What UML diagrams primarily serve the purpose of the design phase?

Class diagrams play a crucial role during the design phase of software development in UML (Unified Modeling Language). These diagrams provide a detailed view of the system architecture by showcasing the static structure of a system through classes, their attributes, methods, and the relationships between them. This level of detail is essential for developers as they begin to translate requirements into actual code and design components.

In the context of the design phase, class diagrams facilitate the understanding of how different classes will interact, what data each class holds, and what functions they can perform. This foresight allows for better planning and organization of the codebase, enabling developers to create a robust and maintainable system.

While use case diagrams illustrate functional requirements and activity diagrams depict workflows, they are generally more focused on capturing user interactions and processes rather than the detailed internal structure and relationships that class diagrams convey. Object diagrams provide a snapshot of instances in a particular state rather than the overall design of the system, making class diagrams more pivotal in the design phase.