BPMN Terminology

Activity

This refers to the work carried out by an individual or an organization within a process. Activities can be classified into three categories: Task, Subprocess, and Call Activity. These activities can be either atomic or non-atomic. Atomic activities are indivisible and represent single tasks, while non-atomic activities involve multiple steps or subprocesses that work together to achieve a larger objective.

Boundary Event

This refers to an event that can be triggered while an activity is in progress. Boundary events are utilized for error and exception handling purposes.

BPMN Model

This is a visual depiction of a business process designed to be both human-readable and machine-readable, typically represented in XML format.

Business Process

This is a sequence of interconnected activities conducted by individuals and systems, following a defined order, with the aim of delivering a service or product, or accomplishing a specific business objective. These processes involve the receipt, processing, and transfer of information and resources to generate desired outputs.

Diagram

This is the visual platform where business processes are represented and mapped out.

Call Activity

This refers to the act of a parent or higher-level process invoking a pre-defined or reusable child process, which is represented in another process diagram. This invocation allows for the utilization of the child process multiple times, enhancing reusability within the overall model.

Collapsed Subprocess

This is a Subprocess that conceals the underlying process it includes.

Connecting Element

These are lines that establish connections between Flow Elements within a process, creating a Flow. There are four distinct types of connecting elements: Sequence Flows, Message Flows, Associations, and Data Associations.

Elements

These are the fundamental components used to construct processes. These elements encompass Flow Elements, Connecting Elements, Data Elements, Artifacts, and Swimlanes.

End Event

This marks the conclusion of a process. An End Event can result in a Message, Error, or Signal outcome.

Error

This denotes a significant issue encountered during the execution of an Activity or process, indicating a failure or malfunction in the processing.

Event

This is an occurrence within a process that influences the Flow and typically involves a trigger and/or a result. Events can be categorized into four types: Start, Intermediate, End, and Boundary.

Event-Based Gateway

This marks a specific point within the process where alternative paths are initiated based on the occurrence of an Event.

Exception

This is an Event within the process that deviates from the normal flow of execution. Exceptions can be triggered by Time, Error, or Message Events.

Exclusive Gateway

This denotes a juncture within the process where multiple alternative paths are available, but only one path can be chosen. The decision regarding the chosen path is determined by a condition.

Expanded Subprocess

This is a Subprocess that shows the process it contains.

Gateway

This is a component that governs the available paths within a process. Gateways can merge or diverge paths, or introduce additional paths based on conditions or Events. There are four types of Gateways: Exclusive, Parallel, Inclusive, and Event-Based.

Intermediate Event

This is an event that occurs within the middle of a process, neither at the start nor the end. It can be connected to other tasks through connectors or placed on the border of a task. It evaluates conditions and circumstances, triggering events and enabling the initiation of alternative paths within the process.

Join

This refers to the process of merging two or more parallel Sequence Flows into a single path using a Parallel Gateway.

Lane

These are subdivisions within a Pool that are utilized to assign activities to specific roles, systems, or departments.

Merge

This is the process in which two or more parallel Sequence Flow paths converge into a single path, achieved either through multiple incoming Sequence Flows or by utilizing an Exclusive Gateway. This merging of paths is also commonly referred to as an “OR-Join”.

Message

This signifies the content of a communication exchanged between two Participants. The message is transmitted through a Message Flow.

Non-atomic Activity

This refers to an Activity that can be further decomposed into more detailed steps or subtasks. A Subprocess is an example of a non-atomic Activity. It is also commonly referred to as a “compound” Activity.

Parallel Gateway

This indicates a specific point within the process where the Flow divides or merges into multiple parallel paths.

Parent Process

This is a process that contains a Subprocess.

Participant

This refers to a business entity, which can be an organization, department, unit, or role involved in a process.

Pool

This represents a Participant in a process.

Sequence Flow

This specifies the sequence and behavior of the Flow Elements within a process.

Signal

This is an Event that is transmitted to all individuals or entities participating in a process.

Start Event

This indicates where a process starts.

Subprocess

This is a self-contained and compound Activity incorporated within a process, capable of being further decomposed into smaller units of work.

Swimlane

This is a visual representation that separates processes based on the Participants responsible for performing them. Swimlanes are comprised of Pools and Lanes.

Task

This is an action performed by a person, an application, or both.

Text Annotation

This provides additional information about the elements in a diagram.

Trigger

This is a mechanism that detects and identifies a particular condition or circumstance within a Start Event or Intermediate Event, subsequently initiating a corresponding response.