Software Architect's Handbook

Understanding the difference between architecture styles and architecture patterns

You may come across the term architecture style and compare its meaning with the term architecture pattern. For the most part, these two terms are used interchangeably.

However, some people make a distinction between the two, so let's take a moment to explain the difference. It is not completely clear-cut, as the definitions vary depending on who you ask. One of the ways an architecture style is defined is that it is a set of elements, and the vocabulary to be used for those elements, that is available to be used in an architecture. It constrains an architecture design by restricting the available design choices. When a software system adheres to a particular ...