C4 and ArchiMate mapping reference

architxt maps your internal entity and edge types to standard architecture notation so exports produce diagrams that other tools can read without re-typing. This page lists the C4 and ArchiMate values that the UI accepts, with short definitions.

The mappings are stored per type. See Entity types and Edge types for how to set them.

C4 elements

C4 values come from the C4 model by Simon Brown.

Value	What it means
Person	A human user, role, or external actor who interacts with the system.
SoftwareSystem	A software system owned or operated by your organisation; the highest-level C4 abstraction.
Container	A separately deployable application or data store inside a software system, such as a web app, mobile app, database, or file system.
Component	A grouping of related functionality encapsulated behind an interface.

Official reference: c4model.com.

ArchiMate elements

ArchiMate values come from The Open Group ArchiMate 3 Specification. architxt currently supports the most common application-layer elements, plus BusinessActor for people and users.

Value	What it means
BusinessActor	A person, organisation, or unit that performs business behaviour.
ApplicationComponent	A modular, deployable, and replaceable part of a software system that encapsulates its behaviour and data.
ApplicationService	An externally visible unit of functionality exposed by an application component.
ApplicationInterface	The point through which an application service is made available.
DataObject	A data element that represents data structured and managed by the business.

Official reference: The Open Group ArchiMate 3 Specification.

ArchiMate relationships

Edge types map to standard ArchiMate relationship types.

Value	What it means
association	A generic relationship between any two elements.
serving	The source element provides functionality to the target element.
used-by	The target element uses functionality provided by the source element (inverse reading of serving).
composition	The source is composed of the target; the target cannot exist independently of the source.
aggregation	The source aggregates the target; the target can exist independently.
assignment	Responsibility for behaviour is assigned to an active structure element.
realization	A logical element is realised by a more concrete element.
specialization	The source element is a specialised version of the target element.
influence	The source element affects the target element.
triggering	The source element causes the target element to start or change state.
flow	Information, data, or value transfers from the source to the target.
access	Behaviour at the source reads or writes the data object at the target.

Official reference: The Open Group ArchiMate 3 Specification — Relationships.

What happens if a mapping is missing

If you leave a mapping blank, the exporter falls back to a default:

• Nodes default to SoftwareSystem for C4 and ApplicationComponent for ArchiMate.
• Edges default to Association.

Set the mapping explicitly if you want deterministic exports.

Where to go next

• Entity types — set C4/ArchiMate element mappings for nodes.
• Edge types — set C4 description and ArchiMate relationship mappings.
• Contextual Graph export — see how these mappings are used in exported files.