Learn how to create and customize your first architecture node in ArkT
Nodes are the fundamental building blocks of ArkT architecture diagrams. They represent components, services, databases, or any element in your system architecture.
This tutorial will teach you everything you need to know about creating and customizing nodes in just a few minutes!
Create nodes with a single click
Customize labels, descriptions, colors, and more
Add detailed descriptions for better AI assistance
Use colors and font sizes to organize visually
See all node types, integrations, and edge capabilities in one interactive example
This example shows: template nodes (User, App, Gateway, DB), integration nodes (GitHub, Figma), virtual nodes, text annotations, and various edge types. Try dragging nodes around!
Nodes are visual elements that represent individual components in your architecture. Think of them as the building blocks of your system diagram.
A short, descriptive name (e.g., "User Service", "PostgreSQL Database")
Detailed context for documentation and AI assistance
Colors, font sizes, icons, and styling options
Nested architecture levels for drill-down navigation
Nodes are flexible and can represent any architectural component: microservices, databases, external APIs, users, or even abstract concepts like "Authentication Layer".
The primary identifier for your node. Use clear, concise names that immediately communicate the component's purpose.
Good examples:
Provides detailed context and documentation. Good descriptions help both humans and AI understand your architecture.
Categorize nodes by type (e.g., blue for services, green for databases)
Indicate hierarchy or importance in your architecture
Add visual identifiers for quick recognition
Quickly convey system structure to stakeholders
Maintain up-to-date architecture documentation
Provide context for intelligent suggestions
Enable drill-down into component details
Create shared understanding across teams
You can create multiple nodes quickly by clicking the "Add Node" button repeatedly. Space them out before connecting for better visibility!
Once selected, you can edit labels, descriptions, colors, font sizes, icons, and more. Changes apply immediately as you edit.
Descriptions serve multiple purposes:
// Example node description
"Node.js + Express REST API that handles user authentication,
session management, and JWT token generation. Connects to
PostgreSQL for user data and Redis for session storage.
Implements OAuth 2.0 for third-party authentication."A well-written description explains the technology, purpose, and key integrations
Color Coding Strategies: 🔵 Blue: Backend services 🟢 Green: Databases and data stores 🟠 Orange: External APIs and third-party services 🟣 Purple: Frontend applications ⚫ Gray: Infrastructure components 🔴 Red: Critical systems or error handling
Delete the selected node
Undo the last action
Undo the last action
Redo the last undone action
Redo the last undone action
Side navigation (left sidebar) - Click to create a new node at viewport center
Control panel (right side, when node selected) - Edit node name
Control panel (right side, below label) - Add detailed documentation
Control panel (right side) - Choose node color
Control panel (right side) - Adjust text size
Now that you know how to create and customize nodes, you're ready to build more complex diagrams!
🎉 Congratulations! You've completed the Node Creation tutorial. Start building your own architecture diagrams or continue with the next tutorial.