UML syntax: Classifier

[ronaldtse]

Classifier

• Def.- A classifier is an abstract class that classifies the instances with regard their features.
• A classifier is a namespace and a type, and it can be generalized (i.e. inherited).

Classifier-Notation and Semantics

• A classifier associates a set of features. Concrete features are operations and attributes.
• Though the metamodel class classifier is abstract, a notation is nevertheless defined in the notation. This notation is inherited by the subclasses and used by them.
• Some of the notation will eventually be overwritten.

Classifier-Notation and Semantics

• A classifier is abstract if its description is incomplete. Abstractness is a feature of classifiers.
• The name of abstract classifiers are written in italics. Optionally, you can add the property string {abstract}.

Proposal:

1. An abstract class called GeomFigure

class abstract GeomFigure {}

or

class GeomFigure { abstract }

class Circle {} class Rectangle {}

GeomFigure <|- Circle GeomFigure <|- Rectangle

2. A class with compartments for name, attributes and operations

class Circle { +radius: int {radius > 0}

show() enlarge() }

[w00lf]

In ucd we already have abstract class notation, lets stick with it:

abstract class GeomFigure {}
class Circle {}
class Rectangle {}

GeomFigure <|- Circle
GeomFigure <|- Rectangle

[ronaldtse]

In ucd we already have abstract class notation, lets stick with it:

OK.

I would like to make the context separator {} optional if the class doesn't have anything to define too.