OCUP2I 03 Structured Classifiers

Module 3. Structured Classifiers⌘

References⌘

UML 2.5 specification:

• Chapter 11: Structured Classifiers
  • Summary
  • Structured Classifiers
  • Classes
  • Associations
  • Collaborations

Structured Classifiers⌘

• StructuredClassifiers may contain an internal structure of connected elements each of which plays a role in the overall behavior modeled by the StructuredClassifier.
• Each ConnectableElement represents a participant within the internal structure of a StructuredClassifier; these participants are called roles.
• Roles may be joined by Connectors, and specify configurations of linked instances contained or referenced within an instance of the containing StructuredClassifier.
• A part may be shown by graphical nesting of a box symbol with a solid outline representing the part within the internal structure compartment.
• A role that is not a composition may be shown by graphical nesting of a box symbol with a dashed outline.

Connectors⌘

• A Connector specifies links between two or more instances playing owned or inherited roles within a StructuredClassifier.
• Each link may be realized by something as simple as a pointer or by something as complex as a network connection.
• In contrast to Associations, which specify links between any suitably-typed instance of the associated Classifiers, Connectors specify links between instances playing the connected roles only.

Associations⌘

• An Association classifies a set of tuples representing links between typed instances.
• An AssociationClass is both an Association and a Class.

Association Class⌘

Collaborations⌘

• The primary purpose of Collaborations is to explain how a system of communicating elements collectively accomplish a specific task or set of tasks without necessarily having to incorporate detail that is irrelevant to the explanation.
• Collaborations are one way that UML may be used to capture design patterns.