UML Diagrams: Can I use same actor on one diagram couple of times?

Question

I am drawing some diagram, and I am wondering if it is acceptable for the actor to be in diagram more than once (for better transparency of the diagram)?

Thanks

Answer 1

Although UML does not forbid to use the same element more than once on a diagram, this is no good practice. Having the same UML element more than once on a diagram leads to confusion of the diagram reader. If you have the need to un-clutter connectors you probably already ran into a spider-web diagram style and you're better off to create several smaller diagrams.

Think of the implication: if any element appears more than once, then how would you know they are the same. This would lead to more confusion than it would actually help.