Published on 2026-02-22

BPMN Diagrams in Markdown

How to embed Business Process Model and Notation diagrams.

BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) is a graphical representation for specifying business processes in a business process model.

MarkdownToPrettyPDF allows you to render BPMN files directly using the bpmn block via Kroki.

Basic Syntax

BPMN is an XML-based format. You will typically generate this XML using a tool like the Camunda Modeler, and then paste it directly into your bpmn fenced code block.

syntax

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<bpmn:definitions xmlns:bpmn="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns:bpmndi="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/DI" xmlns:dc="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DC" xmlns:di="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DI" id="Definitions_1xzgfzj" targetNamespace="http://bpmn.io/schema/bpmn" exporter="Camunda Modeler" exporterVersion="4.6.0">
  <bpmn:process id="Process_1lyj7s0" isExecutable="true">
    <bpmn:startEvent id="StartEvent_1">
      <bpmn:outgoing>Flow_1hx11f8</bpmn:outgoing>
    </bpmn:startEvent>
    <bpmn:task id="Activity_0lndsv2" name="Do Task A">
      <bpmn:incoming>Flow_1hx11f8</bpmn:incoming>
      <bpmn:outgoing>Flow_12g2g9y</bpmn:outgoing>
    </bpmn:task>
    <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="Flow_1hx11f8" sourceRef="StartEvent_1" targetRef="Activity_0lndsv2" />
    <bpmn:endEvent id="Event_0f34p1z">
      <bpmn:incoming>Flow_12g2g9y</bpmn:incoming>
    </bpmn:endEvent>
    <bpmn:sequenceFlow id="Flow_12g2g9y" sourceRef="Activity_0lndsv2" targetRef="Event_0f34p1z" />
  </bpmn:process>
  <bpmndi:BPMNDiagram id="BPMNDiagram_1">
    <bpmndi:BPMNPlane id="BPMNPlane_1" bpmnElement="Process_1lyj7s0">
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_1hx11f8_di" bpmnElement="Flow_1hx11f8">
        <di:waypoint x="215" y="117" />
        <di:waypoint x="270" y="117" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge id="Flow_12g2g9y_di" bpmnElement="Flow_12g2g9y">
        <di:waypoint x="370" y="117" />
        <di:waypoint x="432" y="117" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="_BPMNShape_StartEvent_2" bpmnElement="StartEvent_1">
        <dc:Bounds x="179" y="99" width="36" height="36" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Activity_0lndsv2_di" bpmnElement="Activity_0lndsv2">
        <dc:Bounds x="270" y="77" width="100" height="80" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape id="Event_0f34p1z_di" bpmnElement="Event_0f34p1z">
        <dc:Bounds x="432" y="99" width="36" height="36" />
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
    </bpmndi:BPMNPlane>
  </bpmndi:BPMNDiagram>
</bpmn:definitions>

BPMN diagrams are essential for enterprise workflows and clearly documenting standard operating procedures. By pinning them directly in your Markdown documentation, they stay visible alongside system architecture and guides.