A context model (or context modeling) defines how context data are structured and maintained (It plays a key role in supporting efficient context management). It aims to produce a formal or semi-formal description of the context information that is present in a context-aware system. In other words, the context is the surrounding element for the system, and a model provides the mathematical interface and a behavioral description of the surrounding environment.

It is used to represent the reusable context information of the components (The top-level classes consist of Operating system, component container, hardware requirement and Software requirement).

A key role of context model is to simplify and introduce greater structure into the task of developing context-aware applications. Prompt engineering is equivalent to context engineering, where a Large language model prompt establishes a context for a development task.

The Unified Modeling Language as used in systems engineering defines a context model as the physical scope of the system being designed, which could include the user as well as the environment and other actors. A system context diagram represents the context graphically..

Several examples of context models occur under other domains.