The document discusses the Unified Modeling Language (UML), which was created to provide a standard modeling language for visualizing, specifying, constructing, and documenting software systems. It originated from the need for a universal modeling approach, and was formed by merging the modeling languages of Booch, Rumbaugh, and Jacobson. The Object Management Group later standardized UML in 1997. UML includes structural diagrams like class and component diagrams and behavioral diagrams like use case and activity diagrams to model different aspects of a system.