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Association End
An association end is the endpoint of an association that marks the point at which the line connects with a classifier. An association end has a name (role name) and a series of properties that determine the semantics of how the classifier participates in the relationship. A binary association has exactly two association ends and an n-ary association has 'n' association ends.
Explanation
An association end is not a visibly separate part of an association; it simply represents the part of the association line that connects to the classifier. It is one of the most important and syntactically rich parts of the UML. There are a number of commonly used adornments or properties that are used with associations ends such as multiplicity, role names, and aggregation diamonds. There are however a number of other properties, which are less commonly used, which add precision and meaning to the way a classifier participates in an association relationship. Most of the properties rely upon visual attachment, meaning that it is their proximity to the association end that determines their applicability.
Important Points
Each association has two or more association ends.
An association is either binary (two ends) or n-ary ("n" ends). The association end is the structural part of an association; it is simply the part of the association line, which connects with a classifier. It is significant because many of the semantic or structural properties of an association are expressed by attributes of the association end.
Properties of an association end refer to the association end not to the properties of a classifier to which it is attached.
Properties such as changeability express whether links (association instances) can be changed. They do not refer to whether aspects of an instance that the association end is connected to may be changed.
