Communication Diagrams

A Communication Diagram in Modeldraw, also known as a Collaboration Diagram in earlier UML versions, is a type of interaction diagram that shows how objects and actors interact and the relationships between them. It focuses on the structural organization of objects and actors that send and receive messages.

With Communication Diagrams in Modeldraw, you can:

• Visualize the interactions between objects and actors in a system

• Show the structural relationships and connections between participants

• Illustrate the flow of messages between objects and actors

• Demonstrate the sequence of interactions without emphasizing time ordering

• Represent complex scenarios and use cases in a more spatial layout

• Complement other UML diagrams like Sequence Diagrams to provide a complete view of system behavior

Key Components

• Object

• Actor

• Link

• Message

Object

Represents an instance of a class in the system. Objects are the internal participants in the interaction and are shown as a specific shape in the diagram, distinct from actors.

Actor

Represents an external entity that interacts with the system. Actors are typically users or external systems and are shown as a different shape from objects in the diagram.

Link

Represents a connection or association between objects and/or actors. Links are shown as lines connecting the participants and indicate that they can interact or communicate with each other.

Message

Represents communication from one participant (object or actor) to another. Messages are shown as labeled arrows along the links between participants, often numbered to indicate sequence.