Association in object-oriented design signifies a broader and more permanent relationship compared to simple dependencies:
Important
Association often represents links like fields in a class that refer to other objects. These links enable one object to use or interact with another object continuously, unlike a simple dependency which might only represent temporary use.
Example
Here’s a practical example to illustrate association and its contrast with dependency:
csharp
class Professor{ public Student Student { get; set; } public void Teach(Course c) { this.Student.remember(c.GetKnowledge()); }}
In this C# example, the Professor class has a property Student which exemplifies an association because it represents a permanent link to a Student object that any method of the Professor can use.
Meanwhile, the Teach method’s use of the Course object to call GetKnowledge shows a Dependency relationships. Changes in Course’s method could disrupt the Professor’s functionality, highlighting how dependencies are based on method use.
The presence of both association and dependency in this example helps delineate the nuances between these two types of relationships.
