Search code examples
performanceumldiagramuse-case

Moving in an actor inside system boundary of UML usecase diagram


So my question is as follows, is it possible to move an actor inside the system boundary of a use case diagram? Can it be a part of the system.

I set a server as an actor, in where a customer interacts with the server in an e-commerce environment. Is it possible or should I move the server inside of the system? Since the server is a part of the system that the customer is interacting with.

This server is most likely then going to be used by an admin role.


Solution

  • TL;DR

    No, you can't do that, unless you model only a part of the system.

    Explanation

    By definition an actor is external to the system. It can be a user, other system or a sensor.

    If you want to show a system decomposition into smaller parts, use component diagram.

    Note, the role of a use case diagram is to show functions of the system as a whole.

    On the other hand you may depict just one part of the system (ie. system tier). In such case other parts (tiers) are external to the modeled system part under consideration.