Use a UML sequence diagram template to illustrate object interactions in informational systems. Building a sequence diagram will help you understand how the different sections of a system can work together to create flawless functionalities and improve the customer experience overall. The work sequence is, not surprisingly, the order in which tasks are completed. Work sequence is also commonly referred to as the sequence of operations. Many tasks follow a logical order. Consider the assembly of a go kart. It makes sense that the tires are installed onto the wheels before the wheels are mounted to the chassis.
A sequence diagram shows object interactions arranged in time sequence. It depicts the objects involved in the scenario and the sequence of messages exchanged between the objects needed to carry out the functionality of the scenario. Sequence diagrams are typically associated with use case realizations in the logical view of the system under development. Sequence diagrams are sometimes called event diagrams or event scenarios.
Sequence Diagram Editor
A sequence diagram shows, as parallel vertical lines (lifelines), different processes or objects that live simultaneously, and, as horizontal arrows, the messages exchanged between them, in the order in which they occur. This allows the specification of simple runtime scenarios in a graphical manner.
Diagram building blocks[edit]
If the lifeline is that of an object, it demonstrates a role. Leaving the instance name blank can represent anonymous and unnamed instances.
Messages, written with horizontal arrows with the message name written above them, display interaction. Solid arrow heads represent synchronous calls, open arrow heads represent asynchronous messages, and dashed lines represent reply messages.[1]If a caller sends a synchronous message, it must wait until the message is done, such as invoking a subroutine. If a caller sends an asynchronous message, it can continue processing and doesn't have to wait for a response. Asynchronous calls are present in multithreaded applications, event-driven applications and in message-oriented middleware. Activation boxes, or method-call boxes, are opaque rectangles drawn on top of lifelines to represent that processes are being performed in response to the message (ExecutionSpecifications in UML).
Objects calling methods on themselves use messages and add new activation boxes on top of any others to indicate a further level of processing. If an object is destroyed (removed from memory), an X is drawn on bottom of the lifeline, and the dashed line ceases to be drawn below it. It should be the result of a message, either from the object itself, or another.
A message sent from outside the diagram can be represented by a message originating from a filled-in circle (found message in UML) or from a border of the sequence diagram (gate in UML).
UML has introduced significant improvements to the capabilities of sequence diagrams. Most of these improvements are based on the idea of interaction fragments[2] which represent smaller pieces of an enclosing interaction. Multiple interaction fragments are combined to create a variety of combined fragments,[3] which are then used to model interactions that include parallelism, conditional branches, optional interactions.
Sequence Diagram Loop
References[edit]
- ^OMG (2011). OMG Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML), Superstructure, V2.4.1, p. 507.
- ^OMG (2008). OMG Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML), Superstructure, V2.1.2, p. 485.
- ^OMG (2007). OMG Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML), Superstructure, V2.1.2. p. 467.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sequence diagrams. |
- UML Distilled by Martin Fowler
- Current UML Specification by Object Management Group (OMG)
- Introduction to UML 2 Sequence Diagrams by Scott W. Ambler.
- A Quick Introduction to UML Sequence Diagrams by Yanic Inghelbrecht
Project Sequence Diagram
A sequence diagram shows object interactions arranged in time sequence. It depicts the objects involved in the scenario and the sequence of messages exchanged between the objects needed to carry out the functionality of the scenario. Sequence diagrams are typically associated with use case realizations in the logical view of the system under development. Sequence diagrams are sometimes called event diagrams or event scenarios.
Sequence Diagram Editor
A sequence diagram shows, as parallel vertical lines (lifelines), different processes or objects that live simultaneously, and, as horizontal arrows, the messages exchanged between them, in the order in which they occur. This allows the specification of simple runtime scenarios in a graphical manner.
Diagram building blocks[edit]
If the lifeline is that of an object, it demonstrates a role. Leaving the instance name blank can represent anonymous and unnamed instances.
Messages, written with horizontal arrows with the message name written above them, display interaction. Solid arrow heads represent synchronous calls, open arrow heads represent asynchronous messages, and dashed lines represent reply messages.[1]If a caller sends a synchronous message, it must wait until the message is done, such as invoking a subroutine. If a caller sends an asynchronous message, it can continue processing and doesn't have to wait for a response. Asynchronous calls are present in multithreaded applications, event-driven applications and in message-oriented middleware. Activation boxes, or method-call boxes, are opaque rectangles drawn on top of lifelines to represent that processes are being performed in response to the message (ExecutionSpecifications in UML).
Objects calling methods on themselves use messages and add new activation boxes on top of any others to indicate a further level of processing. If an object is destroyed (removed from memory), an X is drawn on bottom of the lifeline, and the dashed line ceases to be drawn below it. It should be the result of a message, either from the object itself, or another.
A message sent from outside the diagram can be represented by a message originating from a filled-in circle (found message in UML) or from a border of the sequence diagram (gate in UML).
UML has introduced significant improvements to the capabilities of sequence diagrams. Most of these improvements are based on the idea of interaction fragments[2] which represent smaller pieces of an enclosing interaction. Multiple interaction fragments are combined to create a variety of combined fragments,[3] which are then used to model interactions that include parallelism, conditional branches, optional interactions.
Sequence Diagram Loop
References[edit]
- ^OMG (2011). OMG Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML), Superstructure, V2.4.1, p. 507.
- ^OMG (2008). OMG Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML), Superstructure, V2.1.2, p. 485.
- ^OMG (2007). OMG Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML), Superstructure, V2.1.2. p. 467.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sequence diagrams. |
- UML Distilled by Martin Fowler
- Current UML Specification by Object Management Group (OMG)
- Introduction to UML 2 Sequence Diagrams by Scott W. Ambler.
- A Quick Introduction to UML Sequence Diagrams by Yanic Inghelbrecht
Project Sequence Diagram
Sequence Diagram Online
Work Sequence Diagram
Notation Description | Visual Representation |
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Actor
Note that:
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Lifeline Ryobi cordless hedge trimmer.
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Activations
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Call Message
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Return Message
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Self Message
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Recursive Message
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Create Message
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Destroy Message
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Duration Message
| |
Note A note (comment) gives the ability to attach various remarks to elements. A comment carries no semantic force, but may contain information that is useful to a modeler. |