What type of architecture document captures architectural decisions and their rationale?

The correct answer identifies the Architecture Contract as the document that captures architectural decisions and their rationale. In TOGAF, the Architecture Contract serves as a formal agreement between stakeholders that outlines the architecture frameworks, key decisions made throughout the architectural process, and provides essential context regarding the rationale behind those decisions.

This document is crucial for ensuring that all parties involved understand not just what decisions were made, but also the reasoning that informed those choices. It helps to foster alignment among stakeholders, aiding communication and ensuring that all team members have a shared understanding of the architecture’s objectives and constraints.

Other documents serve different purposes within the TOGAF architecture development cycle. The Architecture Roadmap focuses on the transition from current to target architectures over time, while the Architecture Requirements Specification outlines specific requirements that the architecture must satisfy. Meanwhile, the Architecture Definition Document provides a comprehensive view of the overall architecture, including its components, but does not specifically focus on decisions and their justifications like the Architecture Contract does.