Linked.Archi C4 Model Viewpoints
type: Ontology
imports: core#
license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
preferred namespace prefix: c4vp
creator: Kalin Maldzhanski
description: C4 model viewpoints corresponding to the four abstraction levels defined by Simon Brown. Each level zooms into the previous one, providing progressively more detail. The Deployment diagram is an additional cross-cutting viewpoint.
created: 2026-04-15
modified: 2026-04-15
publisher: Linked.Archi
publisher: linked.archi
status: draft
version IRI: 0.1.0#
version info: 0.1.0
source: c4model.com

C4 Model Viewpoint Catalog
type: ConceptScheme
definition: The four C4 abstraction levels plus the Deployment diagram, as defined by Simon Brown at c4model.com.
scope note: The C4 model defines a fixed set of four hierarchical abstraction levels (Context, Container, Component, Code) plus supplementary diagrams (Deployment, Dynamic, System Landscape). This is a notation-specific grouping — ArchiMate and TOGAF use different organizations.
source: c4model.com
has top concept: Core Levels
has top concept: Supplementary Diagrams

Core Levels
type: Concept
definition: The four hierarchical abstraction levels of the C4 model.
top concept of: C4 Model Viewpoint Catalog
in scheme: C4 Model Viewpoint Catalog

Supplementary Diagrams
type: Concept
definition: Additional C4 diagrams that cut across the four core levels.
top concept of: C4 Model Viewpoint Catalog
in scheme: C4 Model Viewpoint Catalog

System Context Diagram (Level 1)
type: Viewpoint
definition: The highest abstraction level. Shows the software system in scope and its relationships with users and other systems. Answers: "What is the system and who uses it?"
includes concept: Person
includes concept: SoftwareSystem
viewpoint has purpose: Informing
viewpoint frames concern: StructureConcern
viewpoint frames concern: StakeholderConcern
view type: Diagram
in scheme: C4 Model Viewpoint Catalog
broader: Core Levels

Container Diagram (Level 2)
type: Viewpoint
definition: Zooms into a single software system showing its containers (applications, services, databases) and their interactions. Answers: "What are the major technical building blocks and how do they communicate?"
includes concept: Person
includes concept: SoftwareSystem
includes concept: Container
viewpoint has purpose: Designing
viewpoint has purpose: Informing
viewpoint frames concern: StructureConcern
viewpoint frames concern: IntegrationConcern
view type: Diagram
in scheme: C4 Model Viewpoint Catalog
broader: Core Levels

Component Diagram (Level 3)
type: Viewpoint
definition: Zooms into a single container showing its internal components and their relationships. Answers: "What are the major structural building blocks inside this container?"
includes concept: Container
includes concept: Component
viewpoint has purpose: Designing
viewpoint frames concern: StructureConcern
viewpoint frames concern: DependencyConcern
view type: Diagram
in scheme: C4 Model Viewpoint Catalog
broader: Core Levels

Code Diagram (Level 4)
type: Viewpoint
definition: Zooms into a single component showing its internal structure at the code level (classes, interfaces, modules). Typically auto-generated from source code. Answers: "How is this component implemented?"
includes concept: Component
viewpoint has purpose: Designing
viewpoint frames concern: StructureConcern
view type: Diagram
scope note: Often auto-generated from IDE or source code analysis tools.
in scheme: C4 Model Viewpoint Catalog
broader: Core Levels

Deployment Diagram
type: Viewpoint
definition: Shows how containers are mapped to infrastructure — servers, cloud services, containers, and their hosting relationships. Can be created for each environment (dev, staging, production).
includes concept: Container
includes concept: DeploymentNode
includes concept: InfrastructureNode
viewpoint has purpose: Designing
viewpoint has purpose: Informing
viewpoint frames concern: DeploymentConcern
view type: Diagram
in scheme: C4 Model Viewpoint Catalog
broader: Supplementary Diagrams

System Landscape Diagram
type: Viewpoint
definition: Shows all software systems and people across the enterprise, not just a single system in scope. A "zoomed out" version of the System Context diagram.
includes concept: Person
includes concept: SoftwareSystem
viewpoint has purpose: Informing
viewpoint frames concern: StructureConcern
viewpoint frames concern: DependencyConcern
view type: Diagram
in scheme: C4 Model Viewpoint Catalog
broader: Supplementary Diagrams

Dynamic Diagram
type: Viewpoint
definition: Shows how elements collaborate at runtime for a specific use case or scenario — a sequence of interactions between containers or components.
includes concept: Person
includes concept: SoftwareSystem
includes concept: Container
includes concept: Component
viewpoint has purpose: Designing
viewpoint frames concern: BehaviorConcern
viewpoint frames concern: IntegrationConcern
view type: Diagram
in scheme: C4 Model Viewpoint Catalog
broader: Supplementary Diagrams