Terminology

2205 terms, tools, patterns and metrics an architect is expected to use precisely. Each one gets a short explanation of what it is, and — where it matters — what it is commonly confused with. Search filters as you type; the column headers sort.

All areas2205 Architecture Fundamentals77 Distributed Systems107 Data Architecture110 Cloud Architecture94 Networking88 API & Integration Architecture82 Reliability & Resilience75 Observability70 Performance & Capacity Engineering72 Security Architecture86 Cost Architecture & FinOps71 Business Architecture67 Architecture Communication67 Enterprise Architecture66 Legacy Modernization71 AI-Era Architecture69 Software Architecture & Engineering71 Architecture Patterns71 Architecture Decision-Making63 The Architect's Meta-Skills61 Delivery & Release Engineering66 Platform Engineering & Developer Experience70 Testing & Quality Architecture66 Data Platform Architecture64 Streaming & Real-Time Data69 Data Governance & Semantics69 Frontend & Experience Architecture66 Edge, Mobile & IoT68 Regulatory & Data Protection Architecture65 Assurance, Audit & Model Risk64

Kind Any concept794 practice734 pattern368 metric125 case-study77 tool62 protocol45

4 terms shown.

Term	Kind	Topic	What it is
Golden Path Paved Road, Service Template, Supported Path	pattern	Paved Roads	A generated, fully-configured starting point for a new service that arrives with observability, pipeline, identity, ownership and cost attribution already in place - making the compliant path the fastest one r…
Golden Path Adoption	metric	Paved Roads	The proportion of teams voluntarily using the supported path, which is the honest measure of whether a platform is solving real problems.
Paved Roads Golden Path	pattern	Paved Roads	A supported, opinionated default path that is the easiest way to do the right thing — governance by convenience rather than by mandate.
Spend Control Gate Funding Gate, Investment Approval Control	practice	Paved Roads	Architecture governance applied at the point money is committed rather than at design review, so the conversation happens while the decision is still reversible and the centre has actual authority.