Specifying Component Invariants with OCL

The “Object Constraint Language” (OCL) offers a formal notation for constraining model elements in UML diagrams. OCL consists of a navigational expression language which, for instance, can be used to state invariants and pre- and post-conditions in class diagrams. We discuss some problems in ensuring non-local, navigating OCL class invariants, as for bidirectional associations, in programming language implementations of UML diagrams, like in Java. As a remedy, we propose a component-based system specification method for using OCL constraints, distinguishing between global component invariants and local class invariants.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2001
• Where: GI
• Authors: Rolf Hennicker, Hubert Baumeister, Alexander Knapp, Martin Wirsing
• Keywords: GI 2001, Object Constraint Language, OCL Class Invariants, Theoretical Computer Science, UML Diagrams