Sequence Use Case Class Activity Component State Object Deployment Timing Regex Network Wireframe Archimate Gantt MindMap WBS EBNF JSON YAML
PlantUML Language specification Component Diagram

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Component Diagram

Component Diagram: A component diagram is a type of structural diagram used in UML (Unified Modeling Language) to visualize the organization and relationships of system components. These diagrams help in breaking down complex systems into manageable components, showcasing their interdependencies, and ensuring efficient system design and architecture.

Advantages of PlantUML:

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Components

Components must be bracketed.

You can also use the component keyword to define a component. In this case the brackets can be omitted, but only if the component name does not include white-space or special characters.

You can define an alias, using the as keyword. This alias will be used later, when defining relations.

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml

[First component]
[Another component] as Comp2
component Comp3
component [Last\ncomponent] as Comp4

@enduml

Naming exceptions

Note that component names starting with $ cannot be hidden or removed later, because hide and remove command will consider the name a $tag instead of a component name. To later remove such component they must have an alias or must be tagged.

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
component [$C1]
component [$C2] $C2
component [$C2] as dollarC2
remove $C1
remove $C2
remove dollarC2
@enduml

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Interfaces

Interface can be defined using the () symbol (because this looks like a circle).

You can also use the interface keyword to define an interface. And you can define an alias, using the as keyword. This alias will be used latter, when defining relations.

We will see latter that interface definition is optional.

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml

() "First Interface"
() "Another interface" as Interf2
interface Interf3
interface "Last\ninterface" as Interf4

[component]
footer //Adding "component" to force diagram to be a **component diagram**//
@enduml

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Basic example

Links between elements are made using combinations of dotted line (..), straight line (--), and arrows (-->) symbols.

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml

DataAccess - [First Component]
[First Component] ..> HTTP : use

@enduml

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Using notes

You can use the note left of , note right of , note top of , note bottom of keywords to define notes related to a single object.

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
[Component] as C

note top of C: A top note

note bottom of C
  A bottom note can also
  be on several lines
end note

note left of C
  A left note can also
  be on several lines
end note

note right of C: A right note
@enduml

A note can be also defined alone with the note keywords, then linked to other objects using the .. symbol or whatever arrow symbol (-, --, ...).

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
[Component] as C

note as N
  A floating note can also
  be on several lines
end note

C .. N
@enduml

Another note example:

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml

interface "Data Access" as DA

DA - [First Component]
[First Component] ..> HTTP : use

note left of HTTP : Web Service only

note right of [First Component]
  A note can also
  be on several lines
end note

@enduml

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Grouping Components

You can use several keywords to group components and interfaces together:

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml

package "Some Group" {
  HTTP - [First Component]
  [Another Component]
}

node "Other Groups" {
  FTP - [Second Component]
  [First Component] --> FTP
}

cloud {
  [Example 1]
}


database "MySql" {
  folder "This is my folder" {
    [Folder 3]
  }
  frame "Foo" {
    [Frame 4]
  }
}


[Another Component] --> [Example 1]
[Example 1] --> [Folder 3]
[Folder 3] --> [Frame 4]

@enduml

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Changing arrows direction

By default, links between classes have two dashes -- and are vertically oriented. It is possible to use horizontal link by putting a single dash (or dot) like this:

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
[Component] --> Interface1
[Component] -> Interface2
@enduml

You can also change directions by reversing the link:

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
Interface1 <-- [Component]
Interface2 <- [Component]
@enduml

It is also possible to change arrow direction by adding left, right, up or down keywords inside the arrow:

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
[Component] -left-> left
[Component] -right-> right
[Component] -up-> up
[Component] -down-> down
@enduml

You can shorten the arrow by using only the first character of the direction (for example, -d- instead of -down-) or the two first characters (-do-).

Please note that you should not abuse this functionality : Graphviz gives usually good results without tweaking.

And with the left to right direction parameter:

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
left to right direction
[Component] -left-> left
[Component] -right-> right
[Component] -up-> up
[Component] -down-> down
@enduml

See also 'Change diagram orientation' on Deployment diagram page.

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Use UML2 notation

By default (from v1.2020.13-14), UML2 notation is used.

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml

interface "Data Access" as DA

DA - [First Component]
[First Component] ..> HTTP : use

@enduml

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Use UML1 notation

The skinparam componentStyle uml1 command is used to switch to UML1 notation.

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
skinparam componentStyle uml1

interface "Data Access" as DA

DA - [First Component]
[First Component] ..> HTTP : use

@enduml

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Use rectangle notation (remove UML notation)

The skinparam componentStyle rectangle command is used to switch to rectangle notation (without any UML notation).

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
skinparam componentStyle rectangle

interface "Data Access" as DA

DA - [First Component]
[First Component] ..> HTTP : use

@enduml

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Long description

It is possible to put description on several lines using square brackets.

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
component comp1 [
This component
has a long comment
on several lines
]
@enduml

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Individual colors

You can specify a color after component definition.

