Blog•5 min read
C4 Model Examples - Real-World Architecture Diagrams
By Visual C4 Team•
C4 Model Examples: Real-World Architecture Diagrams
See how the C4 model works in practice with these real-world examples across different architectural patterns.
E-commerce Platform (Microservices)
Context Diagram
[Customer] --> [E-commerce System] --> [Payment Gateway]
--> [Inventory System] --> [Shipping Service]
Container Diagram
- Web App: React frontend
- API Gateway: Kong/Nginx
- Order Service: Node.js microservice
- Payment Service: Java Spring Boot
- Database: PostgreSQL cluster
Banking System (Monolith)
Context View
This real banking system context diagram demonstrates:
- Personal Banking Customer - Primary system user
- Internet Banking System - Core banking application
- Mainframe Banking System - Legacy core banking backend
- E-mail System - Customer notification service
Key aspects of this banking system:
- Core banking system
- ATM network integration
- Regulatory reporting
- Customer mobile apps
Container Breakdown
- Core Application: Java monolith
- Database: Oracle RAC
- Message Queue: IBM MQ
- Web Portal: JSF frontend
SaaS Analytics Platform
System Context
[Data Sources] --> [Analytics Platform] --> [Dashboard Users]
--> [API Consumers] --> [Admin Users]
Container Architecture
The container architecture shows:
- Data Ingestion: Apache Kafka
- Processing Engine: Apache Spark
- Storage Layer: ClickHouse
- API Layer: FastAPI
- Frontend: Vue.js dashboard
Cloud-Native Startup
Context Diagram
Modern startup with cloud-first approach:
- Users: Web and mobile
- External APIs: Stripe, SendGrid
- Infrastructure: AWS managed services
Container Structure
- Frontend: Next.js on Vercel
- Backend: Serverless functions
- Database: Amazon RDS
- Cache: Redis ElastiCache
- Storage: S3 buckets
Enterprise Legacy Migration
Shows migration from monolith to microservices:
Before (Context)
[Users] --> [Legacy System] --> [Mainframe]
After (Container View)
- API Gateway: Routes traffic
- User Service: Handles authentication
- Product Service: Catalog management
- Legacy Adapter: Mainframe integration
Key Patterns in Examples
Common Context Elements
- External users and systems
- Third-party integrations
- Regulatory requirements
Container Patterns
- Frontend/Backend separation
- Database per service
- API Gateway pattern
- Event-driven communication
Component Examples
- Controllers: Handle HTTP requests
- Services: Business logic
- Repositories: Data access
- Events: Async communication
Templates for Your Projects
Startup Template
- Context: Users → System → External APIs
- Containers: Frontend, API, Database
- Components: Auth, Business Logic, Data
Enterprise Template
- Context: Multiple user types, legacy systems
- Containers: API Gateway, microservices, databases
- Components: Domain services, shared libraries
Migration Template
- Current State: Existing system context
- Target State: Desired architecture
- Migration Path: Step-by-step transition
Tools Used in Examples
All examples were created using our Visual C4 tool, which provides:
- Visual C4: Created all diagrams shown above
- PlantUML: Text-based alternatives
- Structurizr: Architecture tooling
The interface shows drag-and-drop components, real-time collaboration, and export capabilities for creating professional C4 diagrams.
Advanced Implementation Topics
To successfully implement these patterns in your organization:
- Team-Based Architecture Collaboration - Learn how to coordinate C4 model creation across multiple teams and stakeholders
- Future of Architecture Modeling - Stay current with emerging practices and tools that will shape how these examples evolve
Next Steps
Apply these patterns to your architecture:
- C4 Model Tutorial
- C4 Context Diagram Guide
- Container Diagram Best Practices
- Linking ADRs with C4 Models - Document the architectural decisions behind these example implementations
Ready to create your own? Start with our free tool and adapt these examples to your needs.