---
sourceDocument: Brazil Enterprise Architecture
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/application-portfolio-management

 Release :

    - brazil

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Brazil Enterprise Architecture

ft:clusterId :

    - appportman

bundleId :

    - appportman

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) shapes

# Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) shapes {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Brazil  
Updated September 10, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 4 minutes to read  
Use the BPMN shapes to generate diagrams for your current business processes and model the future state of the business processes.

## BPMN shapes in Enterprise Modeling and Visualization {#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__section_nyw_lfn_z2c}

You can add a shape to the canvas by either selecting the shape or by dragging the shape from the Shapes palette to the canvas.

You can also adjust the size of shapes by selecting a shape and then drag any of its edges or corner handles. Pulling outward increases the shape's dimensions, while dragging inward reduces its size.
However, BPMN-Event shapes can't be resized.

When you drag a BPMN shape from the Shapes palette to the canvas, the shape icon you drag matches the shape's appearance on the canvas. This helps you confirm the correct shape
before placing it on the canvas.

BPMN shapes are organized into sub-categories in the Shapes palette: Event, Activity, Gateway, and
General. Expand a sub-category to see and add its shapes.

## BPMN: General shapes {#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__section_wfj_qvk_fjc}

{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_u1m_svk_fjc__entry__2}

| Shape | Name |
|-|-|
| ![Pool]() | Pool |
| ![Lane]() | Lane |
[Table 1. BPMN: General]

{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_u1m_svk_fjc}

## BPMN-Event shapes {#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__section_vm4_1cn_2jc}

Event shapes represent something that happens during a process. Events are categorized by their position in the process flow --- start, intermediate, or end --- and by the trigger type that causes or results from the event. Boundary
events are attached to an activity shape and fire when a specific condition occurs while the activity is running. BPMN-Event shapes cannot be resized.  
{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_hd4_qfn_z2c__entry__2}

| Shape | Name |
|-|-|
| ![Start (Compensation)]() | Start (Compensation) |
| ![Start (Error)]() | Start (Error) |
| ![Start (Escalation)]() | Start (Escalation) |
| ![Start Interrupting Conditional]() | Start Interrupting Conditional |
| ![Start Interrupting Message]() | Start Interrupting Message |
| ![Start Interrupting Signal]() | Start Interrupting Signal |
| ![Start Interrupting Timer]() | Start Interrupting Timer |
| ![Start (Multiple)]() | Start (Multiple) |
| ![Start (Non-Interrupting Condition)]() | Start (Non-Interrupting Condition) |
| ![Start (Non-Interrupting Escalation)]() | Start (Non-Interrupting Escalation) |
| ![Start (Non-Interrupting Message)]() | Start (Non-Interrupting Message) |
| ![Start (Non-Interrupting Multiple)]() | Start (Non-Interrupting Multiple) |
| ![Start (Non-Interrupting Parallel Multiple)]() | Start (Non-Interrupting Parallel Multiple) |
| ![Start (Non-Interrupting Signal)]() | Start (Non-Interrupting Signal) |
| ![Start (Non-Interrupting Timer)]() | Start (Non-Interrupting Timer) |
| ![Start (None)]() | Start (None) |
| ![Start (Parallel Multiple)]() | Start (Parallel Multiple) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Cancel)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Cancel) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Compensation)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Compensation) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Conditional)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Conditional) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Error)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Error) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Escalation)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Escalation) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Message)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Message) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Multiple)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Multiple) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Condition)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Condition) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Escalation)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Escalation) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Message)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Message) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Multiple)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Multiple) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Parallel Multiple)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Parallel Multiple) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Parallel Multiple)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Parallel Multiple) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Timer)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Non-Interrupting Timer) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Parallel Multiple)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Parallel Multiple) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Signal)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Signal) |
| ![Intermediate (Catch-Timer)]() | Intermediate (Catch-Timer) |
| ![Intermediate (Link-Catch)]() | Intermediate (Link-Catch) |
| ![Intermediate (None)]() | Intermediate (None) |
| ![Intermediate (Throw-Compensation)]() | Intermediate (Throw-Compensation) |
| ![Intermediate (Throw-Escalation)]() | Intermediate (Throw-Escalation) |
| ![Intermediate (Throw-Link)]() | Intermediate (Throw-Link) |
| ![Intermediate (Throw-Message)]() | Intermediate (Throw-Message) |
| ![Intermediate (Throw-Multiple)]() | Intermediate (Throw-Multiple) |
| ![Intermediate (Throw-Signal)]() | Intermediate (Throw-Signal) |
|   | Cancellation End |
| ![Compensation End]() | Compensation End |
| ![End (Link)]() | End (Link) |
| ![End (None)]() | End (None) |
| ![End Error]() | End Error |
| ![End Message]() | End Message |
| ![End Signal]() | End Signal |
| ![End Terminate]() | End Terminate |
| ![Escalation End]() | Escalation End |
| ![Multiple End]() | Multiple End |
|   |   |
|   |   |
|   |   |
[Table 2. BPMN-Event]

