The Unified Modeling Language User Guide, 2nd Edition

Chapter 29. Patterns and Frameworks

In this chapter

• Patterns and frameworks

• Modeling design patterns

• Modeling architectural patterns

• Making patterns approachable

All well-structured systems are full of patterns. A pattern provides a good solution to a common problem in a given context. A mechanism is a design pattern that applies to a society of classes; a framework is typically an architectural pattern that provides an extensible template for applications within a domain.

You use patterns to specify mechanisms and frameworks that shape the architecture of your system. You make a pattern approachable by clearly identifying the slots, tabs, knobs, and dials that a user of that pattern may adjust to apply the pattern in a particular context.

Getting Started ...