This collection of pages present an abridged combination of The UML User Guide and The UML Reference Manual books, taking an 80-20 approach to The UML (80% of designs can be described using 20% of the UML). Refer to the published books for an in-depth understanding of The UML.

Start with the introduction page below and navigate sequentially, or jump direct to one of the sections:

Introduction

less than 1 minute read

An Abridged Guide to the Unified Modelling Language 2

Overview

9 minute read

What is a model? Why we model. UML, Architecture and SDLC. Systems, models and views.

UML Concepts

less than 1 minute read

The UML has three main concepts: things, relationships and diagrams.

UML Things

5 minute read

Structural things, behavioural things, grouping things and annotation things

UML Relationships

6 minute read

Dependencies, associations, generalisations and realisations.

UML Diagrams

1 minute read

Thirteen diagram types in two main classes: structural and behavioural diagrams.

Common Mechanisms

2 minute read

Specifications, adornments, common divisions and extensibility mechanisms.

Views

less than 1 minute read

Architectural views and UML views.

Architectural Views

2 minute read

Use case scenarios, logical designs, process interactions, development & implementation and physical deployment views.

UML Views

1 minute read

Structural classification, dynamic behaviour, physical layout, model management.

Structural Classification

2 minute read

Class diagrams, internal structure diagrams, collaboration diagrams, component diagrams and use case diagrams.

Dynamic Behaviour

2 minute read

Class diagram, activity diagrams, sequence diagrams and communication diagrams.

UML Diagrams

less than 1 minute read

Graphs (drawing), vertices (things) and arcs (relationships).

Structural Diagrams

2 minute read

Class, object, composite structure, component, deployment, artifact and package diagrams.

Behavioural Diagrams

2 minute read

The UML’s behavioural diagrams document the dynamic aspects of a system.

Applying The UML

less than 1 minute read

It’s only through using The UML that you gain experience of it and become proficient in it.

Using Visio

less than 1 minute read

Visio is a very common modelling tool. Visio has its own stencils, but others are available.

Using Draw.IO

less than 1 minute read

Draw.IO (aka Diagrams.net) provides excellent browser-based and desktop alternative to Visio.

Using PlantUML

less than 1 minute read

Quickly describe UML diagrams in text and PlantUML will convert them into diagrams.