ANNEX C BRIEF GUIDE TO THE UNIFIED MODELING LANGUAGE (UML) (INFORMATIVE)

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A key to object relationships in the UML diagrams of this document is shown in figure C-1.

Figure C-1 Key to UML Relationships 650x0m2.jpg

Figure C-1: Key to UML Relationships

A Class is indicated by a rectangle containing the Class name. The UML representation of a class is a three-compartment rectangle with name in the top compartment attributes in the second compartment and methods in the lowest compartment. In this document the attributes and operations compartments are always empty and UML states empty compartments can be suppressed.

Classes of objects are related to one another through Associations, and there are various multiplicities that may be attached to these associations as shown. The multiplicity refers to the number of instances, or objects, of that class that are involved in the relationship.

A solid line connecting two classes indicates the general association, among two classes. The line is labeled with an association name, indicating the nature of the association, and a solid arrowhead indicating the direction that the relationship should be read. The multiplicity of each class is shown next to the class near the association line. If the association forms a class that may have its own attributes or methods, that association class is shown as a rectangle connected to the solid line by a dashed line. The multiplicity may be omitted if the association is one to one.

There are two particular associations that are commonly used, aggregation and specialization, and these have particular symbols to indicate them.

An Aggregation association is one where a class is considered to be a part of another class. In UML, a diamond connecting the aggregation association to the aggregated class shows association. There are two types of aggregation defined by UML. Composition (sometimes referred to as strong aggregation), where the part classes are physically stored as part of the aggregated class, is shown with a solid diamond. In a Composition, if the aggregated class is destroyed, the child classes are also destroyed. Weak aggregation, where the part classes are referred to by the aggregated class, is shown with an empty diamond. In a weak aggregation, if the aggregated class is destroyed, the part classes are not destroyed and may be aggregated into other new classes. Composition can be thought of as aggregation by value, while weak aggregation can be thought of as aggregation by reference. In figure C-1, the aggregation association says that the Assembly class contains exactly one Part-1 class instance and zero or more Part-2 class instances. Also if an instance Assembly is destroyed the Part-1 instance will continue to exist but all the Part-2 instances will be destroyed.

A Specialization association is one where a child class inherits attributes and methods from the parent class. In UML, a broad triangle connecting the aggregation association to the parent class shows specialization. An instance of a child class contains all the attributes and methods contained by its parent class, so an instance of the child class can be used in any operation where an instance of the parent class would be valid. However, the child class may add any number of new attributes or methods so an instance of a parent class is not necessarily a valid replacement for the child class. In figure C-1, the specialization association says that the Parent class attributes and methods are inherited by the Child-1 class and the Child-2 class.

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