What is "view model"

n. 1 (context enterprise engineering English) framework that defines a coherent set of views to be used in the construction of an enterprise architecture. 2 (context software engineering English) framework that defines a coherent set of views to be used in the construction of a software architecture. 3 (context systems engineering English) framework that defines a coherent set of views to be used in the construction of a system architecture.

A view model or viewpoints framework in systems engineering, software engineering, and enterprise engineering is a framework which defines a coherent set of views to be used in the construction of a system architecture, software architecture, or enterprise architecture. A view is a representation of a whole system from the perspective of a related set of concerns.

Since the early 1990s there have been a number of efforts to prescribe approaches for describing and analyzing system architectures. These recent efforts define a set of views (or viewpoints). They are sometimes referred to as architecture frameworks or enterprise architecture frameworks, but are not usually called "view models".

Usually a view is a work product that presents specific architecture data for a given system. However, the same term is sometimes used to refer to a view definition, including the particular viewpoint and the corresponding guidance that defines each concrete view. The term view model is related to view definitions.

View model may refer to:

• Conceptual view model in data modelling for example:
  • ANSI-SPARC Architecture
• Model–View–Controller, an architectural pattern used in software engineering.
• Model–view–adapter, another architectural pattern used in software engineering
• View model in enterprise architecture for example:
  • 4+1 Architectural View Model