Discussion: Compare and Contrast the Context Diagram and The Use Case Diagram

Posted: August 27th, 2021

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Discussion: Compare and Contrast the Context Diagram and The Use Case Diagram

Context diagrams are used for structured design and analysis. However, use case diagrams are used in the object-oriented design. Use case diagrams to offer a detailed system view than data flow diagrams. Context diagrams can be traced back to the 1970s revolution when they were utilized for structured analysis and remain useful today in depicting software system environment (Wiegers). Context diagrams can be utilized to illustrate product names and system interests within a circle. Figure 1 shows a context diagram for a hotel ordering system.

Figure 1: Context diagram for hotel ordering system. Source: Wiegers

The circumference of the circle in the context diagram shows the system boundary. Likewise, rectangles features can be utilized to demonstrate external entities. Further, the context diagram illustrates the scope of the project at high abstraction levels but deliberately showing nothing about the internal parts of a system (Wiegers). For instance, it does not show information on functionalities, look-and-feel, and architecture of the system. Likewise, it lacks a detailed exhibition on functionality or features within the scope(Wiegers) However, despite this limitation, context diagrams are good in communicating the scope. Thus, project stakeholders can easily communicate external details about a system.

            Regarding use case diagrams, they are powerful in demonstrating user requirements. For instance, Unified Modelling Language (UML) contains the use case notations. Figure 2 is an illustration of a hotel ordering system.

Figure 2: Context diagram for hotel ordering system. Source: Wiegers (n.d)

The system boundary is displayed in the rectangular box, which is parallel to the circle demonstrated in the context diagram. The system shows how the actors interact and respond to each other and the system (Wiegers, n.d). Thus, some visibility of the system is provided unlike in the context diagram. In the figure, each oval shape communicates a use case. Therefore, the interaction of the system and its users is well demonstrated in the use case diagram.

Works Cited

Wiegers, Karl. “Defining Project Scope | Context and Use Case Diagrams.” Jama Software, 24 Sept. 2019, www.jamasoftware.com/blog/defining-project-scope-context-use-case-diagrams/.