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Insight Horizon Media

What is architecture definition document?

Author

Rachel Hickman

Published Mar 16, 2026

What is architecture definition document?

The Architecture Definition Document is the deliverable container for the core architectural artifacts created during a project and for important related information. The Architecture Definition Document provides a qualitative view of the solution and aims to communicate the intent of the architects.

What should a solution architecture document contain?

This document should include the purpose, glossary, background, assumptions, references and other important information. Also, including the methodologies is also important.

What is architecture definition in Togaf?

The definition of an architecture used in ANSI/IEEE Std 1471-2000 is: “the fundamental organization of a system, embodied in its components, their relationships to each other and the environment, and the principles governing its design and evolution”.

What are typical enterprise architecture deliverables?

Enterprise Architectural deliverables may be valuable in and of themselves but that they are most important as input to: Business Process Improvement projects. Application Portfolio Analysis projects. Technology Architecture Evaluation projects.

What is a deliverable in architecture?

Deliverables: A more detailed set of drawings, specification book, and updated cost estimate.

What are the two main components of TRM?

TRM Components Any TRM has two main components: A taxonomy, which defines terminology, and provides a coherent description of the components and conceptual structure of an information system. An associated TRM graphic, which provides a visual representation of the taxonomy, as an aid to understanding.

How do I document my architecture?

Identify Stakeholders

  1. Identifying the stakeholders.
  2. Understand and document their motivations that could impact architecture.
  3. Understand expectations from the architecture documentation.
  4. Decide how we would address their concerns (identify ViewPoints).
  5. Agree on what you would produce.
  6. Get early feedback.

How do you write a system architecture document?

Document overview

  1. A general description of the system.
  2. The logical architecture of software, the layers and top-level components.
  3. The physical architecture of the hardware on which runs the software.
  4. The justification of technical choices made.
  5. The traceability between the architecture and the system requirements.

What kind of architecture does TOGAF deal with?

enterprise architecture
TOGAF is an architecture framework. TOGAF provides the methods and tools for assisting in the acceptance, production, use, and maintenance of an enterprise architecture. It is based on an iterative process model supported by best practices and a re-usable set of existing architecture assets.

What is architecture requirements specification?

The Architecture Requirements Specification provides a set of quantitative statements that outline what an implementation project must do in order to comply with the architecture. The Architecture Definition Document provides a qualitative view of the solution and aims to communicate the intent of the architect.

What is the difference between an artifact and a deliverable?

A deliverable is a work product that is contractually specified and in turn formally reviewed, agreed, and signed off by the stakeholders. An artifact is a more granular architectural work product that describes an architecture from a specific viewpoint.

What is archarchitecture definition document?

Architecture Definition Document. It contains the core architectural artifacts created during a project. The Architecture Definition Documents produces in phase B, C and D span all architecture domains (business, data, application, and technology) and also examines all relevant states of the architecture (baseline, interim state (s), and target).

What is archarchitecture definition document in TOGAF?

Architecture Definition Document is one of the TOGAF deliverables you can create with the TOGAF tool. This document describes the baseline and target business architecture for a project. It contains the core architectural artifacts created during a project.

How can I add more documentation to the architecture definition document?

If appropriate, use reports and/or graphics generated by modeling tools to demonstrate key views of the architecture. Route the document for review by relevant stakeholders, and incorporate feedback. Basically, these sub-steps are adding more documentation to the Architecture Definition Document.

Why use archarchitecture diagrams?

Architecture diagrams help to communicate structures, dependencies, progress, choices and impact much more clearly than text, even if you have a simple architecture. The example Enterprise Architecture Diagram for the SARAH, the Demo Company, in the EA document.