What is the difference between an association and an aggregation in UML?

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Answered by suresh

Difference between Association and Aggregation in UML - Interview Question

Difference between Association and Aggregation in UML - Interview Question

Association and Aggregation are two key concepts in UML (Unified Modeling Language) that are used to represent relationships between classes. Here is the difference between Association and Aggregation:

Association:

An association is a relationship between two classes where one class is associated with another class. It represents a "has-a" relationship. In an association, one class can be connected to multiple instances of another class. Associations can be bi-directional or uni-directional.

Aggregation:

Aggregation is a special form of association where one class is a part of another class. It represents a "part-of" relationship. In aggregation, one class is considered as a whole and another class as a part. Aggregation is shown by a hollow diamond at the aggregate end.

In summary, the main difference between Association and Aggregation in UML is that association represents a generic relationship between classes while aggregation represents a specific "part-of" relationship.

Answer for Question: What is the difference between an association and an aggregation in UML?