Pattern definitions

Pattern definitions include all of the specific components needed to determine the behavior of a pattern.

A pattern definition is created when the pattern author, using the Pattern Authoring view, adds a pattern and its template parameters to a pattern library. Each pattern in the pattern library has its own pattern definition.

The pattern definition is a represented by a UML 2.0 element with a keyword of Pattern Definition. Depending on the pattern type, it is a parameterized collaboration, class, or package.

The pattern author should not directly modify the pattern definition. A new pattern definition can be regenerated if it gets out of sync with the pattern's Java™ code.

In the pattern application process, the pattern definition provides essential model information. Although not readily visible to the pattern applier, the pattern definition is bound to all generated pattern instances.

Each individual pattern also persists a UML 2.0 model representation that is used in when the pattern is applied.

Parent topic: Pattern code and support files

Related concepts
Pattern framework
Pattern instantiations
Pattern project contents
Pattern expansion

Related tasks
Regenerating source code
Regenerating pattern definitions

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