The current UML standards call for 13 different types of diagrams: class, activity, object, use case, sequence, package, state, component, communication, composite structure, interaction overview, timing, and deployment.
These diagrams are organized into two distinct groups: structural diagrams and behavioral or interaction diagrams.
Structural UML diagrams
- Class diagram
- Package diagram
- Object diagram
- Component diagram
- Composite structure diagram
- Deployment diagram
Behavioral UML diagrams
- Activity diagram
- Sequence diagram
- Use case diagram
- State diagram
- Communication diagram
- Interaction overview diagram
- Timing diagram
Class Diagram
Class diagrams are the backbone of almost every object-oriented method, including UML. They describe the static structure of a system. Learn more
Watch this short video about UML Class Diagrams
Package Diagram
Package diagrams are a subset of class diagrams, but developers sometimes treat them as a separate technique. Package diagrams organize elements of a system into related groups to minimize dependencies between packages.
Object Diagram
Object diagrams describe the static structure of a system at a particular time. They can be used to test class diagrams for accuracy.
Composite Structure Diagram
Composite structure diagrams show the internal part of a class.
Use Case Diagram
Use case diagrams model the functionality of a system using actors and use cases. Learn more
Activity Diagram
Activity diagrams illustrate the dynamic nature of a system by modeling the flow of control from activity to activity. An activity represents an operation on some class in the system that results in a change in the state of the system. Typically, activity diagrams are used to model workflow or business processes and internal operation. Learn more
Sequence Diagram
Sequence diagrams describe interactions among classes in terms of an exchange of messages over time. Learn more
Interaction Overview Diagram
Interaction overview diagrams are a combination of activity and sequence diagrams. They model a sequence of actions and let you deconstruct more complex interactions into manageable occurrences. You should use the same notation on interaction overview diagrams that you would see on an activity diagram.
Timing Diagram
A timing diagram is a type of behavioral or interaction UML diagram that focuses on processes that take place during a specific period of time. They're a special instance of a sequence diagram, except time is shown to increase from left to right instead of top down.
Communication Diagram
Communication diagrams model the interactions between objects in sequence. They describe both the static structure and the dynamic behavior of a system. In many ways, a communication diagram is a simplified version of a collaboration diagram introduced in UML 2.0.
State Diagram
Statechart diagrams, now known as state machine diagrams and state diagrams describe the dynamic behavior of a system in response to external stimuli. State diagrams are especially useful in modeling reactive objects whose states are triggered by specific events. Learn more
Component Diagram
Component diagrams describe the organization of physical software components, including source code, run-time (binary) code, and executables. Learn more.
Deployment Diagram
Deployment diagrams depict the physical resources in a system, including nodes, components, and connections.
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