The Zachman Framework is a framework for enterprise architecture, which provides a formal and highly structured way of viewing and defining an enterprise.

The Framework in practice is used for organizing enterprise architectural "artifacts" in a way that takes into account both: who the artifact targets for example, business owner and builder, and what particular issue for example, data and functionality is being addressed.

These artifacts may include design documents, specifications, and models.[3]

The Framework is in essence a matrix,[4]. It is named after its creator John Zachman, who first developed the concept in the 1980s at IBM. It has been updated several times ever since.[5]