Composition vs Aggregation in UML

In UML, composition and aggregation are two types of associations used to represent relationships between classes. The main difference between composition and aggregation lies in the strength of the relationship and the lifecycle of the associated objects.

Composition:

Composition is a strong form of association where the associated objects are considered as part of the owning object. This means that the lifetime of the associated objects is dependent on the owning object. If the owning object is destroyed, its associated objects are also destroyed.

Aggregation:

Aggregation is a weaker form of association where the associated objects are independent entities that can exist outside the owning object. The lifetime of the associated objects is not dependent on the owning object. It represents a "has-a" relationship rather than a "part-of" relationship.

It is important to correctly differentiate between composition and aggregation in UML diagrams to accurately represent the relationships between classes.