C4 Model Tool - Interactive C4 Diagrams & Architecture Documentation | Archyl

Create interactive C4 model diagrams online. Visualize software architecture at 4 levels: Context, Containers, Components, and Code. AI-powered discovery, drift detection, and Architecture as Code.

The best C4 model tool for modern software teams

Create interactive C4 model diagrams online. Visualize your software architecture at every level -- from system context to code -- with AI-powered discovery and real-time collaboration.

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What is the C4 model?

The C4 model is a lean, hierarchical approach to software architecture visualization created by Simon Brown. It describes software architecture at four levels of abstraction -- Context, Containers, Components, and Code -- making it easy for both technical and non-technical stakeholders to understand your system.

System Context (Level 1)

The highest level of abstraction. Shows your software system as a single box surrounded by the users and other systems it interacts with. Perfect for communicating scope and boundaries to non-technical stakeholders.

Container Diagram (Level 2)

Technical building blocks

Zoom into a single system to reveal the high-level technical building blocks: web applications, APIs, databases, message queues, and file systems. Each container is a separately deployable unit that runs code or stores data.

Component Diagram (Level 3)

Inside each container

Decompose each container into its major structural components -- services, controllers, repositories, and modules. This level bridges the gap between architecture and code, showing how responsibilities are organized.

Code Level (Level 4)

Implementation details

The most detailed level maps directly to your source code. Track individual classes, functions, and files alongside their architectural role. Archyl links code elements to your repository so documentation stays connected to reality.

More than just a C4 diagram tool

Archyl goes beyond static diagrams. AI discovery, drift detection, and Architecture as Code keep your documentation alive.

AI-Powered Discovery

Connect your repository and let AI analyze your codebase to automatically discover systems, containers, components, and their relationships.

Architecture Drift Detection

Get a 0-100% health score that measures how accurately your C4 model reflects your actual codebase. Enforce thresholds in CI/CD.

MCP Server Integration

Query your architecture from Claude Desktop, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible AI tool. Create and update elements through natural conversation.

Architecture as Code

Declare your entire C4 model in a single archyl.yaml file. Version-controlled, CI/CD-synced, and fully declarative.

Architecture Change Requests

Propose, review, and merge C4 model changes with pull-request-style workflows. Enforce review before any change is applied.

Architecture Insights

AI-powered analysis detects single points of failure, high coupling, circular dependencies, and security concerns in your architecture.