Overview of UML

Introduction to Unified Modeling Language (UML)

• It is a standard language to analyze, design and document software applications to enhance understanding and facilitate communication 
• Using UML we can represent different perspectives of a system, both for the customers and for the development team 
• Examples: 
• Hospital management system, University management system, Retail billing software, Internet banking system, etc. 

The UML can be used to Visualize, Specify, Construct and Document software applications.

Visualizing:

• There are things about a software system that you cannot be understood unless we build models.
• A program written by a developer can be difficult to understand by others unless it is documented or modeled
• UML helps to communicate such conceptual models effectively to all the members involved

Specify:

• UML allows to build precise, unambiguous and complete models to specify things such as requirements and design of a system
• Example: Through use case mode, we can specify the requirements of software applications. A class model can be used to specify design.

Construct:

• UML models can be used to map with some programming languages like Java, C++, Visual Basic or even database tables
• UML mapping permits forward engineering (model to code) and reverse engineering (code to model)

Document:
UML helps to document the decisions taken through various activities of software development including requirements, architecture, project planning, design, prototyping, coding, etc.

Conceptual Model of UML