Definition
An Architecture Decision Record (ADR) is the persistent artifact that records an accepted Architectural Decision and its rationale — the problem, alternatives considered, the decision, and its consequences. An ADR is not the decision itself; the decision is the act of evaluating evidence and approving a direction, while the ADR is what preserves that reasoning for the future.
Why It Matters
Architectural decisions often outlive the engineers who made them. Without a preserved record, future teams are forced to guess at the reasoning behind long-lived architecture. ADRs prevent that loss: acceptance creates architectural authority, and publishing an ADR records that authority so specifications can later implement it.
Related Concepts
- Architectural Decision Lifecycle
- Discovery
- Specification
- Traceability
References
- GV-0001 — Architectural Decision Lifecycle
- STD-0012 — Architecture Decision Records
- GUIDE-0009 — Architecture Decision Records
- docs/00-governance/decisions — Decision Register