Architecture Document

An Architecture Document is a technical document that describes architectural structures, architectural patterns, and architectural decisions for system design.

• AKA: Architectural Documentation, Architecture Specification, Architecture Description Document, System Architecture Document.
• Context:
  • It can typically define Architectural Component through component specification.
  • It can typically establish Architectural Relationship through relationship diagram.
  • It can typically document Architectural Pattern through pattern description.
  • It can typically specify Architectural Constraint through constraint definition.
  • It can typically present Architectural View through viewpoint model.
  • ...
  • It can often include Quality Attribute through attribute specification.
  • It can often describe Architectural Layer through layer definition.
  • It can often establish Architectural Principle through principle documentation.
  • It can often define Architectural Style through style description.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Business Architecture Document to being a Technical Architecture Document, depending on its architecture domain focus.
  • It can range from being a Conceptual Architecture Document to being a Physical Architecture Document, depending on its architecture abstraction level.
  • It can range from being a Enterprise Architecture Document to being a Application Architecture Document, depending on its architecture scope.
  • It can range from being a Current-State Architecture Document to being a Future-State Architecture Document, depending on its architecture temporal focus.
  • It can range from being a Reference Architecture Document to being a Solution Architecture Document, depending on its architecture specificity level.
  • ...
  • It can integrate with Business Strategy Document for strategic alignment.
  • It can connect to Technology Roadmap for technology planning.
  • It can interface with Governance Framework for compliance verification.
  • It can communicate with Stakeholder Group for architecture communication.
  • It can synchronize with Change Management Process for architecture evolution.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Software Architecture Documents, such as:
    • Application Architecture Documents, such as:
      • Web Application Architecture Document for web system architecture.
      • Mobile Application Architecture Document for mobile system architecture.
    • System Architecture Documents, such as:
      • Distributed System Architecture Document for distributed architecture.
      • Embedded System Architecture Document for embedded architecture.
  • Enterprise Architecture Documents, such as:
    • Business Architecture Documents, such as:
      • Process Architecture Document for business process architecture.
      • Organizational Architecture Document for organizational structure.
    • Technology Architecture Documents, such as:
      • Infrastructure Architecture Document for IT infrastructure.
      • Data Architecture Document for data management architecture.
  • Solution Architecture Documents, such as:
    • Integration Architecture Document for system integration.
    • Security Architecture Document for security framework.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Design Pattern Catalog, which documents reusable patterns rather than specific architectures.
  • Technical Specification, which details implementation requirements rather than architectural structures.
  • Project Plan, which outlines project activitys rather than architectural designs.
• See: Technical Document, System Design Document, Architecture Framework, Architecture View, Architecture Pattern, Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture.

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