# Domain-Driven Design: Definition > [!Note] > Domain-Driven Design (DDD) is a **development philosophy** introduced by **Eric Evans** that positions the **domain model** at the core of software development, enabling teams to manage the creation and maintenance of **robust solutions** for **complex business domains**. Domain-Driven Design is fundamentally a **philosophy of software development** that emphasizes modeling the **core business domain** in close collaboration with subject-matter experts. Coined by Eric Evans in _Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software_ (2003), this mindset treats the **domain model** not merely as documentation but as the driving force behind the architecture and design of a system. At its heart, DDD advocates for a **domain-centric approach** whereby teams establish a [[Ubiquitous Language]]—a shared vocabulary that aligns both technical and business stakeholders. This shared language ensures that the **software representations** accurately reflect real-world **business rules** and **processes**, reducing miscommunication and preventing domain knowledge from becoming fragmented across teams. Moreover, DDD introduces strategic patterns such as [[Bounded Context]] and [[Context Mapping]] to decompose large, complex domains into more manageable subdomains. Within each bounded context, the **model** remains coherent and internally consistent, while clear interfaces define interactions between contexts. This structure fosters **resilience** and **adaptability**, allowing the system to evolve gracefully as business requirements change. Ultimately, by centering development efforts on the **domain model** and maintaining alignment with **complex business needs**, DDD transforms domain complexity into a coherent **software design** that delivers sustained **competitive advantage**. --- ## References - Vernon, V. (2016). _Domain-driven design distilled_. Addison-Wesley Professional. - Vernon, V. (2013). _Implementing domain-driven design_. Addison-Wesley Professional. - Khononov, V. (2021). _Learning domain-driven design: Aligning software architecture and business strategy_. O’Reilly Media. - Alammar, J., & Grootendorst, M. (2024). _Hands-on large language models: Language understanding and generation_. O’Reilly Media. - Evans, E. (2003). _Domain-driven design: Tackling complexity in the heart of software_. Addison-Wesley Professional. - Millett, S., & Tune, N. (2015). _Patterns, principles, and practices of domain-driven design._ Wrox.