Differences between Association, aggregation, and combination in UML and C ++ implementation

Inter-class relationship

In the class diagram, apart from describing the names, attributes, and operations of individual classes, we also need to describe the relationships between classes because no classes exist independently, they usually need to work with other classes to create more semantics than working independently. In the UML class diagram, the relationship is represented by a line between the class boxes, and different modifiers between the line and the line end indicate different relationships. The relationships between classes include inheritance (generalization), Association, aggregation, and combination.

(1) Inheritance: A class (called a subclass) inherits the functions of another class (called a base class) and adds its own new functions, inheritance is the most common relationship between classes. The inherited representation in the class diagram. Method Is a solid line that pulls a closed, single-key header (or triangle) from the subclass to the base class. For example, Figure 3.2 shows the inheritance relationship between the cobject class and the menu class cmenu in MFC.

Figure 3.2 class inheritance

Class inheritance is displayed in C ++ as follows:

Class B {}
Class A: Public B {}

(2) Association: A Semantic Link between model elements and a weak link between classes. The association can be unidirectional or bidirectional. You can add an association name to the Association to describe the role of the Association. Classes at both ends of the association can also be associated with a role. The role can have multiple features, indicating how many objects can be involved in the association. You can use the association class to further describe the associated attributes, operations, and other information. The join class uses a dotted line to connect to the join class. Some constraints can be added to the Association to enhance the meaning of the association.

The Association is displayed in C ++ as follows:

Class {...}
Class B {...}
A: function1 (B & B) // or a: function1 (B) // or a: function1 (B * B)

That is, a class acts as a parameter of another class method.

(3) aggregation: refers to the relationship between the whole and the part. After defining a whole class, we usually analyze the composition structure of the whole class. In this way, an aggregation relationship is formed between the overall class and the composition class. For example, an aircraft carrier Formation includes a sea-air ing ship, an escort ship, a carrier-based aircraft, and a nuclear-powered attack submarine. The requirement descriptions include "include", "Composition", and "... Partial "and other words often mean the aggregation relationship.

(4) combination: it also indicates the relationship between the whole and the part of the class, but the partial and the whole of the combination have a unified survival period. If the overall object does not exist, some objects do not exist. Some objects have a symbiotic relationship with the entire object.

The difference between aggregation and combination is that the aggregation relationship is "has-a", and the combination relationship is "contains-a". The aggregation relationship indicates that the relationship between the whole and the part is relatively weak, the combination is relatively strong; the Objects representing some things in the aggregation relationship are irrelevant to the lifetime of the objects representing the aggregation things. Once an aggregation object is deleted, the Objects representing some things are not necessarily deleted. Once a composite object is deleted in the composite, the object representing some things is also deleted.

we use simple examples to illustrate the differences between clustering and combination. "The country is broken," the country is destroyed, and the family is lost. "The country" and "home" are clearly a combination. On the contrary, the computer and its peripherals are in an aggregation relationship, because the relationship between them is relatively loose, the computer is gone, the peripherals can also exist independently, and can be connected to other computers. In an aggregation relationship, partial ownership can exist independently of aggregation, and partial ownership can be shared by several aggregates. For example, a printer can Office the room is shared by many colleagues.

In C ++ Language From the implementation point of view, aggregation can be expressed:

Class {...}
Class B {A * ;.....}

Class B contains the pointer of Class;

The combination can be expressed:

Class {...}
Class B {;...}

Class B contains objects of Class.

Accurate UML class diagrams distinguish aggregation and combination with hollow and solid diamond.

Figure 3.4 aggregation and combination The difference between Association and aggregation is mainly in semantics. The two objects associated are generally equal. For example, if you are a friend of mine, aggregation is generally not equal, for example, if a company contains many employees, the implementation is similar. The difference between aggregation and combination is different in semantics and implementation. The life cycle of the two objects in a combination is greatly correlated, the composite object is created when or after the composite object is created and destroyed before the composite object is destroyed. In general, a composite object cannot exist independently from a composite object, and can only belong to one composite object. For example, the version of a document must depend on the existence of the document and can only belong to one document. Aggregation is different. The aggregated object can belong to multiple aggregation objects. For example, an employee may belong to multiple companies.

I would like to give a general example.
The relationship between you and your heart is composition (the heart only belongs to you)
The relationship between you and the book you bought is aggregation (the book may belong to someone else)
There is a association relationship between you and your friends.