Class shapes
In Unified Modeling Language (UML) visualization class diagrams, a class shape is a graphical element that represent an application element. An application element can be represented by multiple instances of a class shape in one or more diagrams.
You use class shapes to illustrate conceptually related application elements. A class shape shows all or part of the underlying semantics.
Each class shape has properties that govern its appearance and location in a diagram. Modifying properties of a shape only changes the appearance of the shape and does not affect the underlying semantics or any other shape that represents that application element.
A class shape appears as a rectangle with three compartments:
- The upper compartment contains the class name.
- The middle compartment contains the attributes.
- The lower compartment contains the operations.
You can show, hide, or collapse the attribute and operation compartments.
Parent topic
About UML class diagrams
Related concepts
Class diagramsClassifiers
Classes
Relationships
Attributes
Operations
Adornments for unresolved references
Multiplicity
Visibility
Related tasks
Setting the default for showing parent namesShowing parent names of classifiers