Terminology

2225 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 areas2225 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 Architecture74 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 Architecture69 Streaming & Real-Time Data69 Data Governance & Semantics74 Frontend & Experience Architecture66 Edge, Mobile & IoT68 Regulatory & Data Protection Architecture65 Assurance, Audit & Model Risk69

Kind Any concept801 practice736 pattern377 metric127 case-study77 tool62 protocol45

4 terms shown.

Term	Kind	Topic	What it is
Concentration Risk Systemic Dependency, Single-Provider Exposure, Vendor Concentration	concept	Third-Party Risk	The exposure created when many organisations, or many parts of one organisation, depend on the same provider - so that a single failure is correlated across the system rather than isolated.
Fourth Party Risk	concept	Third-Party Risk	The dependencies of your dependencies, which you did not choose, may not know about, and remain accountable for.
Processor Instruction Boundary Controller-Processor Line, Own-Purpose Test	concept	Third-Party Risk	The line at which a vendor stops acting only on your documented instructions and starts pursuing purposes of its own - which decides your lawful basis, your consent gating and your breach clock.
Third-Party Risk Assessment Vendor Risk, Supplier Assurance	practice	Third-Party Risk	Evaluating the security, resilience and compliance posture of suppliers whose failure would become your incident.