How to show "if" condition on a sequence diagram?

If else condition, also called alternatives in UML terms can indeed be represented in sequence diagrams. Here is a link where you can find some nice resources on the subject http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/library/3101.html

branching with alt


If you paste

A.do() {
  if (condition1) {
   X.doSomething
  } else if (condition2) {
   Y.doSomethingElse
  } else {
   donotDoAnything
  }
}

onto https://www.zenuml.com. It will generate a diagram for you.If/else sequence diagram


Very simple , using Alt fragment

Lets take an example of sequence diagram for an ATM machine.Let's say here you want

IF card inserted is valid then prompt "Enter Pin"....ELSE prompt "Invalid Pin"

Then here is the sequence diagram for the same

ATM machine sequence diagram

Hope this helps!


In Visual Studio UML sequence this can also be described as fragments which is nicely documented here: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd465153.aspx