Ambo University

Hachalu Hundessa Campus

School of Informatics & ECE

Dep’t of Information Technology

UML Diagrams
OVER VIEW OF UML DIAGRAMS & DRAWING TOOLS

By: Gelana Amante Adugna

ID: PGR/48483/13

To Dr. Tulu T.

May 19, 2021

 Overview of UML Diagrams UML

Quick Reference
Overview of UML Diagrams ..................................................................................................... 1

1. Class Diagram ................................................................................................................. 2

2. Component Diagram ....................................................................................................... 2

3. Deployment Diagram ...................................................................................................... 3

4. Object Diagram ............................................................................................................... 4

5. Package Diagram ............................................................................................................ 4

6. Profile Diagram ............................................................................................................... 5

7. Composite Structure Diagram......................................................................................... 6

8. Use Case Diagram........................................................................................................... 6

9. Activity Diagram ............................................................................................................ 7

10. State Diagram .............................................................................................................. 7

11. Sequence Diagram....................................................................................................... 8

12. Communication Diagram ............................................................................................ 9

13. Interaction Diagram................................................................................................... 10

Survey on UML Diagrams Drawing Tools .............................................................................. 11

1. Edraw Max .................................................................................................................... 11

2. Visio ................................................................................................................................. 11

3. ConceptDraw ................................................................................................................ 11

4. StarUML ....................................................................................................................... 12

5. Umbrello .......................................................................................................................... 12

6. UML Designer Tool ......................................................................................................... 12

7. Altova............................................................................................................................... 13

8. Umple............................................................................................................................... 13

9. Visual Paradigm ............................................................................................................... 13

10. WhiteStarUML .............................................................................................................. 14

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 Overview of UML Diagrams UML

Figure 1. Class diagram ............................................................................................................. 2

Figure 2. Component diagram ................................................................................................... 3
Figure 3. Deployment diagram .................................................................................................. 4
Figure 4. Object diagram ........................................................................................................... 4
Figure 5. Package diagram ......................................................................................................... 5
Figure 6. Profile diagram ........................................................................................................... 5
Figure 7. Composite diagram ..................................................................................................... 6
Figure 8. Use case diagram ........................................................................................................ 7
Figure 9. Activity diagram ......................................................................................................... 7
Figure 10. State diagram ............................................................................................................ 8
Figure 11. Sequence diagram ..................................................................................................... 9
Figure 12. Communication diagram .......................................................................................... 9
Figure 13. Interaction diagram ................................................................................................. 10

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Overview of UML Diagrams
UML stands for Unified Modelling Language. It is a standard which is mainly used for creating
object oriented, meaningful documentation models for any software system present in the real
world i.e., it's an international industry standard graphical notation used for describing,
visualizing, constructing, and documenting the artefacts of a software system. It offers rich
models that describe the working of any software/hardware systems.

There are some specific purpose of using UML Diagrams. Those are:

 To reason about system behaviour.

 To detect errors and omissions early in the life cycle.
 To present the proposed designs and communicate with stakeholders.
 To understand the requirements.
 To drive implementation.

There are two main category of UML diagrams with corresponding subtypes
Structure diagrams and
Structure diagrams show the things in the modelled system. In a more technical term, they
show different objects in a system. Some of them are:
 Class Diagram
 Component Diagram
 Deployment Diagram
 Object Diagram
 Package Diagram
 Profile Diagram
 Composite Structure Diagram
Behavioural diagrams.
Behavioural diagrams show what should happen in a system. They describe how the objects
interact with each other to create a functioning system. Those are
 Use Case Diagram
 Activity Diagram
 State Machine Diagram
 Sequence Diagram

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 Overview of UML Diagrams UML

 Communication Diagram
 Interaction Overview Diagram

Now let’s see one by one.

1. Class Diagram
Class diagrams are the main building block of any object-oriented solution. It shows the classes
in a system, attributes, and operations of each class and the relationship between each class. In
most modelling tools, a class has three parts. Name at the top, attributes in the middle and
operations or methods at the bottom. In a large system with many related classes, classes are
grouped together to create class diagrams. Different relationships between classes
(relationships-that-exist-between classes) are shown by different types of arrows.

