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Sequence Diagram

A Sequence Diagram is a UML diagram that depicts interactions and message flows between objects in a specific scenario, highlighting the dynamic behavior of a system over time. Key components include lifelines, actors, objects, activation bars, messages, return messages, and self-messages, all arranged in a two-dimensional chart read from top to bottom. The diagram illustrates the order of interactions, object existence, and activation periods, providing a clear visualization of the sequence of events in a use case.

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2 views

Sequence Diagram

A Sequence Diagram is a UML diagram that depicts interactions and message flows between objects in a specific scenario, highlighting the dynamic behavior of a system over time. Key components include lifelines, actors, objects, activation bars, messages, return messages, and self-messages, all arranged in a two-dimensional chart read from top to bottom. The diagram illustrates the order of interactions, object existence, and activation periods, providing a clear visualization of the sequence of events in a use case.

Uploaded by

hailchiku6
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sequence Diagram

A Sequence Diagram is a type of UML (Unified Modelling Language) diagram that illustrates the
interactions and flow of messages between objects or components in a specific scenario or use case.
Sequence diagrams are particularly useful for visualizing the dynamic behaviour of a system over time,
showcasing the order in which interactions occur between different entities. Here are the key
components of a Sequence Diagram:

Lifeline: Represents the lifespan of an object or component during the interaction. It is depicted as a
vertical line that extends down the diagram.

Actor: Represents an external entity (user or system) that interacts with the system. Actors are typically
shown as stick figures.

Object: Represents an instance of a class participating in the sequence. It is depicted using a rectangle
with the object's name.

Activation Bar: Represents the period during which an object is active or performing some operation.
It is a horizontal bar drawn on the lifeline.

Message: Represents communication or interaction between objects. Messages are depicted as


arrows pointing from the sender to the receiver. They show the order and type of interactions.

Return Message: Represents the response or return of control from the receiver to the sender. It is
depicted as a dashed arrow.

Self-Message: Represents a message that an object sends to itself. It is depicted as a looped arrow.

A sequence diagram shows interaction among objects as a two-dimensional chart. The chart is read
from top to bottom. The objects participating in the interaction are shown at the top of the chart as
boxes attached to a vertical dashed line. Inside the box the name of the object is written with a colon
separating it from the name of the class and both the name of the object and the class are underlined.
This signifies that we are referring any arbitrary instance of the class. An object appearing at the top
of the sequence diagram signifies that the object existed even before the time the use case execution
was initiated. However, if some object is created during the execution of the use case and participates
in the interaction (e.g., a method call), then the object should be shown at the appropriate place on
the diagram where it is created. The vertical dashed line is called the object’s lifeline. Any point on the
lifeline implies that the object exists at that point. Absence of lifeline after some point indicates that
the object ceases to exist after that point in time, particular point of time. Normally, at the point if an
object is destroyed, the lifeline of the object is crossed at that point and the lifeline for the object is
not drawn beyond that point. A rectangle called the activation symbol is drawn on the lifeline of an
object to indicate the points of time at which the object is active. Thus, an activation symbol indicates
that an object is active as long as the symbol (rectangle) exists on the lifeline. Each message is indicated
as an arrow between the lifelines of two objects. The messages are shown in chronological order from
the top to the bottom. That is, reading the diagram from the top to the bottom would show the
sequence in which the messages occur. Each message is labelled with the message name. Some control
information can also be included.

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