Defining the Terms Architecture, Design, and Implementation

Definitions of software architecture abound. We’ve been collecting definitions from visitors to our Web site (http://www.sei.cmu.edu/architecture/definitions.html) and already have received dozens. However, we are interested not only in understanding the term “software architecture” but in clarifying the difference between architecture and other related terms such as “design” and “implementation.” The lack of a clear distinction among these terms is the cause of much muddy thinking, imprecise communication, and wasted, overlapping effort. For example, “architecture” is often used as a mere synonym for “design” (sometimes preceded with the adjective “high-level”). And many people use the term “architectural patterns” as a synonym for “design patterns.”