Compare and contrast the various diagramming techniques used in UML2.0 Essay

Compare and contrast the various diagramming techniques used in UML2.0 - Essay Example UML2.0 is a version of Unified modeling Language which is was develops to use graphic notations and modeling techniques to develop various visual models that are built and applied within systems to facilitate business activities. This paper gives a critical analysis, discussion and comparison of the various diagramming techniques and how they are used within UML2.0 to design and model systems. The various diagraming techniques are explained through illustrations or examples to demonstrate their similarities and differences. There are two major categories of diagrams in the UML2.0 system design and modeling techniques. These are structure and behavior diagrams which represent structural information and behavior of systems respectively. In each of the two major UML2.0 diagraming techniques are seven diagrams which represent various aspects of systems. Therefore, there is a total of fourteen diagrams which are used in the design and modeling techniques of UML2.0. Figure 1 below represen ts an overview of the two categories of diagrams which the UML2.0 design and modeling techniques employs to develop visual systems2. Figure 1: UML2.0 Diagramming All the diagrams under structural diagraming techniques of UML2.0 are similar in the fact that they all represent structural information. ... However, four of the behavior diagrams are used to depict the interactions which exist among different systems. The common similarity of the UML diagrams in system design and modeling is the elements which they contain. In UML2.0 based design and modeling, the elements of a system are depicted in the diagram in defining the structure and model of the system as a whole3. The elements which are composed in the UML2.0 diagramming include actors, business activities, business processes, UML statements, database schemas, software components and logical components. Each of the elements of UML2.0 diagramming plays different roles in communicating the structure and design of the system model. In addition the diagrams within the UML.0 diagramming are basically used to visualize what the system will look like in real application after it has been constructed or installed. Through these diagrams, the required modifications to systems are explained and designed. This is because of the common fea ture of UML2.0 diagramming which ensures that standards are used to specify the details of design and structure of various systems. The diagrams used in UML2.0 mediated system design and modeling are aimed at ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of systems is ascertained before they are actually built or constructed. The diagrams used in UML2.0 mediated system design and modeling are also similar in the fact that they combine different techniques in achieving the desired design and models of systems. The techniques which are employed by the UML2.0 diagraming techniques include data and business modeling. Entity relationship diagrams are specifically employed in data modeling within the