What does following means: "This is different from an association, where an attribute of the for...?

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What does following means? I don't especially get what does means "This is different from an association, where an attribute of the former is an instance of the latter. " Does it mean that you instantiate( create ) an object of the class of the former one
Here is the source and text from which I got my problem:
" One class depends on another if the latter is a parameter variable or local variable of a method of the former. This is different from an association, where an attribute of the former is an instance of the latter. " - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_diagram

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@alvoutila,

This is talking about a dependency as compared to an association.

A dependency just means that one class uses (i.e. depends on) another class. In other words if class A depends on class B, then class A can't work unless class B works.

All associations are dependencies but not all dependencies are associations.

In general (and speaking as a Java Programmer) any Class that is in an "include" statement is a dependency. Usually the fields of a class are its associations.

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@maxdancona,

Do you mean that "include" statement is on the line between two classes in Class Diagram? But usually there are only "binding", "Access", "Import", "Merge", "Instantiation", "Substitution" etc. statements. I didn't find any "include" statement in my class diagram of Visual Paradigm for UML - program.

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@alvoutila,

Oops. I meant import (I guess the problem with using IDEs).

I take it you are in a class for UML. Have you had a programming class yet?

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@maxdancona,

Yes. Programming 1 and now I have Perusopintojen harjoitustyö ~ Basic project work

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What does following means: "This is different from an association, where an attribute of the for...?

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