ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010:2011

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC/
STANDARD IEEE
First edition
2011-12-01
Systems and software engineering —
Architecture description
Ingénierie des systèmes et des logiciels — Description de l'architecture

Reference number
©
ISO/IEC 2011
©
IEEE 2011
©  ISO/IEC 2011
©  IEEE 2011
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ii © IEEE 2011 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword . iv
Introduction . v
1  Scope . 1
2  Conformance . 1
3  Terms and definitions . 1
4  Conceptual foundations . 3
4.1  Introduction . 3
4.2  Conceptual model of architecture description . 3
4.3  Architecting in the life cycle . 8
4.4  Uses of architecture descriptions . 8
4.5  Architecture frameworks and architecture description languages . 9
5  Architecture descriptions . 11
5.1  Introduction . 11
5.2  Architecture description identification and overview . 12
5.3  Identification of stakeholders and concerns . 12
5.4  Architecture view points . 13
5.5  Architecture views . 13
5.6  Architecture models . 13
5.7  Architecture relations . 14
5.8  Architecture rationale . 15
6  Architecture frameworks and architecture description languages . 16
6.1  Architecture frameworks . 16
6.2  Adherence of an architecture description to an architecture framework . 17
6.3  Architecture description languages . 17
7  Architecture view points . 17
Annex A (informative) Notes on terms and concepts . 19
Annex B (informative) Guide to architecture viewpoints . 27
Annex C (informative) Relationship to other standards . 31
Bibliography . 35

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Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of
ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees established
by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC technical
committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental and non-
governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information technology, ISO
and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
IEEE Standards documents are developed within the IEEE Societies and the Standards Coordinating
Committees of the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) Standards Board. The IEEE develops its standards
through a consensus development process, approved by the American National Standards Institute, which
brings together volunteers representing varied viewpoints and interests to achieve the final product. Volunteers
are not necessarily members of the Institute and serve without compensation. While the IEEE administers the
process and establishes rules to promote fairness in the consensus development process, the IEEE does not
independently evaluate, test, or verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in its standards.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of ISO/IEC JTC 1 is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards adopted
by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as an International
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is called to the possibility that implementation of this standard may require the use of subject matter
covered by patent rights. By publication of this standard, no position is taken with respect to the existence or
validity of any patent rights in connection therewith. ISO/IEEE is not responsible for identifying essential
patents or patent claims for which a license may be required, for conducting inquiries into the legal validity or
scope of patents or patent claims or determining whether any licensing terms or conditions provided in
connection with submission of a Letter of Assurance or a Patent Statement and Licensing Declaration Form, if
any, or in any licensing agreements are reasonable or non-discriminatory. Users of this standard are expressly
advised that determination of the validity of any patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, is
entirely their own responsibility. Further information may be obtained from ISO or the IEEE Standards
Association.
ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 7, Software and systems engineering, in cooperation with the Software and Systems
Engineering Standards Committee of the Computer Society of the IEEE, under the Partner Standards
Development Organization cooperation agreement between ISO and IEEE.
This first edition of ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 cancels and replaces ISO/IEC 42010:2007, which has been
technically revised.
© ISO/IEC 2011 – All rights reserved
iv © IEEE 2011 – All rights reserved

Introduction
The complexity of man-made systems has grown to an unprecedented level. This has led to new
opportunities, but also to increased challenges for the organizations that create and utilize systems. Concepts,
principles and procedures of architecting are increasingly applied to help manage the complexity faced by
stakeholders of systems.
Conceptualization of a system’s architecture, as expressed in an architecture description, assists the
understanding of the system’s essence and key properties pertaining to its behaviour, composition and
evolution, which in turn affect concerns such as the feasibility, utility and maintainability of the system.
Architecture descriptions are used by the parties that create, utilize and manage modern systems to improve
communication and co-operation, enabling them to work in an integrated, coherent fashion. Architecture
frameworks and architecture description languages are being created as assets that codify the conventions
and common practices of architecting and the description of architectures within different communities and
domains of application.
This International Standard addresses the creation, analysis and sustainment of architectures of systems
through the use of architecture descriptions.
This International Standard provides a core ontology for the description of architectures. The provisions of this
International Standard serve to enforce desired properties of architecture descriptions. This International
Standard also specifies provisions that enforce desired properties of architecture frameworks and architecture
description languages (ADLs), in order to usefully support the development and use of architecture
descriptions. This International Standard provides a basis on which to compare and integrate architecture
frameworks and ADLs by providing a common ontology for specifying their contents.
This International Standard can be used to establish a coherent practice for developing architecture
descriptions, architecture frameworks and architecture description languages within the context of a life cycle
and its processes (not defined by this International Standard). This International Standard can further be used
to assess conformance of an architecture description, of an architecture framework, of an architecture
description language, or of an architecture viewpoint to its provisions.
Users of this International Standard are advised to consult Clause 4 to gain appreciation of the provided
ontology, its concepts and principles.

© ISO/IEC 2011 – All rights reserved
© IEEE 2011 – All rights reserved v

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010:2011(E)

Systems and software engineering — Architecture description
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the manner in which architecture descriptions of systems are organized
and expressed.
This International Standard specifies architecture viewpoints, architecture frameworks and architecture
description languages for use in architecture descriptions.
This International Standard also provides motivations for terms and concepts used; presents guidance on
specifying architecture viewpoints; and demonstrates the use of this International Standard with other
standards.
2 Conformance
The requirements in this International Standard are contained in Clauses 5, 6 and 7. There are four situations
in which claims of conformance with the provisions of this International Standard can be made.
 When conformance is claimed for an architecture description, the claim shall demonstrate that the
architecture description meets the requirements listed in Clause 5.
 When conformance is claimed for an architecture viewpoint, the claim shall demonstrate that the
architecture viewpoint meets the requirements listed in Clause 7.
 When conformance is claimed for an architecture framework, the claim shall demonstrate that the
architecture framework meets the requirements listed in 6.1.
 When conformance is claimed for an architecture description language, the claim shall demonstrate that
the architecture description language meets the requirements listed in 6.3.
Requirements of this International Standard are marked by the use of the verb “shall”. Recommendations are
marked by the use of the verb “should”. Permissions are marked by the use of the verb “may”. In the event of
a conflict between normative figures and text, the text takes precedence. Please report any apparent conflicts.
NOTE This International Standard is designed such that “tailoring” is neither required nor permitted for its use when
claims of conformance are made.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
architecting
process of conceiving, defining, expressing, documenting, communicating, certifying proper implementation
of, maintaining and improving an architecture throughout a system’s life cycle
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NOTE Architecting takes place in the context of an organization (“person or a group of people and facilities with an
arrangement of responsibilities, authorities and relationships”) and/or a project (“endeavour with defined start and finish
criteria undertaken to create a product or service in accordance with specified resources and requirements”)
[ISO/IEC 12207, ISO/IEC 15288].
3.2
architecture
system fundamental concepts or properties of a system in its environment embodied in its elements,
relationships, and in the principles of its design and evolutio
...