OMG Exam OMG-OCUP2-FOUND100 Topic 5 Question 29 Discussion

In UML, an initial node is the starting point of an activity thread and represents the start of the flow in an activity diagram.According to the UML 2.5.1 specification, an initial node has no incoming edges and precisely one outgoing edge1. This means that only one activity can feed an initial node at the beginning of an activity thread, which aligns with option C.

The initial node is depicted as a filled circle and is used to show where the control starts within the activity. When the activity is invoked, control tokens are placed on the initial node and can then traverse the outgoing edge to the first action or activity node. The specification clearly states that there should be only one outgoing edge, ensuring that the flow of control is unambiguous at the start of the activity.

For further details and verification, you can refer to the UML 2.5.1 specification, particularly Chapter 15.7, which covers the Activity, ActivityFinalNode, InitialNode, and other related elements2.Additionally, the Object Management Group (OMG) provides resources and guidelines for the UML exams, including the types of questions that may appear and the knowledge areas covered3.

It's important to note that while multiple initial nodes can exist within a single activity diagram, each initial node can only be the source of one outgoing edge, and thus, only one activity can feed each initial node.