How does n-tier architecture enhance software systems?

N-tier architecture enhances software systems by physically and logically separating functions into different layers or tiers. This design allows for better organization of code, facilitates maintenance, and promotes scalability. Each tier serves a specific purpose, such as presentation, business logic, or data storage, which means that changes in one layer do not necessarily impact others. This separation also helps in managing resources more efficiently, as different tiers can be deployed on different servers or environments, improving load distribution and performance.

In contrast, limiting functions to one layer can lead to a monolithic structure that is more challenging to manage and scale. Combining all functions in a single tier can create a complex and intertwined system that is harder to maintain and troubleshoot. Integrating hardware and software is a fundamental aspect of systems architecture but does not specifically address the separation of functions, which is the key advantage of n-tier architecture.