Example of class diagram: the following is a class diagram for order processing system

Figure 1. Class diagram

2. Component Diagram
A component diagram displays the structural relationship of components of a software system.
These are mostly used when working with complex systems with many components.

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Components communicate with each other using interfaces. The interfaces are linked using
connectors. The following diagram shows a component diagram.

Figure 2. Component diagram

3. Deployment Diagram
A deployment diagram shows the hardware of your system and the software in that hardware.
Deployment diagrams are useful when your software solution is deployed across multiple
machines with each having a unique configuration. Below is an example of deployment
diagram for Vehicle Registration System.

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 Overview of UML Diagrams UML

Figure 3. Deployment diagram

4. Object Diagram
Object Diagrams, sometimes referred to as Instance diagrams are very similar to class
diagrams. Like class diagrams, they also show the relationship between objects but they use
real-world examples. They show how a system will look like at a given time. Because there is
data available in the objects, they are used to explain complex relationships between objects.

Here is an example for Order processing system

Figure 4. Object diagram

5. Package Diagram
The package diagrams allow you to organize the elements of a model. They are typically used
to depict the high-level organization of a software project. The package diagram can show both

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structure and dependencies between sub-systems or modules. They can be used to group any
construct in the UML, such as classes, actors, and use cases.

Example for this is as blow.

Figure 5. Package diagram

6. Profile Diagram
Profile diagram is a new diagram type introduced in UML 2. This is a diagram type that is very
rarely used in any specification. For more profile diagram templates, visit our diagram
community. This type can be represented as the following.

Figure 6. Profile diagram

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7. Composite Structure Diagram

Composite structure diagrams are used to show the internal structure of a class. Some of the
common composite structure diagrams. The following is simple example of it.

Figure 7. Composite diagram

8. Use Case Diagram

As the most known diagram type of the behavioural UML types, Use case diagrams give a
graphic overview of the actors involved in a system, different functions needed by those actors
and how these different functions interact. It’s a great starting point for any project discussion
because you can easily identify the main actors involved and the main processes of the system.

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 Overview of UML Diagrams UML

Figure 8. Use case diagram

9. Activity Diagram
Activity diagrams represent workflows in a graphical way. They can be used to describe the
business workflow or the operational workflow of any component in a system. Sometimes
activity diagrams are used as an alternative to State machine diagrams.

Figure 9. Activity diagram

10. State Diagram

State machine diagrams are similar to activity diagrams, although notations and usage change
a bit. They are sometimes known as state diagrams or state chart diagrams as well. These are

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 Overview of UML Diagrams UML

very useful to describe the behaviour of objects that act differently according to the state they
are in at the moment. The State machine diagram below shows the basic states and actions.

Figure 10. State diagram

11. Sequence Diagram

Sequence diagrams in UML show how objects interact with each other and the order those
interactions occur. It’s important to note that they show the interactions for a particular
scenario. The processes are represented vertically and interactions are shown as arrows.

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Figure 11. Sequence diagram

12. Communication Diagram

In UML 1 they were called collaboration diagrams. Communication diagrams are similar to
sequence diagrams, but the focus is on messages passed between objects. The same information
can be represented using a sequence diagram and different objects.

Figure 12. Communication diagram

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13. Interaction Diagram

Interaction overview diagrams are very similar to activity diagrams. While activity diagrams
show a sequence of processes, Interaction overview diagrams show a sequence of interaction
diagrams. They are a collection of interaction diagrams and the order they happen.

Figure 13. Interaction diagram

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 Survey on UML Diagrams Drawing Tools UML

Survey on UML Diagrams Drawing Tools

There are many tools available in the market for designing UML diagrams. Following is a
curated list of Top 10handpicked UML tools with popular features and latest download links.
This comparison list contains open source as well as commercial tools.

1. Edraw Max
Edraw Max is a UML builder software that helps you to make diagrams using ready-made
symbols and templates. It allows you to import your drawings to file formats such as PDF,
PPT, Word, HTML, etc.

