---
title: Working with ArchiMate Shapes
description: Use ArchiMate shapes to build enterprise architecture diagrams that represent the relationships between business, application, and technology domains across your organization.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-work-with-archimate-shapes.html
release: australia
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-06-09"
reading_time_minutes: 2
breadcrumb: [Working with Enterprise Modeling and Visualization, Managing Enterprise Architecture Workspace, Enterprise Architecture Workspace, Enterprise Architecture]
---

# Working with ArchiMate Shapes

Use ArchiMate® shapes to build enterprise architecture diagrams that represent the relationships between business, application, and technology domains across your organization.

ArchiMate® is an open, independent enterprise architecture modeling language standardized by The Open Group. In the Enterprise Modeling and Visualization, ArchiMate® shapes let you model the current and target state of your enterprise using a consistent, industry-standard notation.

ArchiMate® shapes are organized into the following categories in the **Shapes** palette:

-   **Implementation and Migration**: Shapes for modeling transition states, work packages, deliverables, gaps, and plateaus.
-   **Relationship Type**: Junction shapes \(And Junction and Or Junction\) for modeling branching and merging relationships.
-   **Business Layer**: Shapes for actors, roles, processes, functions, services, and other business-layer elements.
-   **Application Layer**: Shapes for application components, services, functions, interfaces, and data objects.
-   **Motivation**: Shapes for goals, requirements, drivers, principles, stakeholders, and other motivational elements.
-   **Physical**: Shapes for equipment, facilities, and materials.
-   **Strategy**: Shapes for capabilities, courses of action, resources, and value streams.
-   **Technology**: Shapes for nodes, devices, system software, technology services, functions, and interfaces.

When you connect two ArchiMate® shapes, a toolbar appears on the connector. Use the **Relationship type** drop-down in the toolbar to set the ArchiMate® 3.2 relationship type — for example, Access, Assignment, Influence, or Serving. For the full list of relationship types and their visual styles, see [Shape connector properties in Enterprise Modeling and Visualization](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-connector-properties.md).

Connector ports on ArchiMate® shapes are bi-directional. You can use any connector port — top, bottom, left, or right — as either an input or an output when connecting shapes.

**Tip:**

To keep connector ports permanently visible on all shapes without hovering, enable the **Show all buttons without the need to hover** preference in **Preferences** > **Accessibility**. For more information, see [Show shape controls without hovering](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-show-shape-ports.md).

-   **[Create diagram using ArchiMate shapes and add relationships](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-modeling-create-diagram-archimate.md)**  
Use the industry standard ArchiMate shapes to create modeling diagrams for your enterprise in the Enterprise Architecture Workspace.

**Parent Topic:**[Working with Enterprise Modeling and Visualization](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-work-with-ent-model-and-visual.md)

**Related topics**  


[ArchiMate shapes](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-modeling-archimate-shapes.md)

[Shape connector properties in Enterprise Modeling and Visualization](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-connector-properties.md)

[Create diagram using ArchiMate shapes and add relationships](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-modeling-create-diagram-archimate.md)

[Show shape controls without hovering](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/application-portfolio-management/eaw-show-shape-ports.md)