A Unified Modeling Language (UML) class diagram is a tool for visually representing systems and software. Building one in Lucidchart enables you to create a dynamic UML class diagram that you can share with teammates and collaborate on no matter where you’re working from. 

In this article, we will explain how to create a UML class diagram in Lucidchart—we’ll only cover the basics though, so be sure to register for our free, self-paced course to get all the tips and tricks.

Add a UML class diagram shape library

Shape libraries allow us to create diagrams consistently and efficiently. With shapes already created, and easily accessible, it’s easy to drag and drop them into your canvas. 

To access shape libraries, click on More shapes on the left-hand side of your document in the shapes panel. From there, type UML in the search bar, select UML Class Diagram, and choose Use selected shapes.

Types of relationships

There are multiple types of relationships that can be included in your UML class diagram. Let’s take a look at a few:

• Inheritance relationship: In an inheritance relationship, the subclass inherits all of the functions of the parent class.

• Composition relationship: Composition relationships show a strong lifecycle dependency between a whole and its parts.

To change the line types depending on type of relationship, navigate to the contextual panel to change the line thickness, type of line, and more.

Share with collaborators

Once you’ve created a UML class diagram, share your document with teammates. Easily add collaborators to review and edit your diagram. Simply click the “Share” button in the top right-hand corner. From there, you can choose from multiple sharing options.

Ready to make a UML class diagram of your own? Register for our free, self-paced course for all our quick tips. The course comes with a guide and a practice template so you can master the skill.