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
component  [Web Server] #Yellow
@enduml

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Using Sprite in Stereotype

You can use sprites within stereotype components.

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
sprite $businessProcess [16x16/16] {
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFF0FFFFF
FFFFFFFFFF00FFFF
FF00000000000FFF
FF000000000000FF
FF00000000000FFF
FFFFFFFFFF00FFFF
FFFFFFFFFF0FFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
}


rectangle " End to End\nbusiness process" <<$businessProcess>> {
 rectangle "inner process 1" <<$businessProcess>> as src
 rectangle "inner process 2" <<$businessProcess>> as tgt
 src -> tgt
}
@enduml

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Skinparam

You can use the skinparam command to change colors and fonts for the drawing.

You can use this command :

You can define specific color and fonts for stereotyped components and interfaces.

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml

skinparam interface {
  backgroundColor RosyBrown
  borderColor orange
}

skinparam component {
  FontSize 13
  BackgroundColor<<Apache>> Pink
  BorderColor<<Apache>> #FF6655
  FontName Courier
  BorderColor black
  BackgroundColor gold
  ArrowFontName Impact
  ArrowColor #FF6655
  ArrowFontColor #777777
}

() "Data Access" as DA
Component "Web Server" as WS << Apache >>

DA - [First Component]
[First Component] ..> () HTTP : use
HTTP - WS

@enduml

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml

skinparam component {
  backgroundColor<<static lib>> DarkKhaki
  backgroundColor<<shared lib>> Green
}

skinparam node {
  borderColor Green
  backgroundColor Yellow
  backgroundColor<<shared_node>> Magenta
}
skinparam databaseBackgroundColor Aqua

[AA] <<static lib>>
[BB] <<shared lib>>
[CC] <<static lib>>

node node1
node node2 <<shared_node>>
database Production

@enduml

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Specific SkinParameter

componentStyle

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
skinparam BackgroundColor transparent
skinparam componentStyle uml2
component A {
   component "A.1" {
}
   component A.44 {
      [A4.1]
}
   component "A.2"
   [A.3]
   component A.5 [
A.5] 
   component A.6 [
]
}
[a]->[b]
@enduml

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
skinparam BackgroundColor transparent
skinparam componentStyle rectangle
component A {
   component "A.1" {
}
   component A.44 {
      [A4.1]
}
   component "A.2"
   [A.3]
   component A.5 [
A.5] 
   component A.6 [
]
}
[a]->[b]
@enduml

[Ref. 10798]

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Hide or Remove unlinked component

By default, all components are displayed:

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
component C1
component C2
component C3
C1 -- C2
@enduml

But you can:

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
component C1
component C2
component C3
C1 -- C2

hide @unlinked
@enduml

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
component C1
component C2
component C3
C1 -- C2

remove @unlinked
@enduml

[Ref. QA-11052]

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Hide, Remove or Restore tagged component or wildcard

You can put $tags (using $) on components, then remove, hide or restore components either individually or by tags.

By default, all components are displayed:

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
component C1 $tag13
component C2
component C3 $tag13
C1 -- C2
@enduml

But you can:

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
component C1 $tag13
component C2
component C3 $tag13
C1 -- C2

hide $tag13
@enduml

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
component C1 $tag13
component C2
component C3 $tag13
C1 -- C2

remove $tag13
@enduml

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
component C1 $tag13 $tag1
component C2
component C3 $tag13
C1 -- C2

remove $tag13
restore $tag1
@enduml

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
component C1 $tag13 $tag1
component C2
component C3 $tag13
C1 -- C2

remove *
restore $tag1
@enduml

[Ref. QA-7337 and QA-11052]

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Display JSON Data on Component diagram

Simple example

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
allowmixing

component Component
()        Interface

json JSON {
   "fruit":"Apple",
   "size":"Large",
   "color": ["Red", "Green"]
}
@enduml

[Ref. QA-15481]

For another example, see on JSON page.

Edit in DokuwikiEdit in AsciidocEdit in Markdown
Port [port, portIn, portOut]

You can add port with port, portinand portout keywords.

Port

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
[c]
component C {
  port p1
  port p2
  port p3
  component c1
}

c --> p1
c --> p2
c --> p3
p1 --> c1
p2 --> c1
@enduml

PortIn

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
[c]
component C {
  portin p1
  portin p2
  portin p3
  component c1
}

c --> p1
c --> p2
c --> p3
p1 --> c1
p2 --> c1
@enduml

PortOut

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
component C {
  portout p1
  portout p2
  portout p3
  component c1
}
[o]
p1 --> o
p2 --> o
p3 --> o
c1 --> p1
@enduml

Mixing PortIn & PortOut

🎉 Copied! 

@startuml
[i]
component C {
  portin p1
  portin p2
  portin p3
  portout po1
  portout po2
  portout po3
  component c1
}
[o]

i --> p1
i --> p2
i --> p3
p1 --> c1
p2 --> c1
po1 --> o
po2 --> o
po3 --> o
c1 --> po1
@enduml