Artifacts

In UML models, artifacts are model elements that represent the physical entities in a software system. Artifacts represent physical implementation units, such as executable files, libraries, software components, documents, and databases.

You would typically use artifacts in deployment diagrams, but you can also use them in component diagrams to show the model elements, such as components or classes, that are manifested in the artifact. Model elements can be manifested in several different artifacts.

Artifacts are deployed on nodes and specify the physical pieces of information that the deployment and operation of a system uses or produces. Artifacts can be supported for deployment on several kinds of nodes.

In diagrams, compartments display information about the attributes and operations of the artifact.

An artifact has a unique name that describes the file or software component that it represents.

As the following figure illustrates, an artifact is displayed as a rectangle that contains the name of the artifact. The rectangle also contains the stereotype «artifact» and the artifact icon.

A rectangle displays the name Artifact1, the word artifact in double angle brackets, and the corresponding icon.

Parent topic: Component diagrams

Parent topic: Deployment diagrams

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