UML or CDIF: Which is better?

• CDIF notation is more confusing when both minimum and maximum cardinality or multiplicity values are paired together for each end of a binary relation:

• If only Max-Card is specified, a one-to-many relation is diagrammed for example as:

[Parent]2--------->M[Child]

• If Min and Max Cards are both specified a 1:M relation is denoted [e.g.,if orphans are identified]:

  • 0:1::0:M in CDIF: [Parent]0:2------ɬ:M[Child]
  • [0..1]:[0..M] in UML: [Parent][0:2]------>[0:M][Child]

Previous slide

Next slide

Back to first slide

View graphic version