How can I indicate if an object operates with another one in an UML class diagram?

Question

Suppose I want to draw a class diagram of a DAO and an Entity. The DAO is used to load instances of the Entity from the database. How can I represent this relationship on my class diagram? Is this considered one? I think it should be displayed on the diagram somehow:

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TL;DR: should I draw something between them or not?

• Doc Brown: The GOF patterns are often illustrated by UML examples, for your case look here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Command_pattern, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_pattern, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstract_factory_pattern

Answer 1

DAO loads data from DB and CREATES instances of Entity:

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There is a special stereotype for such dependency. Class INSTANTIATES Class2, if it creates its instances. Exists in UML standard. ( I checked 2.4.1 - contemporary and 2.5 - the next one.)

• gnat: how does this answer the question asked?
• Gangnus: DAO loads data from DB and CREATES instances of Entity. It is EXACTLY the answer for the question.
• Gangnus: @gnat Should we really repeat the question in the answer?
• gnat: in this case yes, since question title missed the key point addressed by your answer

Answer 2

The closest I can think of is a usage relationship. Possible stereotypes: "use", "call", "create", "instantiate", "send".

SomeDAO ---<<use>>---> SomeEntity