Unified Modeling Language (UML) is a standardized modeling language in the field of software engineering. The standard is managed by the Object Management Group. UML includes a set of graphic notation techniques to create visual models of software-intensive systems.
The whole software development industry has been explosive, partly due to the nature of software itself, a revolution driven by worldwide business growth and competition.

For those of us responsible for delivering these revolutionary business solutions, the challenge is daunting. As part of an industry that is itself so volatile, every week there are new developments that threaten to make our current skills and experience obsolete.
The software industry is very young. Unlike similar trades such as mechanical or electrical engineering, software engineering has not yet established itself as a formal discipline. Standards and methods remain illusory.
As a result of this, most study is focused on programming rather than engineering, gravitating toward the tangible and away from the abstract.

This need for a mature and maturing industry is behind the drive for the UML and other related standards. Our industry needs a framework for measurable and proven engineering techniques. The UML is not a panacea for software industry ills. It is, however, one of the necessary steps in the right direction. This course will help you understand what this step is and how the UML can deliver solutions that will help you succeed.

After completing this module, you will be able to:

1. Explain why the UML was created
2. Define what is and is not included in the UML specification
3. Describe how the UML is being refined and extended
4. Define the four views into the software development process: the use case view, the logical view, the component view, and the deployment view

In the next lesson, the history behind the UML specification will be discussed.