What is uml class diagram

Once the structure of your system is defined then you are well on your way to developing new software. But this structure must now be made available to your developers. The further development of your results will determine whether your efforts in creating a solid structure will bear fruit. Ideally you should use the right tool so that everyone in your team can use it.

One that makes all the results of analyses and investigations available to everyone in real time. The class diagram. A structured path towards systems. What is a class diagram? What is a class diagrams used for? Why is the class diagram so important? The class diagram represents the static structure of systems. It illustrates classes with their attributes, operations as well as their statistical and logical inter-relationships. Try objectiF RPM for free. Link to: Download Center Downloads.

Classes, Attributes, Operations. Relationships within the class diagram. There are four possible types of relationships within class diagrams. The advantages of the class diagram. Tools to create class diagrams. Overview of our Knowledge Base. Applying knowledge with the right tool: objectiF RPM. Find more interesting downloads here. Dates Events Webinars Seminars. This site uses cookies to constantly improve your experience with our website. You can find more information about their use in our Privacy Policy.

By clicking "Accept cookies" you agree to the use of functional and analytical cookies that allow us to better analyze our own website. More Information. The perspective affects the amount of detail to be supplied and the kinds of relationships worth presenting. As we mentioned above, the class name is the only mandatory information. UML is not just about pretty pictures. If used correctly, UML precisely conveys how code should be implemented from diagrams.

If precisely interpreted, the implemented code will correctly reflect the intent of the designer. Can you describe what each of the relationships mean relative to your target programming language shown in the Figure below?

If you can't yet recognize them, no problem this section is meant to help you to understand UML class relationships. A class may be involved in one or more relationships with other classes. A relationship can be one of the following types:. A generalization is a taxonomic relationship between a more general classifier and a more specific classifier.

Each instance of the specific classifier is also an indirect instance of the general classifier. Thus, the specific classifier inherits the features of the more general classifier.

The figure below shows an example of inheritance hierarchy. The relationship is displayed as a solid line with a hollow arrowhead that points from the child element to the parent element. The figure below shows an inheritance example with two styles. Although the connectors are drawn differently, they are semantically equivalent. They are represented by a solid line between classes. Associations are typically named using a verb or verb phrase which reflects the real world problem domain.

The figure below shows an example of simple association. The relationship is displayed as a solid line connecting the two classes. The figure below shows an example of aggregation. The relationship is displayed as a solid line with a unfilled diamond at the association end, which is connected to the class that represents the aggregate. It represents a "part of" relationship. Class2 is part of Class1. Objects of Class1 and Class2 have separate lifetimes.

A solid line with an unfilled diamond at the association end connected to the class of composite Composition : A special type of aggregation where parts are destroyed when the whole is destroyed. Objects of Class2 live and die with Class1. Class2 cannot stand by itself. A solid line with a filled diamond at the association connected to the class of composite Dependency : Exists between two classes if the changes to the definition of one may cause changes to the other but not the other way around.

Class1 depends on Class2 A dashed line with an open arrow. Turn every software project into a successful one. Try Visual Paradigm Free. All rights reserved. Legal Privacy statement. Inheritance or Generalization : Represents an "is-a" relationship.

A solid line with a hollow arrowhead that point from the child to the parent class. Simple Association : A structural link between two peer classes.

There is an association between Class1 and Class2 A solid line connecting two classes. Aggregation : A special type of association.