Overview

Visualize and document the hexagonal architecture pattern — also known as Ports and Adapters — with this software engineering reference template. Hexagonal architecture isolates core application logic from external systems (databases, UIs, APIs) by defining explicit ports and adapters, making it ideal for highly testable and maintainable systems. This template gives engineering teams a shared canvas for designing, reviewing, and documenting this pattern.

Key Features

• Central application core hexagon with domain logic zone
• Port definitions on each face of the hexagon (inbound and outbound)
• Adapter blocks connecting ports to external systems
• Primary actor zone (drivers: UI, APIs, tests) on the left
• Secondary actor zone (driven: databases, queues, third-party services) on the right

How to Use

1. Draw the central application hexagon using the Shapes tool — label it with your application or domain name
2. Add port labels on the hexagon faces using the Text tool — inbound ports on the left, outbound on the right
3. Add adapter blocks outside the hexagon using shapes — one per external integration — and connect to the relevant port using the Connector tool
4. Add primary actors (tests, UIs, API clients) on the left side and secondary actors (databases, message brokers, external services) on the right
5. Annotate each adapter with the technology and interface details using sticky notes

Benefits

Hexagonal architecture diagrams make the boundaries of your system explicit. When every engineer can see where the core ends and the adapters begin, they make better decisions about where to put new code — and testing becomes dramatically simpler.