What is UML? Read our guide to learn all the answers, including which diagrams are made with the Unified Modeling Language and how you can create UML diagrams of your own.

1. What is UML (Unified
Modeling Language)?

2. What is UML?
UML stands for Unified
Modeling Language. It's a
widely-used modeling
language in the field of
software engineering.
Experts use UML to
analyze, design, and
implement software-based
systems, along with other
business processes.

3. The Unified Modeling Language
• The name says it all—Unified Modeling Language is a modeling
language that combines various approaches in a single design
language, which is used to plan and create computer
applications.
• UML is actually a combination of several notations: Object-
Oriented Design, Object Modeling Technique, and Object-
Oriented Software Engineering.

4. UML Cont’d
• The Unified Modeling Language uses the strengths of these
approaches to present a more consistent methodology that's
easier to use.
• UML represents best practices for building and documenting
the facets of software and business system modeling.

5. How to Use UML?
UML is most often used for determining system requirements
and planning details of system implementation. It is also used
to:
• Visually represent the semantics of a given system with
specialized shapes and connectors
• Inform documentation like functional specifications and test
plans
• Build and guide the creation of complex systems

6. How to Use UML Cont’d
• Remember that neither UML nor these use cases constitute an
official process.
• Instead, UML supports a variety of processes, since it functions
as a modeling toolkit with its own notation and syntax.
• According to the Object Management Group—the nonprofit
consortium that determines UML's standards—the language can
model:

7. How to Use UML Cont’d
• Structure diagrams, which emphasize the structural elements
that must be present in the system being modeled. They are
frequently used to document the architecture of software
systems.
Class diagrams, object diagrams, component
diagrams, composite structure diagrams, package diagrams, and
deployment diagrams all fall under the umbrella of structure
diagrams.

8. How to Use UML Cont’d
• Behavior diagrams, which emphasize the necessary behavior
in the system being modeled. They are often used to describe
software systems' functionality.
Use case diagrams, activity diagrams, and state machine
diagrams are all subsets of behavior diagrams.

9. How to Use UML Cont’d
• Interaction diagrams, which are technically a specialized type
of behavior diagram, emphasize the flow of control and data
throughout the modeled system.
Sequence diagrams, communication diagrams, timing
diagrams, and interaction overview diagrams are kinds of
interaction diagrams.

10. UML
EXAMPLE
1

11. UML EXAMPLE 2

12. Resources
• See Lucid U for examples
and tutorials on common
UML diagrams.
• Try the Lucidchart demo for
free!
With Lucidchart, it's easy to create effective diagrams in UML, such as activity diagrams, use case
diagrams, sequence diagrams, and more. Check out our demo and see for yourself!