Architecture descriptions are work products of systems and software architecting. Figure 2 depicts concepts pertaining to the practice of architecture description when applying this International Standard to produce one architecture description expressing one architecture for one system-of-interest. 
In this International Standard, the term system-of-interest (or simply, system) refers to the system whose architecture is under consideration in the preparation of an architecture description. The figures and text in the remainder of 4.2 constitute a conceptual model of architecture description. 

An architecture description expresses an architecture of a system-of-interest. This International Standard distinguishes an architecture of a system from an architecture description. Architecture descriptions, not architectures, are the subject of this International Standard. Whereas an architecture description is a work product, an architecture is abstract, consisting of concepts and properties. This International Standard specifies requirements on architecture descriptions. There are no requirements in this International Standard pertaining to architectures, or to systems or to their environments. This International Standard does not specify any format or media for recording architecture descriptions. It is intended to be usable for a range of approaches to architecture description including document-centric, model-based, and repository-based techniques. This International Standard does not prescribe the process or method used to produce architecture descriptions. This International Standard does not assume or prescribe specific architecting methods, models, notations or techniques used to produce architecture descriptions.