To provide a uniform representation for Architecture descriptions, the ArchiMate Enterprise Architecture modelling language has been developed. It offers an integrated architectural approach that describes and visualizes the different architecture domains and their underlying relations and dependencies.

This specification contains the formal definition of ArchiMate® as a visual design language with adequate concepts for specifying inter-related architectures, and specific viewpoints for selected stakeholders. This is complemented by some considerations regarding language extension mechanisms, analysis, and methodological support.

Key Features

• Archimate is simple but comprehensive enough to provide a good structuring mechanism for architecture domains, layers, and aspects
• Archimate  incorporates modern ideas of the “Service Orientation” paradigm
• Although it intentionally resembles the Unified Modelling Language (UML), the ArchiMate modelling notation is intuitive and much lighter than currently proposed by UML 2.0
• The two enterprise architecture standards of The Open Group – TOGAF and ArchiMate – complement each other and can be used well in combination
• Tool support for the ArchiMate language is already commercially available