{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_hd4_qfn_z2c}

## BPMN-Activity shapes {#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__section_jp5_fss_2jc}

Activity shapes represent work performed within a process. Activities are divided into tasks, which are atomic units of work, and sub-processes and call activities, which reference other process flows. You can also apply a marker
to any task shape to indicate how the activity executes --- for example, whether it loops or runs in parallel.
{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_rkg_sfn_z2c__entry__2}

| Shape | Name |
|-|-|
| ![Business Rule Task]() | Business Rule Task |
| ![Manual Task]() | Manual Task |
| ![Receive Task]() | Receive Task |
| ![Script Task]() | Script Task |
| ![Send Task]() | Send Task |
| ![Service Task]() | Service Task |
| ![Task]() | Task |
| ![User Task]() | User Task |
|   |   |
|   |   |
|   |   |
|   |   |
|   |   |
[Table 3. BPMN-Activity: Task]

{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_rkg_sfn_z2c}  
{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_a4q_ryc_fjc__entry__2}

| Shape | Name |
|-|-|
| ![Business Rule Call Activity]() | Business Rule Call Activity |
| ![Call Activity]() | Call Activity |
| ![Manual Call Activity]() | Manual Call Activity |
| ![Script Call Activity]() | Script Call Activity |
| ![User Call Activity]() | User Call Activity |
| ![Sub-Process]() | Sub-Process |
| ![Adhoc Sub-Process]() | Adhoc Sub-Process |
|   | Transaction Sub-Process |
[Table 4. BPMN-Activity: Sub-Process]

{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_a4q_ryc_fjc}  
{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_mzt_31d_fjc__entry__2}

