Architecture view

Several software architecture development methods suggest a view-based approach to the design of software.

The following views are the most commonly used for this purpose.

• Context view.
• Component (aka. building block) view.
• Runtime view.
• Deployment view.

THe building block and deployment views are the most valuable ones in most software systems.

The building block view can be represented by UML package diagrams.

The context view might contain a business context or a technical context, or both. The technical context contains the physical channels between your system and its environment. It might contain different elements than the business context.

See also black-box view.

As long as the notation is explained, eg. via a legend, any notation can be sufficient for architectural views.

An architecture view is composed of one or more architecture models.