Object Oriented Analysis and Design

Lecture 09 Sequence Diagrams

Mehwish Kayani
mehwish.kayani@pucit.edu.pk
 What are Interaction Diagrams?
Interaction diagrams describe how groups of
objects collaborate
Typically an interaction diagram captures the
behavior of a single use case
shows a number of example objects, and the
messages passed between them to realize the use
case
There are two types of Interaction diagrams:
Sequence diagrams
Collaboration diagrams
2 Lecture 18 CS540 Software Design
 Sequence Diagrams
One sequence line per object called object lifeline
Lines between objects represent method calls and
returns
Main components of a sequence diagram
 describing a single scenario
 representing "typical" objects
 object lifelines
 message passing
 conditional
 iterative
 returns

The charm
works well in a scenario-driven design environment
better characterization of object-oriented systems
simple and visually suggestive

3 Lecture 18
Sequence Diagram
Captures dynamic behavior (time-
oriented)
Sequence Diagram
Captures dynamic behavior (time-oriented)
Purpose
Model flow of control
Illustrate typical scenarios
Sequence Diagrams
A sequence diagram shows an interaction
arranged in time sequence
the objects (not the classes)
the messages that pass between them

when an interaction occurs

Sequence Diagram: Example

seque
diagra
:Caller :Operator :Callee
call
ack

number
call

ack
transfer time

talk
Message Type
 Simple Message
 Control is passed from one object to another without providing
details
 Synchronous Message
 The sending object pause to wait for a result
 Asynchronous Message
 The sending object does not pause to wait for the result
 Return Message
 This message indicates a return from a procedure call
Message Types

Simple Message Synchronous Message

Return Message Asynchronous Message

Step 1: Start with the Use Case
POS Use Case : Handle Returns
Handle Return:

1. A customer arrives at a checkout with items to return.

2. The cashier uses the POS system to enter the receipt
number
3. The system presents details after verifying the receipt.
4. The system verified the return date limit.
5. The system updates the inventory.
6. Product is added to the inventory and a new receipt is
generated.
Step 2: Draw the Sequence Diagram
Collaboration Diagrams
In sequence diagrams, time is implicitly represented
as going "down the page"
object lifelines
message sequence top to bottom
In collaboration diagrams, the collaboration (message
passing sequence) shows the passing of time
no explicit visual representation of passing time
Collaboration Diagram
Collaboration Diagrams (summary)
Individual objects are icons in the diagram
identified by class name, and possibly an instance name
Flow of time is tracked by message numbers
phases of activity are harder to keep track of
Same iteration and conditional constructs
More emphasis on the objects and their names
Summary
 Interaction diagrams represent interaction among
classes/objects
sequence diagrams are simplest, but time is linear and
hard to represent complex interactions over time
collaboration diagrams represent time via message
sequence numbers; easier to show a complex sequence,
harder to follow the flow
Exercise
Draw Sequence diagrams
representing the following
interactions:
A client searches for a book in a
library. He or she then asks to
borrow the book. If a copy of this
book is available, a loan object is
created.