Multi-tenant architecture is crucial in SaaS platforms, allowing a single instance of software to serve multiple customers.
Types include shared database with shared schema, shared database with separate schemas, or separate databases for each tenant.
Benefits include cost-efficiency, scalability, and centralized management, while challenges involve data isolation, complex migrations, and increased security responsibilities.
Best practices include using tenant-specific identifiers, designing for scalability, monitoring tenant performance, and ensuring API and data security.