A component diagram in the Unified Modeling Language, depicts how components are wired together to form larger components and or software systems.
Overview
Components are wired together by using an assembly connector to connect the required interface of one component with the provided interface of another component. This illustrates the service consumer - service provider relationship between the two components.
An assembly connector is a "connector between two components that defines that one component provides the services that another component requires. An assembly connector is a connector that is defined from a required interface or port to a provided interface or port."[1]
When using a component diagram to show the internal structure of a component, the provided and required interfaces of the encompassing component can delegate to the corresponding interfaces of the contained components.
A delegation connector is a "connector that links the external contract of a component (as specified by its ports) to the internal realization of that behavior by the component’s parts."[1]
Components diagrams can be used to illustrate the structure of arbitrarily complex systems. The example above illustrates what a typical Insurance policy administration system might look like. It is possible to envisage that each of the components depicted in the above diagram will, in turn, have other component diagrams illustrating their internal structure.
References
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External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Component diagrams |
- Introduction to UML 2 Component Diagrams by Scott W. Ambler
- UML 2 Component Diagram Guidelines by Scott W. Ambler
- Component Diagrams in UML 2
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