Bounded Context

Kind: constraint

Layer: Domain Modeling

Record: architecture:bounded-context

Severity: recommended

Scope: domain, service, team

Canonical: Ontology

A rule or precondition that each domain model holds inside one explicit boundary, where its terms have one meaning.

Listed in Architecture principles, after Domain Model and before Context Mapping.

Requires

• Explicit Boundaries
• Ubiquitous Language

Reinforces

• Modularity
• Autonomy

Enables

• Context Mapping
• Microservices

Conflicts with

• Shared Global Model

In tension with

• Cross-Context Reuse

Tensions

• Bounded Context / Cross-Context Reuse

Contracts

• Domain Modeling

Violated by

• Shared Global Model

Refactored by

• Split Bounded Context
• Anti-Corruption Layer
• Context Mapping

Severity

• recommended

Category

• Domain Architecture

Required by

• Domain-Driven Design

Reinforced by

• Package by Feature

Linked from

• When rules collide
• A concern is a component
• The principle architecture
• Domain Architecture
• Core Modular Design
• Schema / Canonical Data / Semantics
• Codebase / System Architecture Styles
• Domain Architecture
• Architectural Clusters
• Severity levels
• The resolutions