While system architecture is an abstract concept of a system defined by its structure and behavior, Architecture Design Language or ADL is a means to put the system architecture linguistically speaking before the interested parties.
Though termed as a computer language, ADL is certainly no programming language - rather is a systematic direction on which a solution is to be reached at. It works as a blue print of any application/ software/solution to be developed or upgraded. The categorical ascription is both understood by men and machine alike. Hence, ADL facilitates higher-level description of a system, which was not possible earlier. There are many ADLs available including ACME, AADL, C2, Darwin, Wright, ArchiMate and Demo.
No surprises, it is increasingly popular with the web sites developmentcommunity, implementing ADL extensively in the development of website. Web developers plunging into complex web sites development projects in particular make use of ADL to ensure success in the development of website as desired.
It is not unusual for people to confuse ADL with design. However, these are two different concepts that must be understood better to know thoroughly. While Architecture Description Language represents visualization of the proposed concept, Design is actually a principle that guides the successful implementation of the visualization.
Accordingly, ADL gives a broad and heuristic view at the conceptualized solution (be it a software or product) through protocols defining its functional periphery in terms of its use across various platforms, i.e. software, hardware, semantics, system behavior, design decisions et al. It facilitates analysis of system architecture in terms of stability, performance, uncertainty and comprehensiveness. An ADL can greatly facilitate the process of software development for any software engineering community, and hence its popularity among the community.