LINKS

 The term link derives from Rumbaugh et al., who define it as a “physical or conceptual
connection between objects.
 Stated another way, a link denotes the specific association through which one object (the
client) applies the services of another object (the supplier), or through which one object may
navigate to another.
 A line between two object icons represents the existence of a link between the two and
means that messages may pass along this path. Messages are shown as small directed lines
representing the direction of the message, with a label naming the message itself.
 Message passing between two objects is typically unidirectional, although it may
occasionally be bidirectional.
 As a participant in a link, an object may play one of three roles. 1. Controller: This object can
operate on other objects but is not operated on by other objects. In some contexts, the
terms active object and controller are interchangeable. 2. Server: This object doesn’t
operate on other objects; it is only operated on by other objects. 3. Proxy: This object can
both operate on other objects and be operated on by other objects. A proxy is usually
created to represent a real-world object in the domain of the application

Synchronization
Whenever one object passes a message to another across a link, the two objects are said to be
synchronized.

UML Relationships
In UML diagrams, relationships are used to link several things. It is a connection
between structural, behavioral, or grouping things. Following are the standard UML
relationships enlisted below:

o Association
o Dependency
o Generalization
o Realization
Association
 Association relationship is a structural relationship in which different objects
are linked within the system.

 It exhibits a binary relationship between the objects representing an activity.

 It depicts the relationship between objects, such as a student, can be

associated with multiple teachers.

 It is represented by a line between the classes followed by an arrow that

navigates the direction, and when the arrow is on both sides, it is then called a
bidirectional association.

 Multiplicity of an association can be specified by adding the adornments on

the line that will denote the association.

1) A single teacher has multiple students.

2) A single student can associate with many teachers.