but interact with a middle service. Also many older architecture do draw entire "pages" on the screen at once, rather than manipulating only individual components. (at least not on every interaction)
Clearly, we can't have an SPA front end performing an SQL query directly. The HTTP/GQL/REST services are the SPA equivalent of that data source (they are still a data source). The C++ and VB apps written back in the day were single user programs so yes that's a difference but not by much architecturally.
"Pages" are similarly in SPAs too. We usually have a router that helps the app decide what main "page" is on the screen.