UML Diagrams Zicomi Systems publishes some UML example diagrams online from the world famous UML dictionary. more...
Version 2.5 Released Zicomi Systems is delighted to announce that version 2.5 of Zicomi Mentor is released. With support for UML 2.0 and all thirteen UML diagrams more...
Zicomi Systems' Director speaks about the UML at Objects by Design - an informative interview more...
Partner Programme Zicom Systems is delighted to announce a new world wide partner programme, become a partner today. more...
OMG Member Zicom Systems is made a member of the OMG!
Component Instance
A component instance represents a distinct instance of a component. It has a unique identity and attribute values, which determine its state at any point in time. A component instance can exhibit behavior, but only as a result of being an instance of a component. A component instance is an instance of one and only one component.
Explanation
A component instance represents a specific example of a component. While the component represents a set of components that share properties an instance is a specific example of a component. Component instances typically reside on node instances.
A component is related to a component instance because it is the classifier from which the instance is derived. A component represents a description of the set of things, whereas the component instance represents a specific element from the set.
A node instance is related to a component instance in the sense that component instances are said to reside on node instances. Node instances are physical things that are particular examples of a node; component instances are also physical and are placed on or into the node instance. This placement or residence implies that the node instance will be the residence for the component instance.