| Shape | Name |
|-|-|
| ![Loop - Business Rule Task]() | Loop - Business Rule Task |
| ![Loop - Manual Task]() | Loop - Manual Task |
| ![Loop - Receive Task]() | Loop - Receive Task |
| ![Loop - Script Task]() | Loop - Script Task |
| ![Loop - Send Task]() | Loop - Send Task |
| ![Loop - Service Task]() | Loop - Service Task |
| ![Loop - Task]() | Loop - Task |
| ![Loop - User Task]() | Loop - User Task |
| ![Multi Instance Parallel - Business Rule Task]() | Multi Instance Parallel - Business Rule Task |
| ![Multi Instance Parallel - Manual Task]() | Multi Instance Parallel - Manual Task |
| ![Multi Instance Parallel - Receive Task]() | Multi Instance Parallel - Receive Task |
| ![Multi Instance Parallel - Script Task]() | Multi Instance Parallel - Script Task |
| ![Multi Instance Parallel - Send Task]() | Multi Instance Parallel - Send Task |
| ![Multi Instance Parallel - Service Task]() | Multi Instance Parallel - Service Task |
| ![Multi Instance Parallel - Task]() | Multi Instance Parallel - Task |
| ![Multi Instance Parallel - User Task]() | Multi Instance Parallel - User Task |
| ![Multi Instance Sequential - Business Rule Task]() | Multi Instance Sequential - Business Rule Task |
| ![Multi Instance Sequential - Manual Task]() | Multi Instance Sequential - Manual Task |
| ![Multi Instance Sequential - Receive Task]() | Multi Instance Sequential - Receive Task |
| ![Multi Instance Sequential - Script Task]() | Multi Instance Sequential - Script Task |
| ![Multi Instance Sequential - Send Task]() | Multi Instance Sequential - Send Task |
| ![Multi Instance Sequential - Service Task]() | Multi Instance Sequential - Service Task |
| ![]() | Multi Instance Sequential - Task |
| ![Multi Instance Sequential - User Task]() | Multi Instance Sequential - User Task |
| ![Compensation - Business Rule Task]() | Compensation - Business Rule Task |
| ![Compensation - Manual Task]() | Compensation - Manual Task |
| ![Compensation - Receive Task]() | Compensation - Receive Task |
| ![Compensation - Script Task]() | Compensation - Script Task |
| ![Compensation - Send Task]() | Compensation - Send Task |
| ![Compensation - Service Task]() | Compensation - Service Task |
| ![Compensation - Task]() | Compensation - Task |
| ![Compensation - User Task]() | Compensation - User Task |
| ![Loop & Compensation - Business Rule Task]() | Loop \& Compensation - Business Rule Task |
| ![Loop & Compensation - Manual Task]() | Loop \& Compensation - Manual Task |
| ![Loop & Compensation - Receive Task]() | Loop \& Compensation - Receive Task |
| ![Loop & Compensation - Script Task]() | Loop \& Compensation - Script Task |
| ![Loop & Compensation - Send Task]() | Loop \& Compensation - Send Task |
| ![Loop & Compensation - Service Task]() | Loop \& Compensation - Service Task |
| ![Loop & Compensation - Task]() | Loop \& Compensation - Task |
| ![Loop & Compensation - User Task]() | Loop \& Compensation - User Task |
[Table 5. BPMN-Activity: Marker]

{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_mzt_31d_fjc}

## BPMN-Gateway shapes {#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__section_xkk_skh_fjc}

Gateway shapes control how the process flow splits and merges. Gateways can be resized on the canvas.
{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_rlk_tfn_z2c__entry__2}

| Shape | Name |
|-|-|
| ![Complex]() | Complex |
| ![Default]() | Default |
|   | Event |
|   | Event Based (Start) |
| ![Exclusive]() | Exclusive |
| ![Inclusive]() | Inclusive |
| ![Parallel]() | Parallel |
|   |   |
|   |   |
|   |   |
|   |   |
[Table 6. BPMN-Gateway: Core]

{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_rlk_tfn_z2c} {#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_k3y_fph_fjc__entry__2}

