Glossary · Systems engineering and MBSE
Systems Modeling Language (SysML)
Also known as: SysML
German: Systems Modeling Language (SysML)
The Systems Modeling Language (SysML) is a general-purpose modeling language for systems engineering, standardized by the Object Management Group (OMG), used to specify, analyze, design and verify systems with requirements, structure, behavior and parametric constraints.
- Systems engineering
In one sentence
SysML is an OMG modeling language for systems engineering, used to model requirements, structure, behavior and constraints of systems.
Example
A machine builder models its new robot cell in SysML: requirements, blocks for robot, gripper and safety devices, state machines for operating modes and a requirement diagram linking tests.
How it applies
- Engineering: SysML is the most common language for Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). SysML 1.x, derived from UML, defines nine diagram types, including Block definition diagram (BDD), Internal block diagram (IBD), Activity diagram, Sequence diagram, State machine diagram, Use case diagram and Requirement diagram. SysML v2 introduces a new metamodel and a textual notation alongside graphical views.
- Traceability: A SysML model can hold requirements and their links to design and tests in one repository.
- Documentation: The documentation team can reuse model content (structure, states, interfaces) as a reliable source, but should agree on which model version and which views are authoritative for publication.
SysML vs. UML
UML was designed for software. SysML 1.x reuses part of UML and adds requirements, blocks and parametrics for systems that combine hardware, software, people and processes.