Gateway nodes

The gateway node is the only node type whose primary purpose is to split or merge flow. Use it whenever the process branches into options, runs several paths in parallel, or converges back to a single path.

Gateway connections are written like other nodes, using NEXT and AND with target identifiers, with an optional link description to label each option:

GATEWAY 'Choice' NEXT 'Node 1' 'Option 1' AND 'Node 2' 'Option 2'

Alternative terms you might use: choice, split, conjunction, decision.

See Links and lanes for the general NEXT / AND syntax and Identifiers for implicit vs. explicit identifiers.

In BPMN a gateway is drawn as a diamond (rhombus). The diamond is the universal BPMN indicator of flow control, diverging (splitting) or converging (merging) sequence flow. An internal marker identifies the specific kind of gateway:

Marker	Gateway type
(empty)	Gateway, decision or merge with rules unspecified
× (inner cross)	Exclusive, exactly one outgoing path
+ (plus)	Parallel, all outgoing paths concurrently
○ (circle)	Inclusive, one or more outgoing paths
* (asterisk)	Complex, custom branching rules
◇ inside (pentagon marker)	Event-based, routed by the next event

TIP

A gateway node only renders once its next nodes are defined.

WARNING

A gateway carries at most three distinct link descriptions across its outgoing connections. Branches that repeat a link description leave the gateway in the same direction, so a gateway may have more than three outgoing connections. A fourth distinct description is an error: reuse one of the three or split the decision over two gateways.

Gateway

The gateway node defines a decision point within a process, typically based on conditions or rules. It can also be a merge point.

Input

GATEWAY 'Choice' NEXT 'next node 1' 'Option 1' AND 'next node 2' 'Option 2'

Input suggestion

GATEWAY 'Gateway' NEXT

GATEWAY GatewayNode 'Gateway' NEXT OtherNode 'Option 1' AND OtherNode2 'Option 2'

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Gateway Event

The gateway event node defines a decision point within a process, typically based on an event. It can also be a merge point.

Input

GATEWAY-EVENT 'Choice' NEXT 'next node 1' 'Option 1' AND 'next node 2' 'Option 2'

Input suggestion

GATEWAY-EVENT 'Choice' NEXT

GATEWAY-EVENT Choice 'Choice' NEXT OtherNode 'Option 1' AND OtherNode2 'Option 2'

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Gateway Exclusive

The exclusive gateway node defines a decision point within a process where the flow follows only one outgoing path, selected based on conditions or default logic.

Input

GATEWAY-EXCLUSIVE 'Choice' NEXT 'next node 1' 'Option 1' AND 'next node 2' 'Option 2'

Input suggestion

GATEWAY-EXCLUSIVE 'Choice' NEXT

GATEWAY-EXCLUSIVE Choice 'Choice' NEXT OtherNode 'Option 1' AND OtherNode2 'Option 2'

Icon

Gateway Parallel

The parallel gateway node defines a point within a process where the flow follows all outgoing paths concurrently.

Input

GATEWAY-PARALLEL 'Choice' NEXT 'next node 1' 'Option 1' AND 'next node 2' 'Option 2'

Input suggestion

GATEWAY-PARALLEL 'Choice' NEXT

GATEWAY-PARALLEL Choice 'Choice' NEXT OtherNode 'Option 1' AND OtherNode2 'Option 2'

Icon

Gateway Inclusive

The inclusive gateway node defines a decision point within a process where one or more outgoing paths may be followed, depending on the conditions defined for each path.

Input

GATEWAY-INCLUSIVE 'Choice' NEXT 'next node 1' 'Option 1' AND 'next node 2' 'Option 2'

Input suggestion

GATEWAY-INCLUSIVE 'Choice' NEXT

GATEWAY-INCLUSIVE Choice 'Choice' NEXT OtherNode 'Option 1' AND OtherNode2 'Option 2'

Icon

Gateway Complex

The complex gateway node defines a decision or synchronization point that uses complex conditions or rules to determine how flows diverge or converge.

Input

GATEWAY-COMPLEX 'Choice' NEXT 'next node 1' 'Option 1' AND 'next node 2' 'Option 2'

Input suggestion

GATEWAY-COMPLEX 'Choice' NEXT

GATEWAY-COMPLEX Choice 'Choice' NEXT OtherNode 'Option 1' AND OtherNode2 'Option 2'

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