Standards:
Aggregation
Topics
Background 
An aggregation is a special form of association that models a whole-part relationship
between an aggregate (the whole) and its parts. The meaning of this simple form of
aggregation is entirely conceptual; it does not constrain the association in any way nor
does it link the lifetimes of the objects involved. There is a special form of
aggregation, composition (see Standards: Composition), that
defines strong ownership and coincident lifetime of the parts by the whole.
To quote Martin Fowler on aggregation "I have always been wary of the concept, and
I usually prefer to avoid it unless the project team agrees on some rigorous and useful
meaning".
Naming Standards
See Standards: Association.
General Documentation Standards
See Standards: Association.
Stereotypes
No Aggregation stereotypes have been identified.
Examples
None. |
