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Collaboration diagrams illustrate relationships between objects in object-oriented programming. They require technical skill and training to create and include elements such as objects, relationships, and messages. UML standards evolve and collaboration diagrams may be converted from sequence diagrams.
A collaboration diagram is a type of Unified Modeling Language (UML) interaction diagram that highlights the structural organization of objects in the design of object-oriented programming (OOP) computer systems. The collaboration diagram illustrates the relationships between objects. These diagrams may require technical skill and training to create. A central government organization monitors UML standards and they continue to evolve.
In OOP, an object is an encapsulated entity composed of attributes and behaviors, and the term object often refers to a complex data type. For example, an object might consist of inventory item data and various functions for retrieving and reviewing that data. Thinking of data, attributes and behaviors as objects can simplify the modeling and development process.
The object element is a key element in a collaboration diagram. Objects can interact with each other. For example, a purchase order item can interact with an inventory item to model the effect that items received on a purchase order have on inventory. The diagram can show a class role for each object, which can also be described as the responsibilities for that object.
A second element is the element of relationship or association. This element represents a link that connects associated objects and indicates how the association will behave in this circumstance. It can also be used to show cardinality. Cardinality is the required relationship between the data in the two objects, such as a one-to-one or one-to-many relationship.
Messages are the third element in collaboration diagrams. They are represented as arrows pointing from the initial object to the final object. Numbering can be added to messages to show the timeline of object interactions.
A collaboration diagram is similar to a sequence diagram because both show how objects interact with each other in dynamic relationships or over time. Some UML modeling programs can convert sequence diagrams to collaboration diagrams and vice versa due to their similarities. Dynamic relationships are easier to understand from sequence diagrams, while collaboration diagrams represent the connections between objects more effectively.
Collaboration diagrams require technical skills to create. The task is often assigned to a computer systems analyst. Analysts who build the models use case diagrams, class diagrams, and sequence diagrams to gather system information needed to develop the diagrams. Also, templates are usually created using special software, which may require training to use.
UML standards are developed by the Object Management Group. Standards continue to advance, and as a result, diagram modeling conventions can change. For example, newer UML notations use a communication diagram as a simplified version of the collaboration diagram.
