The class diagram is the basic diagram
in UML.
In IBM® Rational® Rhapsody®,
a class diagram is equivalent to an object model diagram in that both
specify the structure and static relationships of the classes in the
system. They show the classes, interfaces, and attributes in the system
and the static relationships that exist between them. Note that a
class diagram is specified for the class structure, while an object
model diagram is specified for the object structure.
More than simply being a graphical representation of the system
structure, like the object model diagram, class diagrams are constructive.
The Rational Rhapsody code
generator directly translates the elements and relationships modeled
in these diagrams into source code in a number of high-level languages.
For more information about the characteristics of a class diagram
in Rational Rhapsody,
see the topics for Creating object model diagrams.