What is Unified Modeling Language?

UML, short for Unified Modeling Language, is a modeling language that allows for the visual representation of different aspects of software system. Although UML is supposed to be a generic modeling language that can be used in different industries, it’s most widely used in designing object oriented software/systems.

Basically people see UML as a number of diagrams. There are 13 diagram types in total, categorized into Structure Diagram and Behavior Diagram:

Structure Diagram

• Class Diagram
• Component Diagram
• Object Diagram
• Profile Diagram
• Composite Structure Diagram
• Deployment Diagram
• Package Diagram

Behaviour Diagram

• Activity Diagram
• Use Case Diagram
• State Machine Diagram
• Interaction Diagram
• Sequence Diagram
• Communication Diagram
• Interaction Overview Diagram
• Timing Diagram

So you may ask: Why UML? People draw UML diagrams mainly for the following reasons:

• As a means to understand problems and identify solution
• Communicate design ideas
• Design system architecture, programming logic and behavior prior to coding
• Keep records of design decisions

Useful UML Resources

• OMG UML Specification
• Best, Cross-Platform UML modeling software
• UML tutorials