Executable UML

Executable UML (xtUML or xUML) is an UML profile or generic extension mechanism for customizing Unified Modeling Language (UML), that can graphically specify a system at the next higher level of abstraction. This method is an evolution of the Shlaer-Mellor method.

The Executable UML models are testable, and can be compiled into a less abstract programming language to target a specific implementation. Executable UML supports model-driven architecture (MDA) through specification of platform-independent models, and the compilation of the platform-independent models into platform-specific models.