BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,MESRA

(LALPUR)

Seminar Assignment

Association, Aggregation, and

Composition in Java
Understanding Object Relationships in Java

NAME : Rishi Raj Choudhary

Roll No. : MCA/40018/24
Department: MCA
Table of Contents
• 1. Content
• 2. Introduction to Object Relationships
• 3. What is Association?
• 4. Types of Association
• 5. Example of Association in Java
• 6. When to Use Association
• 7. What is Aggregation?
• 8. Aggregation Characteristics
• 9. Example of Aggregation in Java
• 10. When to use Aggregation?
• 11. What is Composition?
• 12. Composition Characteristics
• 13. Example of Composition in Java
• 14. When to use Composition? 1
• 15. References and Research
• 16. End
Introduction to Object Relationships

• In Java, objects interact with each other through various types

of relationships. These relationships help in structuring a
robust and reusable code base by defining how different
classes connect. The main relationships in Java are
Association, Aggregation, and Composition.

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What is Association?
• Association defines a general connection between two classes
where one class uses or interacts with another class. It implies
a 'uses-a' relationship, allowing instances of one class to hold
references to instances of another class without a strong
dependency. Association is bi-directional or unidirectional.

Association

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Types of Association
• 1. One-to-One: Each object of one class is associated with a
single object of another class.
• 2. One-to-Many: An object of one class is associated with
multiple objects of another class.
• 3. Many-to-One: Many objects of one class are associated with
a single object of another class.
• 4. Many-to-Many: Multiple objects of one class are associated
with multiple objects of another class.

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Example of Association in Java
Example:
The Teacher class and Subject class are separate, and each can exist independently.
Code:
• // Class representing a Teacher
• class Teacher {
• String name;

• public Teacher(String name) {

• this.name = name;
• }
• public String getName() {
• return name;
• }
• }
• // Class representing a Subject
• class Subject {
• String subjectName;

• public Subject(String subjectName) {

• this.subjectName = subjectName;
• }

• public String getSubjectName() {

• return subjectName;
• }
• }
• // Main class to test Association
• public class Main {
• public static void main(String[] args) {
•
•
// Creating objects of Teacher and Subject
Teacher teacher = new Teacher("Mr. Smith");
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• Subject subject = new Subject("Mathematics");

• // Displaying the association

• System.out.println(teacher.getName() + " teaches " + subject.getSubjectName());
• }
When to Use Association
• One class needs to interact with or use the functionality
of another class..
• User need to represent a many-to-many relationship

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What is Aggregation?
• Aggregation is a form of Association, often described as a 'has-
a' relationship. It represents a whole-part relationship where
the part can exist independently of the whole. This means the
lifecycle of the part is not dependent on the whole.

Association

Aggregation

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Aggregation Characteristics
• 1. The parts are not dependent on the whole object’s lifecycle.
• 2. Aggregation allows a class to reuse other classes' objects
and functionalities without needing ownership over the
objects.
• 3. Represented by a hollow diamond in UML diagrams.

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Example of Aggregation in Java
• Example:
• A person and an Address have an aggregation relationship, as Address can exist independently of the Person.
• Code:
• // Class representing an Address
• class Address {
• String city, state, country;
• public Address(String city, String state, String country) {
• this.city = city;
• this.state = state;
• this.country = country;
• }
• public String getFullAddress() {
• return city + ", " + state + ", " + country;
• }
• }
• //Person that "has-a" Address
• class Person {
• String name;
• Address address; // Aggregation relationship
• public Person(String name, Address address) {
• this.name = name;
• this.address = address;
• }
• public void displayInfo() {
• System.out.println("Name: " + name);
• System.out.println("Address: " + address.getFullAddress());
• }
• }
• class Main {
•
•
public static void main(String[] args) { 9
Address address = new Address("New York", "NY", "USA");
• // Creating a Person object with the Address object
• Person person = new Person("John", address);
person.displayInfo();
• }
 When to use Aggregation?
 Code reuse is also best achieved by aggregation when there is no
is-a relationship.
• Inheritance should be used only if the relationship is-a is
maintained throughout the lifetime of the objects involved;
otherwise, aggregation is the best choice.

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What is Composition?
• Composition is a strong form of Aggregation where the parts
are strongly dependent on the whole. It is a 'part-of'
relationship. In Composition, if the whole is destroyed, the
parts are destroyed too, as they do not exist independently.

Association

Aggregation

Composition
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Composition Characteristics
• 1. Strong lifecycle dependency between the container and its
parts.
• 2. The parts cannot exist independently without the whole.
• 3. Represented by a filled diamond in UML diagrams.

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Example of Composition in Java
• A computer contains a processor, and the processor cannot function independently outside of the
computer. If the computer is destroyed, the processor’s existence is also terminated. Code:

// Class representing Processor

class Processor {
String model;
public Processor(String model) {
this.model = model;
}
public String getModel() {
return model;
}
}
// Class representing Computer that "has-a" Processor
class Computer {
String brand;
Processor processor;

public Computer(String brand, String processorModel) {

this.brand = brand;
this.processor = new Processor(processorModel); // Processor created as part of the Computer
}
public void displayInfo() {
System.out.println("Computer Brand: " + brand);
System.out.println("Processor Model: " + processor.getModel());
}
}

// Main class to test Composition

public class Main { 13
public static void main(String[] args) {
Computer computer = new Computer("Dell", "Intel Core i7");
computer.displayInfo();

// When 'computer' is destroyed, 'processor' is also destroyed as it is a part of the computer.

}
 When to use Composition?

• Has-a Relationship: Use composition when one class logically "has-a"

relationship with another. For example, a computer "has" processor or a car
"has" an engine.
• Encapsulation:Composition allows for better encapsulation by hiding the details
of the composed object from the outside world, offering greater control over the
internals of the system.

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References and Research

• Association, Composition and Aggregation in Java -

GeeksforGeeks
• Association, Composition and Aggregation in Java - Scaler
Topics
• ChatGPT
• Difference Between Aggregation and Composition in Java -
Java point

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• Thank You.

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