UML State Machine Diagram Template

About the UML State Machine Diagram Template

The State Machine Diagram Template helps you understand the behavior of systems and visualize the entire lifecycle of an object.

This template is helpful for understanding how an object responds to an event at the different stages of its lifecycle. You can also use this template to visualize the sequence of events in a system.

This diagram helps you show how objects exist, change state, and perform actions in response to external stimuli. For example, you can use this diagram to show how a web service responds to different requests.

Keep reading to learn more about our UML State Machine Diagram template.

What is a state machine diagram?

A state machine diagram, also known as a UML state machine diagram or statechart diagram, is a flowchart that represents the multiple states of an object or system and how it moves from one state to another.

You can find UML state diagrams in game development — to discuss the process of an enemy becoming stronger as the game progresses, for example.

You can also use a simple state machine diagram to visualize the workflow of a process, like how an order goes through different stages in your fulfillment system.

State machine diagrams are a great way to visualize a system's behavior and document the design of a system.

They are also an important part of interface design, as they help determine how a program or app should work.

Benefits of state machine diagrams

Some of the benefits of implementing state machine diagrams include:

• Simplifies complex business processes: State diagrams make it easier to see how the pieces of a system fit together, what is supposed to happen at each step, how long it should take, and whether that timing plan makes sense.

• Lets you identify problems and bottlenecks faster: By identifying each state and the events that cause changes in state, it's possible to see what's happening and where there might be a communication or timing problem.

• Helps you see the bigger picture: Using state machine diagrams to illustrate how an entire process works or should work helps you see the bigger picture of a system.

• Maps the behavioral flow of a system: State machine diagrams can be used to map the behavioral flow of a system, showing its overall structure.

Create your own state machine diagram

Our template helps you create state machine diagrams faster and with fewer headaches. All you need to do is open the State Machine Diagram Template and follow these steps:

Step 1. Involve the right people

The first step is to involve the right people.

Besides your team, you should also include stakeholders and subject matter experts, as they can give you valuable hints you will need when creating the state machine diagram.

With Miro, creating your diagram collaboratively is pretty straightforward. You can share a state machine diagram with collaborators and let them edit it using the same device.

You can also connect your Miro account to Slack and get notifications when someone edits or deletes a statechart diagram you were looking at.

This way, you have all the information you need to create a state machine diagram in one place without having to swivel between different platforms.

Step 2. Define states and objects

Next, you need to define your possible states and the objects that belong to them.

For example, if you are creating a behavioral state machine diagram for an elevator system, you could define the states as 'Not activated,' 'Waiting for user input,' and 'Moving up/down.'

With Miro, you get access to all the UML state diagram symbols, including:

• Rectangle: Indicates the state of an object.

• Arrowhead: Represents possible state changes.

• Diamond: Indicates that an object can be in multiple states at the same time.

• Circle with an X: Showcases an exit action in a process.

• Dark circle: Represents the entry state of a process.

• Circle with a dot: Indicates the final state of a process.

And many more.

You can simply drag and drop each state element to design your diagram.

Step 3. Connect states to objects

Once you have your states defined, connect them with the correct objects.

For example, if you are creating the elevator system UML diagram, your Move Up object would be connected to the 'moving up' state, and the Move Down object would be connected to the 'moving down' state.

In Miro, you simply click on one state, hold it, and drag it onto another state to link them. You can also click on a state and press the + button to add more states.

4. Add transition actions and conditions

Once you connect the states with the objects, fill in the appropriate actions for each state.

For example, if your elevator system state diagram shows the 'waiting for user input' state, you would want to give users instructions on what they should do next.

In Miro, you can add actions to states by clicking on the state and typing in the name of the action. You can also create custom actions, which function as macros that prompt the user to take an action.

5. Define guard conditions

Finally, define transitions and guard conditions. For example, if an elevator is moving upward and the user presses the 'down' button, this action will trigger the elevator to move back to the 'waiting for user input' state.

In Miro, you define state transition conditions by clicking on the arrow connecting the two states and selecting whether it is triggered by an action or a guard condition.

Example of a UML state machine diagram in action

Let's use an example: a toaster.

A toaster has around five states it can produce: off, on, heating, warming bread, and ready-to-eat bread.

Each state would be represented by a square on the diagram, with lines to show how each state transitions into another.

• Off (initial state) → On

• On → Heating

• Heating → Warm bread

• Warm bread → Ready-to-eat bread

This example shows the five states the toaster produces.

State machine diagrams are useful in situations when one state transitions into another and when the order of the states is important.