The original tool for the C4 model

Models as code - manual layout - AI friendly

Structurizr is a "models as code" tool designed for the C4 model - you write Structurizr DSL to create multiple software architecture diagrams from a single model. Structurizr was created by the author of the C4 model and remains the reference implementation, making it the best choice if you are looking for compliance and compatibility with the C4 model.

workspace {

    !identifiers hierarchical

    model {
        u = person "User"
        ss = softwareSystem "Software System" {
            wa = container "Web Application"
            db = container "Database Schema" {
                tags "Database"
            }
        }

        u -> ss "Uses"
        u -> ss.wa "Uses"
        ss.wa -> ss.db "Reads from and writes to"
    }

    views {
        systemContext ss "Diagram1" {
            include *
        }

        container ss "Diagram2" {
            include *
        }

        // styling...
    }

}

This Structurizr DSL example creates two diagrams based upon a single set of elements and relationships.

Structurizr DSL tutorial | Try it

Designed for the C4 model

Structurizr is specifically designed to support the C4 model for visualising software architecture, by its creator Simon Brown. Diagrams are interactive (e.g. zoom in/out), animatable, embeddable, and include an automatically generated diagram key/legend.

AI friendly

AI agents and LLMs excel at generating text! Structurizr's model-based consistency and enforcement of the C4 model rules make it the best choice for teams looking to generate C4 model software architecture diagrams with AI. The Structurizr MCP server provides DSL validation, parsing, and inspection tools to assist with creating software architecture models too. The text-based format also makes it easy for AI agents to parse your model, allowing for a number of use cases such as AI summaries, queries, and detecting architectural drift.

Diagram your cloud architecture

Use themes to help document your cloud architecture; with prebuilt themes for Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and Kubernetes.

Alternative visualisations

Explore your software architecture with alternative visualisations, including tree views and interactive force-directed graphs.

Documentation

Publish supplementary documentation (e.g. a "software guidebook", arc42, etc) using Markdown or AsciiDoc.

Architecture decision records (ADRs)

Publish architecture decision records (ADRs) that capture your significant design decisions.