| Shape | Name |
|-|-|
| ![Cancel (End)]() | Cancel (End) |
| ![Cancel Boundary (Interrupting)]() | Cancel Boundary (Interrupting) |
| ![Compensation (End)]() | Compensation (End) |
| ![Compensation (Interrupting)]() | Compensation (Interrupting) |
| ![Compensation (Throwing)]() | Compensation (Throwing) |
| ![Compensation Boundary (Interrupting)]() | Compensation Boundary (Interrupting) |
| ![Conditional]() | Conditional |
| ![Conditional (Catching)]() | Conditional (Catching) |
| ![Conditional (Interrupting)]() | Conditional (Interrupting) |
| ![Conditional (Non-Interrupting)]() | Conditional (Non-Interrupting) |
| ![Conditional Boundary (Interrupting)]() | Conditional Boundary (Interrupting) |
| ![Conditional Boundary (Non-Interrupting)]() | Conditional Boundary (Non-Interrupting) |
| ![End]() | End |
| ![Error (End)]() | Error (End) |
| ![Error (Interrupting)]() | Error (Interrupting) |
| ![Error Boundary (Interrupting)]() | Error Boundary (Interrupting) |
| ![Escalation (End)]() | Escalation (End) |
| ![Escalation (Interrupting)]() | Escalation (Interrupting) |
| ![Escalation (Non-Interrupting)]() | Escalation (Non-Interrupting) |
| ![Escalation (Throwing)]() | Escalation (Throwing) |
| ![Escalation Boundary (Interrupting)]() | Escalation Boundary (Interrupting) |
| ![Escalation Boundary (Non-Interrupting)]() | Escalation Boundary (Non-Interrupting) |
| ![Intermediate]() | Intermediate |
| ![Link (Catching)]() | Link (Catching) |
| ![Link (Throwing)]() | Link (Throwing) |
| ![Message]() | Message |
| ![Message (Catching)]() | Message (Catching) |
| ![Message (End)]() | Message (End) |
| ![Message (Interrupting)]() | Message (Interrupting) |
| ![Message (Non-Interrupting)]() | Message (Non-Interrupting) |
| ![Message (Throwing)]() | Message (Throwing) |
| ![Message Boundary (Interrupting)]() | Message Boundary (Interrupting) |
| ![Message Boundary (Non-Interrupting)]() | Message Boundary (Non-Interrupting) |
| ![Multiple]() | Multiple |
| ![Multiple (Catching)]() | Multiple (Catching) |
| ![Multiple (End)]() | Multiple (End) |
| ![Multiple (Interrupting)]() | Multiple (Interrupting) |
| ![Multiple (Non-Interrupting)]() | Multiple (Non-Interrupting) |
| ![Multiple (Start)]() | Multiple (Start) |
| ![Multiple (Throwing)]() | Multiple (Throwing) |
| ![Multiple Boundary (Interrupting)]() | Multiple Boundary (Interrupting) |
| ![Multiple Boundary (Non-Interrupting)]() | Multiple Boundary (Non-Interrupting) |
| ![Parallel Multiple]() | Parallel Multiple |
| ![Parallel Multiple (Catching)]() | Parallel Multiple (Catching) |
| ![Parallel Multiple (Interrupting)]() | Parallel Multiple (Interrupting) |
| ![Parallel Multiple (Non-Interrupting)]() | Parallel Multiple (Non-Interrupting) |
| ![Parallel Multiple Boundary (Interrupting)]() | Parallel Multiple Boundary (Interrupting) |
| ![Parallel Multiple Boundary (Non-Interrupting)]() | Parallel Multiple Boundary (Non-Interrupting) |
| ![Signal]() | Signal |
| ![Signal (Catching)]() | Signal (Catching) |
| ![Signal (End)]() | Signal (End) |
| ![Signal (Interrupting)]() | Signal (Interrupting) |
| ![Signal (Non-Interrupting)]() | Signal (Non-Interrupting) |
| ![Signal (Throwing)]() | Signal (Throwing) |
| ![Signal Boundary (Interrupting)]() | Signal Boundary (Interrupting) |
| ![Signal Boundary (Non-Interrupting)]() | Signal Boundary (Non-Interrupting) |
| ![Start]() | Start |
| ![Terminate]() | Terminate |
| ![Timer]() | Timer |
| ![Timer (Catching)]() | Timer (Catching) |
| ![Timer (Interrupting)]() | Timer (Interrupting) |
| ![Timer (Non-Interrupting)]() | Timer (Non-Interrupting) |
| ![Timer Boundary (Interrupting)]() | Timer Boundary (Interrupting) |
| ![Timer Boundary (Non-Interrupting)]() | Timer Boundary (Non-Interrupting) |
[Table 7. BPMN-Gateway: Event Based]

{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_k3y_fph_fjc} {#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_z33_5fn_z2c__entry__2}

| Shape | Name |
|-|-|
| ![Pool]() | Pool |
| ![Lane]() | Lane |
[Table 8. BPMN: General]

{#eaw-modeling-bpmn-shapes__table_z33_5fn_z2c}