TOGAF® Standard, 10th Edition · OGEA-101 Foundation · Quick revision
Architecture
Official definition — learn word for word
1.“The fundamental concepts or properties of a system in its environment embodied in its elements, relationships, and in the principles of its design and evolution.”
2.“The structure of components, their inter-relationships, and the principles and guidelines governing their design and evolution over time.”
Meaning 1 is taken from ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010: 2011. Meaning 2 is TOGAF's second meaning, used depending on the context.
TOGAF “embraces but does not strictly adhere to” ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 terminology.
Source: CC §4.8 · CC §3.2
Memory aid
Two lenses on the same thing:
ISO lens — concepts or properties of a system in its environment
TOGAF lens — structure of components + principles over time
Memory aid — not TOGAF wording.
In plain words
Architecture is the big-picture design of something complex: what the parts are, how they connect, and the rules that guide how it is designed and changes over time.
Plain-English summary — not TOGAF wording.
Worked example
DUK's student-services architecture: the parts (student portal, DWMS workflow, PayFlask payments), how they connect (APIs, one shared student record), and principles such as “one login for every service”.
Illustrative example (Digital University Kerala) — not from the Standard.
01Mind map — related concepts
Architecture
TWO MEANINGS
ISO 42010 (1) · TOGAF structure (2)
FOUR DOMAINS
Business · Data · Application · Technology
EXPRESSED BY
An Architecture Description (views, models)
DEVELOPED WITH
The ADM — tested, repeatable process
SYSTEM + ENVIRONMENT
The enterprise is treated as a system
NOT TO CONFUSE WITH
Architecture Description or a single view
Source: CC §3.2–3.4 · AC §3.1
02Architecture vs Architecture Description vs View
| Concept | What it is | Key words |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | The fundamental concepts or properties of a system in its environment (meaning 1) | Concepts · properties · principles of design and evolution |
| Architecture Description | A work product used to express an architecture; a collection of architecture views and models that together document the architecture | Work product · expresses |
| Architecture View | A representation of a system from the perspective of a related set of concerns | One perspective · one or more models |
Source: CC §4.8, §4.20 · AC §3.1
03Where it appears in the ADM
Whole ADM
The ADM provides a tested and repeatable process for developing architectures, within an iterative cycle of continuous architecture definition and realization.
CC §3.4
Phases B, C, D
Develop the Business, Information Systems (Data + Application) and Technology Architectures to support the agreed Architecture Vision.
CC §3.4
Phases B–D · Step 9
Create/Update the Architecture Definition Document — the deliverable that documents the Architecture Description.
ADM §4.3.9, §6.3.9, §7.3.9, §8.3.9 · CC §3.6
04Exam traps
“TOGAF strictly follows ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 terminology” → It embraces it but does not strictly adhere to it, and adds a second meaning
“Architecture has one official definition” → Two meanings, used depending on context (§4.8)
“Architecture means IT architecture” → TOGAF supports four domains: Business, Data, Application, Technology
“The Architecture Description is the architecture” → It is a work product used to express the architecture
“One view is enough to describe an architecture” → An Architecture Description is a collection of views and models
05Self-test — tap to reveal
Q1Where does TOGAF's first meaning of architecture come from?
ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010: 2011.
Q2Give TOGAF's second meaning.
The structure of components, their inter-relationships, and the principles and guidelines governing their design and evolution over time.
Q3Does TOGAF strictly adhere to ISO 42010 terminology?
No — it embraces but does not strictly adhere to it.
Q4Name the four architecture domains.
Business, Data, Application, Technology.
Q5What expresses an architecture?
An Architecture Description — a collection of views and models.
Q6What does TOGAF consider the enterprise to be, for architecture purposes?
A system.
Q7Which deliverable documents the Architecture Description?
The Architecture Definition Document.
Q8What does the ADM provide?
A tested and repeatable process for developing architectures.