architecture

An ADR (Architecture Decision Record) is a structured document that captures constraints, options, decisions, and rationales. It improves alignment and traceability by providing a clear record of why a specific system design choice was made.

To document architectural trade-offs, use an ADR template to evaluate pros, cons, and constraints. This framework guides you through recording the decision and its consequences, ensuring traceable rationale for choices like monolith versus microservices.

You can apply the ADR framework across all project contexts, from small modules to large systems. It provides scalable templates and checklists for decision recording during design reviews and architecture planning regardless of system size.

The best way to capture system design rationale is using a structured ADR framework. It provides templates for requirements analysis and trade-off evaluation, ensuring your data strategy and deployment pattern decisions are documented and traceable.

You need ADR templates during architecture planning and design reviews to capture context and record decisions. Use them whenever a significant architectural choice is made to ensure constraints, options, and rationales are traceable.

Undocumented architectural decision making scatters rationale across a project, losing critical context. Using a structured ADR framework solves this by formally capturing trade-offs and consequences, which improves team alignment and traceability.