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PlantUML Language specification Activity Diagram
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Activity Diagram (legacy)

This is the old Activity Diagram (legacy) syntax, to see the new current version see: Activity Diagram (new).

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Simple Action

You can use (*) for the starting point and ending point of the activity diagram.

In some occasion, you may want to use (*top) to force the starting point to be at the top of the diagram.

Use --> for arrows.

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Label on arrows

By default, an arrow starts at the last used activity.

You can put a label on an arrow using brackets [ and ] just after the arrow definition.

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Changing arrow direction

You can use -> for horizontal arrows. It is possible to force arrow's direction using the following syntax:

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Branches

You can use if/then/else keywords to define branches.

Unfortunately, you will have to sometimes repeat the same activity in the diagram text:

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More on Branches

By default, a branch is connected to the last defined activity, but it is possible to override this and to define a link with the if keywords.

It is also possible to nest branches.

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Synchronization

You can use === code === to display synchronization bars.

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Long action description

When you declare activities, you can span on several lines the description text. You can also add \n in the description.

You can also give a short code to the activity with the as keyword. This code can be used latter in the diagram description.

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Notes

You can add notes on a activity using the commands note left, note right, note top or note bottom, just after the description of the activity you want to note.

If you want to put a note on the starting point, define the note at the very beginning of the diagram description.

You can also have a note on several lines, using the endnote keywords.

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Partition

You can define a partition using the partition keyword, and optionally declare a background color for your partition (Using a html color code or name)

When you declare activities, they are automatically put in the last used partition.

You can close the partition definition using a closing bracket }.

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Skinparam

You can use the skinparam command to change colors and fonts for the drawing.

You can use this command : You can define specific color and fonts for stereotyped activities.

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Octagon

You can change the shape of activities to octagon using the skinparam activityShape octagon command.

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Complete example