Unified Modeling Language The Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a general-purpose visual modeling language that is intended to provide a standard way to visualize the design of a system. UML provides a standard notation for many types of diagrams which can be roughly ...

(UML), a component diagram depicts how

components Component may refer to: In engineering, science, and technology Generic systems *System components, an entity with discrete structure, such as an assembly or software module, within a system considered at a particular level of analysis * Lumped e ...

are wired together to form larger components or

software system A software system is a system of intercommunicating software component, components based on software forming part of a computer system (a combination of Computer hardware, hardware and software). It "consists of a number of separate Computer progr ...

s. They are used to illustrate the structure of arbitrarily complex systems.

Overview

A component diagram allows verification that a system's required functionality is acceptable. These diagrams are also used as a communication tool between the developer and stakeholders of the system. Programmers and developers use the diagrams to formalize a roadmap for the implementation, allowing for better decision-making about task assignment or needed skill improvements. System administrators can use component diagrams to plan ahead, using the view of the logical software components and their relationships on the system.

Diagram elements

The component diagram extends the information given in a component notation element. One way of illustrating a component's provided and required

interfaces Interface or interfacing may refer to: Academic journals * ''Interface'' (journal), by the Electrochemical Society * '' Interface, Journal of Applied Linguistics'', now merged with ''ITL International Journal of Applied Linguistics'' * '' Inter ...

is through a rectangular compartment attached to the component element. Another accepted way of presenting the interfaces is the ball-and-socket graphic convention. A ''provided'' dependency from a component to an interface is illustrated with a solid line to the component using the interface from a "lollipop", or ball, labelled with the name of the interface. A ''required'' usage dependency from a component to an interface is illustrated by a half-circle, or "socket", labelled with the name of the interface, attached by a solid line to the component that requires this interface. Inherited interfaces may be shown with a lollipop, preceding the name label with a "

caret Caret () is the name used familiarly for the character provided on most QWERTY keyboards by typing . The symbol has a variety of uses in programming and mathematics. The name "caret" arose from its visual similarity to the original proofre ...

symbol". To illustrate dependencies between the two, use a "solid line" with an "open arrowhead" joining the socket to the lollipop.

References

External links

*
Component Diagrams in UML 2

by Scott W. Ambler

{{DEFAULTSORT:Component Diagram Component-based software engineering Unified Modeling Language diagrams