Logo

Navigation
  • Home
  • Services
    • ERP Solutions
    • Implementation Solutions
    • Support and Maintenance Solutions
    • Custom Solutions
    • Upgrade Solutions
    • Training and Mentoring
    • Web Solutions
    • Production Support
    • Architecture Designing
    • Independent Validation and Testing Services
    • Infrastructure Management
  • Expertise
    • Microsoft Development Expertise
    • Mobile Development
    • SQL Server Database and BI
    • SAP BI, SAP Hana, SAP BO
    • Oracle and BI
    • Oracle RAC
  • Technical Training
    • Learn Data Management
      • Business Intelligence
      • Data Mining
      • Data Modeling
      • Data Warehousing
      • Disaster Recovery
    • Learn Concepts
      • Application Development
      • Client Server
      • Cloud Computing Tutorials
      • Cluster Computing
      • CRM Tutorial
      • EDI Tutorials
      • ERP Tutorials
      • NLP
      • OOPS
      • Concepts
      • SOA Tutorial
      • Supply Chain
      • Technology Trends
      • UML
      • Virtualization
      • Web 2.0
    • Learn Java
      • JavaScript Tutorial
      • JSP Tutorials
      • J2EE
    • Learn Microsoft
      • MSAS
      • ASP.NET
      • ASP.NET 2.0
      • C Sharp
      • MS Project Training
      • Silverlight
      • SQL Server 2005
      • VB.NET 2005
    • Learn Networking
      • Networking
      • Wireless
    • Learn Oracle
      • Oracle 10g
      • PL/SQL
      • Oracle 11g Tutorials
      • Oracle 9i
      • Oracle Apps
    • Learn Programming
      • Ajax Tutorial
      • C Language
      • C++ Tutorials
      • CSS Tutorial
      • CSS3 Tutorial
      • JavaScript Tutorial
      • jQuery Tutorial
      • MainFrame
      • PHP Tutorial
      • VBScript Tutorial
      • XML Tutorial
    • Learn Software Testing
      • Software Testing Types
      • SQA
      • Testing
  • Career Training
    • Career Improvement
      • Career Articles
      • Certification Articles
      • Conflict Management
      • Core Skills
      • Decision Making
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Goal Setting
      • Life Skills
      • Performance Development
      • Personal Excellence
      • Personality Development
      • Problem Solving
      • Relationship Management
      • Self Confidence
      • Self Supervision
      • Social Networking
      • Strategic Planning
      • Time Management
    • Education Help
      • Career Tracks
      • Essay Writing
      • Internship Tips
      • Online Education
      • Scholarships
      • Student Loans
    • Managerial Skills
      • Business Communication
      • Business Networking
      • Facilitator Skills
      • Managing Change
      • Marketing Management
      • Meeting Management
      • Process Management
      • Project Management
      • Project Management Life Cycle
      • Project Management Process
      • Project Risk Management
      • Relationship Management
      • Task Management
      • Team Building
      • Virtual Team Management
    • Essential Life Skills
      • Anger Management
      • Anxiety Management
      • Attitude Development
      • Coaching and Mentoring
      • Emotional Intelligence
      • Stress Management
      • Positive Thinking
    • Communication Skills
      • Conversation Skills
      • Cross Culture Competence
      • English Vocabulary
      • Listening Skills
      • Public Speaking Skills
      • Questioning Skills
    • Soft Skills
      • Assertive Skills
      • Influence Skills
      • Leadership Skills
      • Memory Skills
      • People Skills
      • Presentation Skills
    • Finding a Job
      • Etiquette Tips
      • Group Discussions
      • HR Interviews
      • Interview Notes
      • Job Search Tips
      • Resume Tips
      • Sample Resumes
 

UML Elements : Class Diagram

By Exforsys | on June 12, 2007 |
UML

UML Elements

UML 2.0 is comprised of a total of 13 diagrams. If you wish to understand these diagrams, they should be organized based on a hierarchy. For UML, a diagram is an element which must define which things should be modeled in a system.

Introduction to Class Diagram

In this article, I will go over various diagrams in detail to explain what they are, and how they are useful in the Unified Modeling Language. The first thing I would like to start off with is the class diagram. The class diagram is a static structure diagram that will showcase the system structure. It will do this by demonstrating the classes of the system, as well as its attributes and relationships with the other classes.

In a software application, the class will be represented by a box. This box will have the name of the class inside it. The class will be used to symbolize either a domain, or an element that is not related to software. An additional compartment will be made available below the name of the class, and this can be used to show various attribute which are related to that class. These attributes are formally known as properties. At the very minimum, each property will show its name, and the developer is also given the option of including its initial value, type, and additional properties. The operations of the class may appear in another compartment, and they are used to denote the methods of the class.

Each operation must have at least a name, and it may also have parameters and a return type, but these are both optional. There are additional compartments that may be defined in terms of requirements or constraints. The operations may be marked by a number of different symbols, and each symbol is used to mean something different. For example the "+" means "public," and the "#" symbol means "protected." The "-" is used to mean private, and the "~" is used to mean package. The class diagram will show the details of how various classes are connected together, and it will also deal with the relationships that exist among these classes.

