C4 Model Diagrams
Create C4 Model diagrams including System Context, Container, Component, and Deployment views using NeoArc Studio's diagram editor.
The C4 Model provides a hierarchical way to visualise software architecture at different levels of abstraction. NeoArc Studio supports all four C4 levels plus deployment diagrams.
C4 Model Levels
System Context Diagram (Level 1)
Shows your system as a box surrounded by users and other systems:
Container Diagram (Level 2)
Zooms into the system showing high-level technology choices:
Component Diagram (Level 3)
Zooms into a container showing its internal components:
C4 Colour Conventions
| Element | Colour |
|---|---|
| Your software system and containers | Blue |
| External systems and services | Grey |
| Users | Person shape or rectangle with person icon |
| System or container boundary | Dashed rectangle |
C4 Relationship Labels
Label relationships with the action and optionally the technology:
| Example Label | Usage |
|---|---|
| Makes API calls to [HTTPS/JSON] | REST API communication |
| Reads from and writes to [JDBC] | Database access |
| Sends events to [Kafka] | Async messaging |
| Authenticates using [OAuth 2.0] | Authentication flow |
NeoArc and C4
NeoArc supports C4 diagrams but does not enforce C4 notation:
Best Practices
One Diagram per Level
Do not mix levels in a single diagram.
Keep Context Diagrams Simple
5-10 elements maximum.
Label Everything
Technology, protocols, data formats.
Use Consistent Colours
Same colour scheme across levels.
Link Between Levels
Use lineage to navigate between diagrams.
Version in Git
Architecture diagrams belong with code.