In UML models, the stereotype model element is an extensibility mechanism that you can use to identify the purpose of the model element to which you apply it. UML 2.0 provides a standard set of stereotypes that you can apply to model elements.
You can use a stereotype to refine the meaning of a model element. For example, you can apply the «library» stereotype to an artifact to indicate that it is a specific type of artifact. You can apply the «call», «create», «instantiate», «responsibility», and «send» stereotypes to usage relationships to indicate precisely how one model element uses the other. You can also use a stereotype to describe a model element that differs in meaning or usage from another model element.
Stereotypes can have properties, called tagged definitions. When you apply a stereotype to a model element, the values of the properties are called tagged values.
A profile is a package that identifies a particular subset of a base metamodel and defines stereotypes and constraints that may be applied to it. The stereotypes that are contained in a profile can be used when a profile is applied to a model. The UML 2.0 base, intermediate and complete profiles are automatically applied to every model. This product also provides the deployment profile and the default profile; both of which are also automatically applied to every model.
Related tasks
Applying constraints to model elements
Related reference
Model element stereotypes
Relationship stereotypes