Unified Modeling Language Reference Manual, The, Second Edition

port

A structural feature of a classifier that encapsulates interaction between the contents of the classifier and its environment.

See interface, structured classifier, structured part.

Semantics

A port is a connection point between a classifier and its environment. Connections from the outside world are made to ports according to provided and required interfaces declared on a port. The outside clients of the classifier have no visibility or direct interaction with the contents or implementation of the classifier. When a classifier is implemented, ports on internal parts are connected to its external ports in accordance with the declared interfaces. The use of ports permits the internal structure of a classifier to be modified without affecting ...