UML Profile for Framework Architectures, The

2.2. Class diagrams

Class diagrams are the most important notation for object modeling. A class diagram serves several important purposes:

• a class diagram gives an overview of the type structure of a system;

• associations and generalizations shown in a class diagram describe structural relationships among classes;

• class diagrams contribute to the description of the system architecture, since components are implemented by (sets of) classes;

• several other kinds of UML diagrams, such as sequence and object diagrams, are based on class diagrams;

• a class diagram describes the set of possible states of the overall system and therefore acts as a constraint on the possible states of the system;

• attaching notes that contain constraints or implementation bodies ...