Learn BPMN: guides & references
Everything you need to read and build BPMN 2.0 diagrams, explained in plain English. New to the notation? Start with What is BPMN? then work through the symbol references.
- What is BPMN? A plain-English guideBPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) is the ISO 19510 standard for diagramming business processes. Learn what it is, why it matters, and its core symbols.
- How to create a BPMN diagram: a beginner's guideA step-by-step guide to creating a BPMN diagram, even if you don't know the notation. Learn the process by hand, or generate one from plain English with AI.
- BPMN symbols and shapes: the complete 2.0 referenceEvery BPMN 2.0 symbol and shape, with what it means, when to use it and an example. Plus a free one-page BPMN symbols cheat sheet (PDF and PNG).
- BPMN gateways explainedExclusive, parallel, inclusive and event-based BPMN gateways side by side: which to use, a quick-reference table, and the unbalanced split that causes deadlocks.
- BPMN events explainedThe 3 BPMN event positions, the 6 triggers you will actually use, throwing vs catching, and how boundary events interrupt a task, with a worked example.
- BPMN pools and lanes explainedPools are separate participants, lanes are roles inside one. When you need each, why sequence flows cannot cross pools, and when a collapsed pool is enough.
- BPMN vs flowchart: what's the difference?BPMN vs flowchart, explained simply: flowcharts are informal and general; BPMN is a formal standard with precise semantics, swimlanes and executable XML.
- BPMN vs UML activity diagram: which should you use?BPMN vs UML activity diagrams compared: both model flows, but BPMN targets business processes and execution while UML targets software behaviour and design.
- 10 common BPMN mistakes and how to fix themThe most common BPMN modelling mistakes beginners make — unbalanced gateways, wrong flow types, missing end events — and simple rules to fix each one.
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