Software Architect's Handbook

Component diagrams

Component diagrams detail the structural relationship between components of a system. These diagrams are typically needed with complex software systems that consist of many components, as it is helpful to view the components and their relationships. They essentially depict how the components of a software system are wired together, which is why they are sometimes referred to as wiring diagrams.

Component diagrams help us to identify the interfaces between different components of our software system. Components communicate with each other through interfaces, and component diagrams allow us to see system behavior as it relates to an interface. Interfaces define a contract by defining the methods and properties that are required ...