architecture

A broad term used to define a couple of distinct computer aspects, one of which is the physical structure or design of a computer system and its components. For example, the architecture may consist of the internal operating system and the chips and programs that make a computer useful.

In addition, "architecture" is used to describe the structuring paradigms, style, and patterns that describe or make up either software systems or Internet/intranet systems. In business, it is used to describe the overall structure of something; for example, a Web site's architecture would be diagrammed so that navigational paths could be analyzed and refined.