HOPEX ArchiMate V3 > Using HOPEX for the ArchiMate® Framework > ArchiMate® Layers and Relationships > ArchiMate® Relationships
ArchiMate® Relationships
ArchiMate® defines eleven types of relationships sorted out into four categories. Each relationship type has its own representation.
The relationships categories are:
*For more details on the use of ArchiMate® Relationships in diagrams, see Creating an ArchiMate® Relationship.
Structural Relationships 
 
Concept Name
Notation
Comment
Composition
The composition relationship indicates that an element consists of one or more other concepts.
The diamond indicates the owner element.
Assignment
The assignment expresses the allocation of responsibility, performance of behavior, or execution.
Aggregation
The aggregation relationship indicates that an element consists of one or more other concepts.
The diamond indicates the main element.
Realization
The realization relationship indicates that an entity plays a critical role in the creation, achievement, sustenance, or operation of a more abstract entity.
The arrow indicates the entity playing a role.
Dependency Relationships 
 
Concept Name
Notation
Comment
Access
The access relationship models the ability of behavior and active structure elements to observe or act upon passive structure elements.
Serving
The serving relationship models that an element provides its functionality to another element.
The arrow indicates the functionality user element.
Influence
The influence relationship models that an element affects the implementation or achievement of some motivation element.
The arrow indicates the motivation element
 
Dynamic Relationships 
 
Concept Name
Notation
Comment
Flow
The flow relationship describes the exchange or transfer of, for example, information or value between processes, function, interactions, and events
Trigger
The triggering relationship describes the temporal or causal relations between processes, functions, interactions, and events.
 
Other Relationships 
 
Concept Name
Notation
Comment
Association
Association is a specific Relationship which can associate any concepts (including other Relationships.
Specialization
The specialization relationship indicates that an element is a particular kind of another element.
The arrow points to the particular element.