Exploring architectural decision records (ADR)

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 1 minute to read
  • 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.

    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.

      ADR artifact content page with the version drop-down highlighted

    Summarize ADR content using Now Assist 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 Now Assist for Enterprise Architecture (EA)