Component Diagrams

Within UML, the component diagram is an element which will show how the software application is broken up into physical components. It will also reveal information about dependencies that may exist within these components. An example of a physical component could be a file, module, or executables. The component diagrams may be used document the architecture of the system, and it can also be used to model this architecture as well. It should also be noted that the component is the only type that is allowed to have instances.

Composite Structure Diagrams

The composite structure diagram is an element which will reveal the inner workings of a class, as well as the collaborations that the structure will make possible. Some of this will include inner parts and ports which will interact together or with instances. It should be noted that the instances of the class may be responsible for interacting with portions of the outside world. Between ports, it will act as a connector. The composite structure itself is a set of elements that are intertwined with one another. During the runtime, these elements will work together to achieve a specific goal. Every connected element will have a specific role to play during this collaboration.

In UML 2.0, there are a number of elements which make up the composite structure diagram. These elements are the collaborations, the structured classifiers, connectors, parts, and ports. The structured classifier will symbolize a class, and its function may be described in the way it interacts with other elements. The part will symbolize a role that is processed during the runtime. While the part may only be responsible for naming the role, it may also be responsible for naming a superclass.

As the name suggests, the port is used as a point of interaction. It can be used to connect to structured classifiers in a number of different ways. The connector is an element that will bring multiple elements together, and it can allow them to work together during the runtime. The collaboration will be responsible for holding the roles that instances must play.

Deployment Diagram

The deployment diagram is an element that will model hardware that is used during the system implementation. It will also be responsible for modeling the components which make up the hardware. The deployment diagram must also deal with the associations that occur among various elements.

The key structures that make up deployment diagrams are nodes, which will be shown visually as cubes. The components of the deployment diagram will also be shown in the form of rectangles, and associations are included as well. The rectangles may also have twin rectangular boxes coming out of one side. It must be noted that components won’t be placed in nodes in UML 2.0.

Instead of placing components in nodes, the artifacts will be placed in nodes in UML 2.0. An artifact can be defined as a file, library, or data that is modified within a project. The artifacts will be responsible for the implementation of component collections. The internal nodes will need to deal with execution environments instead of use hardware. Some examples of these execution environments include operating systems or language interpreters.

Object Diagrams

The object diagram is an element that showcases a portion of the structure of a system that has been modeled. It is designed to do this at specific times. The object diagram will often be closely related to both attributes and object instances, a well as the links between these instances.

A correlated group of object diagrams will provide the insight for how a system will evolve over time. When compared to class diagrams, object diagrams are much more concrete. They are frequently used to provide examples, and they may also be used to to test various cases for class diagrams. An object diagram is best used in situations where the user only needs to view aspects of the model which are the most important. Another element which is closely related to object diagrams is the InstanceSpecification.

The InstanceSpecification is used to symbolize the objects and links of an object diagram. It can show the classifier of the object, and it can also show the instance name as well. This will be done by using slots, and one slot will be used to represent one feature.

Package Diagram

The package diagram is an element which will define how the system is broken up into groupings. It will do this by showing the dependencies that exist within these groups. Because the package is commonly thought of as a directory, the package diagram will act as a hierarchy breakdown of the system.

The package will be organized in a way that will allow it to max out the inner coherence of the individual package. In addition to this, it will also reduce the outer coupling for the packages. Once all these guidelines are set into place, the packages will be ideal for management.

« « Supply Chain Management Solutions
UML Elements : State Diagram » »

Author Description

Avatar

Editorial Team at Exforsys is a team of IT Consulting and Training team led by Chandra Vennapoosa.

Free Training

RSSSubscribe 394 Followers
  • Popular
  • Recent
  • UML Introduction

    May 29, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • UML Industry Usage

    May 29, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • Why Unified Modeling Language (UML)

    May 30, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • How UML Helps Projects

    June 1, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • UML basics

    June 5, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • UML Elements : Use Case Diagram

    June 15, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • Using UML with Java

    June 19, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • Using UML with PHP and Perl

    June 23, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • Using UML with .NET

    June 25, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • UML Elements : State Diagram

    June 12, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • UML Certifications

    July 1, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • Using UML with .NET

    June 25, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • Using UML with PHP and Perl

    June 23, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • Using UML with Java

    June 19, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • UML Elements : Use Case Diagram

    June 15, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • UML Elements : Sequence Diagram

    June 14, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • UML Elements : State Diagram

    June 12, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • UML basics

    June 5, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • How UML Helps Projects

    June 1, 2007 - 0 Comment
  • Why Unified Modeling Language (UML)

    May 30, 2007 - 0 Comment

Exforsys e-Newsletter

ebook
 

Related Articles

  • UML Certifications
  • Using UML with .NET
  • Using UML with PHP and Perl
  • Using UML with Java
  • UML Elements : Use Case Diagram

Latest Articles

  • Project Management Techniques
  • Product Development Best Practices
  • Importance of Quality Data Management
  • How to Maximize Quality Assurance
  • Utilizing Effective Quality Assurance Strategies
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Trademark Information
  • Contact Us
© 2023. All Rights Reserved.IT Training and Consulting
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT