A Sequence Diagram is a graphical description of a Class, Event, Interface, Operation or Use Case. You use it to show the interactions which occur between the objects. The diagram includes statements, objects and stimuli:
• Each statement describes the processes which occur written in a form of structured English (additional view options can be used to show line numbering and loop connections - known as construct balancing); statements are written down the left hand margin of the diagram; the vertical time axis is nonlinear and can be regarded as event driven.
• Objects and boundaries - declared across the top of the diagram and modeled as vertical lines: objects can be Actors, Instances, Parts, Ports, Interface Devices, Packages and Subsystems. The order in which objects are placed on the diagram is not significant; however, they should be arranged for maximum clarity.
• Stimuli, in the form of messages and probes between objects which are drawn automatically.
You can create a Sequence Diagram through the context menu of a Package: right-click the Package, point to UML, point to Behavior, and then click Sequence Diagram. You can also create a Sequence Diagram for an Event, Operation or Use Case: right-click the item, point to New, and then click Sequence Diagram.
You must use a Sequence Diagram to create the following model items:
The following sections provide information about how a Sequence Diagram is used in the model. For more information about an item, property or model part, click it.
Shows these dictionary items
Like most diagrams, a Sequence Diagram can show variability items and relationships.
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For most diagram symbols, you can change the presentation of the symbol through the Style view options (
tell me more...), and change the showing of Stereotypes and Tag Definitions through the Stereotypes view options (
tell me more...). When a symbol has additional view options for changing its presentation, this icon is shown - to see how the view options can change the presentation, click the icon.