Models help effectively communicate ideas among designers, allowing for quicker discussion and an eventual consensus. Visual modeling languages may be General-Purpose Modeling (GPM) languages (e.g., UML, Southbeach Notation, IDEF) or Domain-Specific Modeling (DSM) languages (e.g., SysML). Visual modelling in computer science had no standard before the 90's, and was incomparable until the introduction of the UML.
Models are used to facilitate communication among designers, enabling faster discussions and a more efficient consensus-building process. Visual modeling languages like UML or SysML have become essential for this purpose. Before the 1990s, visual modeling in computer science lacked standardization. The introduction of UML revolutionized this field.