Association vs Aggregation in UML

When it comes to UML (Unified Modeling Language), understanding the difference between association and aggregation is crucial.

Association:

An association in UML represents a relationship between two classes where instances of one class are connected to instances of another class. It signifies a logical connection between the classes.

Aggregation:

Aggregation, on the other hand, represents a type of association with a whole-part relationship between classes. It indicates that one class is a part of another class, but the parts can exist independently.

In summary, while association shows a simple relationship between classes, aggregation indicates a more specific relationship where one class is considered as a part of another class.