I like to think of this like an Interface class, as opposed to a class's interface! Could it perhaps be thought of as a class prototype?
Very similar to a class, but has no methods, just a list of method signatures:
interface doSomething { //method signatures void firstThing() ; void secondThing(int myVar) ; }
By implementing an interface (i.e. using it), it's akin to signing a contract and promising to create those methods specified in the interface, within the class:
class Motorbike implements controlSpeed { public void brake(){ //code } public void acellerate(int speed) { //code } } ;
UML diagram. The <<Interface>> name is written between << guillemetes >>, and then lists the method signatures:
Then is implemented from a class, a dotted line with a blank arrow head is used: