What is UML?
Monday, February 2nd, 2009What is UML?
UML is a standard modeling language used for modeling software systems of varying complexities. Systems can range from enterprise information systems to distributed Web-based systems. UML provides a I set of notations, and rules for using the same. The focus is on creating simple, well documented and easy to understand software models.
What is UML used to Represent?
UML is a modeling language and provides a vocabulary and rules for using the language. The vocabulary and the rules focus on representing the logical and physical elements of a system.
UML is a language used to:
- Visualize the software system with well-defined symbols. Thus a developer or tool can unambiguously interpret a model written by another developer, using UML.
- Specify the software system and help in building precise, unambiguous and complete models.
- Construct models of the software system that can directly communicate with a variety of programming languages.
- Document models of the software system by expressing requirements of the system during its development and deployment stages.
Where is UML USED?
Some of the most common domains where UML is being currently used are:
– Banking services.
– Defense systems.
– Distributed Web-based services.
– Enterprise information systems.
– Medical systems.
– Aerospace systems.
Views in UML
UML can be used to depict different aspects of a software intensive system through various kinds of views. The views typically used are:
– The user view – represents the goals and objectives of the system from a user’s viewpoint.
– The structural view – represents the static or idle state of the system.
– The behavioral view – represents the dynamic or changing state of the system.
– The implementation view – represents the distribution of the logical elements of the system.
– The environment view – represents the distribution of the physical elements of the system.

