On the representation of roles in object-oriented and conceptual modelling

摘要: The duality of objects and relationships is so deeply embedded in our thinking that almost all modelling languages include it as a fundamental distinction. Yet there evidence the two are naturally complemented by third, equally notion: roles. Although definitions role concept abound literature, we maintain only few truly original, even fewer acknowledge intrinsic roles intermediaries between engage them. After discussing major families conceptualizations, present own basic definition demonstrate how accounts for many issues, including multiple dynamic classification, object collaboration, polymorphism, substitutability.