---
title: Exploring architectural decision records \(ADR\)
description: Use the Architectural Decision Records \(ADR\) to explain your infrastructure. ADR is a type of artifact that helps you to understand the background of a specific architectural decision.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-managing-arch-decision-records.html
release: australia
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 3
breadcrumb: [Exploring the information portfolio, Exploring Portfolio list view, Exploring Enterprise Architecture Workspace, Enterprise Architecture Workspace, Enterprise Architecture]
---

# Exploring architectural decision records \(ADR\)

Use the Architectural Decision Records \(ADR\) to explain your infrastructure. ADR is a type of artifact that helps you to understand the background of a specific architectural decision.

## ADR Overview

An ADR can have multiple doc pages associated with it to help you organize key architectural artifact details. Predefined ServiceNow Docs component \(sn\_docs\) templates are available. You can create ADR pages using one of these templates or start with a empty page.

**Note:** The ADR feature in Enterprise Architecture Workspace uses the ServiceNow Docs component \(sn\_docs\) to create pages in the Artifacts section. Docs component v6.0.0 is automatically installed with Enterprise Architecture Workspace v3.4.0.

If you’re using an older version of Enterprise Architecture Workspace with Docs component v6.0.0, upgrade the workspace to v3.4.0 to fully use the ADR functionality. For more information, see [KB2017926](https://support.servicenow.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB2017926).

## Features of ADR

Some features of ADR are:

-   Auto-save content
-   Create documents using pre-defined templates
-   Use rich text paragraph formatting, which includes headings, lists, alignment, and others.
-   Tag users inline or insert record details using the / command.
-   Insert images by uploading files or using web URLs
-   View version specific ADR content using the version drop-down. The versions drop-down displays the following information:

    -   Version number
    -   ADR status
    -   Date of last update
    On selecting a particular version, you’re directed to the ADR artifact content page for that version.

    \[Omitted image "adr-version-dropdown.png"\] Alt text: ADR artifact content page with the version drop-down highlighted


## Summarize ADR content using ServiceNow Otto for Enterprise Architecture \(EA\)

Use Now Assist capabilities to elaborate, shorten, and summarize selected content in ADRs, or to get a summary of the whole ADR. For more information, see [Using ServiceNow Otto for Enterprise Architecture \(EA\)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/using-now-assist-for-ea.md)

**Parent Topic:**[Exploring the information portfolio](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-information-portfolio.md)

**Related topics**  


[Add or edit an architectural decision record \(ADR\)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-create-edit-adr.md)

[Create and manage pages and subpages for ADRs](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-create-and-mng-page-subpage-for-adr.md)

[Tag users or records in Architectural Decision Records](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-tag-users-or-records-in-adr.md)

[Reference additional records in decision records](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-update-system-property-to-allow-tagging-of-additional-records-in-adr-doc.md)

[Add an architectural decision record version](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-add-an-adr-version.md)

[Request approval for an ADR version](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-request-approval-adr.md)

[Add a related entity to an architectural artifact](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-add-a-related-entity-to-an-architectural-artifact.md)

[Create related entities form](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-artifact-releated-entity-form.md)