Dependency (UML)

In the Unified Modeling Language (UML), a Dependency is a relationship that shows that an element, or set of elements, requires other model elements for their specification or implementation. The element is dependent upon the independent element, called the supplier. Two or more elements in this relationship are called tuples.

In the UML, this is indicated by a dashed line pointing from the dependent (or client) to the independent (or supplier) element. The arrow representing a Dependency specifies the direction of a relationship, not the direction of a process.