Mapping between UML and SDLC diagrams?
http://www.agilemodeling.com/essays/modelingTechniques.htm This site can help you. Lots of details about uml diagrams and the area in which they are used in software development along with some reference books.
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Activity diagrams: Used to model business processes.
Object diagrams: Represents a collection of objects - a snapshot of the system during an instance.
Class diagram: Describes all possible objects of a given type.
Sequential / communication diagrams: collectively known as interaction diagrams. They can be used for dynamic simulations showing how objects interact.
Statecharts: Shows how the model changes from state to state.
Use Case Diagrams: Used to record and communicate presentation information as system usage, and then to plan iterations and test software systems.
I probably missed a few.
BTW a free tool that is used by several universities is UMLet http://www.umlet.com/ which is really simple and easy to use.
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