Architectural Decision Record¶

An Architectural Decision Record is a lightweight artifact that transforms implicit team knowledge into explicit, searchable documentation. By naming the alternatives considered and the reasons for rejecting them, ADRs create accountability and help teams avoid the "why did we build it this way?" confusion that slows onboarding and derails maintenance work. Over time, a collection of ADRs tells the story of how a system evolved and why it looks the way it does.

See also: Arc42 · Software Architecture · Concept Maps