Some features:

 You can create a flowchart, mind map, UML, electrical diagrams, network diagrams, etc.
 It provides a user-friendly interface similar to MS Word.
 Edraw Max helps you to share designs anytime, anywhere.
 This tool provides 280+ latest flowchart and diagram solutions.

2. Visio
Microsoft Visio is a popular chart and visualization software. It belongs to office family so it
can easily be integrated with other Microsoft office products.
Features:
 Visio helps you to create professional diagram by creating flowcharts, diagrams, org
charts, engineering designs, and more.
 Allows you to connect flowcharts and diagrams to real-time data.
 It allows you to work together on diagrams from a web browser, from almost anywhere.

3. ConceptDraw
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM offers a complete range of business graphic documentation
solutions. These UML solutions offer business-specific add-ons which offer an extensive
variety of workflow requirements.

Features:

 ConceptDraw DIAGRAM v12 offers powerful and comprehensive drawing tools.

 Helps you to empower your communication processes and improve your presentation
techniques.
 The tool is an ideal suite for building plan software.

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 You can use very important business metrics and track with live object technology.

4. StarUML
StarUML is a UML diagram modelling tool. It is one of the best UML software that provides
eleven types of diagram. StartUML 2 is compatible with UML 2.x versions.

Features:

 Allows you to create Obje3ct, Use case, Deployment, Seque3nce, Communication,

Activity, and profile Diagram.
 This UML diagram software allows you to discover and install third-party extensions.
 Work with same UX in multiple platforms including macOS, Windows, and Linux.
 No limit for using this commercial software for evaluation.

5. Umbrello
Umbrello is a UML modelling tool. It runs under KDE and Linux. It is one of the best UML
diagram tool which supports code generation as well as reverse engineering for C++ and Java.

Features:

 It allows you to create diagrams of software and another system in a standard format
 It helps you to check the screenshot to see umbrello in action.
 Offers handbook to give instruction to Umbrello and UML modeling.

6. UML Designer Tool

UML Designer tool offers a set of common diagrams to work with UML 2.5 models. The
tool provides an easy method for the transition from UML to domain-specific modeling.
Features:
 Allows user to re-use provided representations and work in total transparency on
both DSL and UML models
 This UML software helps you to create a Class diagram, Component Diagram, and
composite structure Diagram
 This UML diagram software allows you to use legacy UML models and start
working with DSL.

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 Survey on UML Diagrams Drawing Tools UML

7. Altova
Altova UModel is another useful UML tool which makes visual software design practical
for any project. Visually design application models in UML which can be generated using
Java, C++, C#, or Visual Basic.
Features:
 Intuitive Visual Modelling for all UML Diagrams
 Helper windows allow you to build your desired models.
 It allows you to add hyperlinks to any element in any UML diagram.
 You can assign an element to the specific layer, and layers can be locked to prevent
changes.

8. Umple
Umple is an open source model for integrating textual UML constructs in programming
languages, code generation or using simple UML modeling method.
Features:
 It allows developers to embed modeling concepts patterns, generation templates,
and other abstractions in traditional code.
 Umple tool helps users to learn UML faster.
 The tool can works online, as Eclipse plugin, and also stand-alone command-line
Jar.

9. Visual Paradigm
Visual Paradigm is a software design tool which is tailored for engine software projects. This
UML editor tool helps the software development team to a model business information system
and development processes.

Features:

 It offers support for BPMN, UML, ERD, DFD, and SysML.

 It offers a complete tool like for process analysis, system design, database design, etc.
 Offers user story feature to capture and maintain user's needs.

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 Survey on UML Diagrams Drawing Tools UML

10. WhiteStarUML
WhiteStarUML is another important Universal modeling tool which offers all the feature which
can be adapted to the modern environment like the support of Unicode strings.

Features:

 Windows 7, 8, 10 versions supported.

 This UML diagram maker provides the best functionality expected from a UML tool like a
large selection of supported diagrams.
 Good usability giving the overall look and feel of a serious programming environment.

Note: Tools for UML Drawing are not only these. These are some of them only. I just used

to walkthrough survey, and among these all I prefer and use Edraw Max because of its
interesting features and much more extra packages so that the user can design as per the
need. For me it is the best one.

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