For automation interface information about an Instance, click here Instance (automation interface).

An instance is an individual member described by a type.

An instance (InstanceSpecification) is an instance of a Class, Data Type, Interface or Signal that shows Attributes and features of that Class, Data Type, Interface or Signal through Slots. Each Slot corresponds to a single Attribute or feature, and a Slot may include a value.

You can create an Instance through the context menu of a Package: right-click the Package, point to New, point to UML, point to Structure, and then click Instance. You can also create an Instance through an Object Diagram, Communication Diagram or Sequence Diagram.

Note that on an Object Diagram, nested Instances can also be created through the Create Instances of Parts command – right-click an Instance, point to Populate, and then click Create Instances of Parts. If the Class you right-clicked contains Parts, the command creates Instances on the diagram for those Parts.

When shown on an Object Diagram or Communication Diagram, an Instance's notation is as follows.

For information about the View Options available for this symbol, click the following links:

If an Instance is anonymous, on a diagram you can hide its name through the Show Name check box on its View Options.

On an Object Diagram, the nesting of Instances can be shown through links and containment.

The following sections provide information about how an Instance is used in the model. For more information about a property, item, model part or diagram, click it.

In addition to the standard properties, an Instance has these properties:

Note that the Slots shown on the Slot Values tab of an Instance's property pages are virtual Slots or owned real Slots. Slot Values are properties of the owned Slots.

For information about how the View Options affect the presentation of Instances, click the following links:

In addition to the owning Package or Model, an Instance can be linked to the following items.