A Specialization is a directed relationship between a more specific Model element and a more general Model element.
Every instance classified by the specific Model element is also classified by the general Model element. The specific Model element is therefore subject to the applicable characteristics, relationships, and constraints defined by the general Model element.
A Specialization may add characteristics or impose additional constraints. A Specialization does not remove constraints established by the general Model element.
Specialization does not mean ownership, containment, composition, association, or implementation inheritance. Those relationships have separate meanings.
The relationship is directional. A specific Model element specializes a general Model element. The general Model element does not specialize the specific Model element.
directed relationship between a specific Model element and a general Model element under which every instance classified by the specific element is also classified by the general element
Adapted from:
Every Person is therefore a Party and is subject to the characteristics and constraints defined for Party. A Party is not necessarily a Person because Party may have other specializations, including Organization.
This relationship does not require a software implementation to represent Person and Party using programming-language class inheritance.
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