A state diagram is a UML representation of a process used in computer science and business analysis. It plots objects and their state changes, but not their interactions. It can represent complex events and transitions, and can be used to map curriculum or manufacturing systems.
A state diagram is an abstract representation of a process. It is often used in computer science to model the flow of programming languages and can also help analysts map business processes. The elements of a system are generally called objects, which can undergo changes of state; these transitions in Unified Modeling Language (UML) are plotted throughout the graph, also called a UML state machine diagram. Typically used to describe the behavior of a system in general, a state diagram helps plot objects using different symbols. It usually does not describe the interaction of objects.
UML diagrams typically illustrate how an object behaves in different use cases, and some symbols are often used to identify different elements. Generally similar to a flowchart, the state diagram usually has a large dot at the top to represent an object’s initial state. State changes can be displayed in rounded boxes, with state name, variables and actions separated in a stacked format. Horizontal lines are typically used to separate each.
Straight lines outside boxes in a state diagram can connect to different elements of the diagram. Lines usually define transitions and often have arrows at one end to mark the path from one state to another. At the bottom of the diagram there is typically a large black dot surrounded by a circle. An entire graph can describe a complex series of events and what states they may occur in, which are often more than one.
The flow of a state diagram is typically determined by the transitions that occur. Some object states can be converted to a redundant one; sometimes multiple transitions can lead to the same state which can be confusing. In this case, more than one box can be enclosed in another, which is usually called a superstate. This format can make a state diagram easier to read if the events and transitions in a system are complex.
A state diagram can represent computational models of machine operations or the function of many machines in a manufacturing system. It can also help college or seminar instructors map their curriculum based on the students who have enrolled. Semantics, or rules, are often applied to state diagrams. There are alternative rules and even variant templates that can be used depending on the system, such as a manufacturing process for an electronic device such as a stopwatch or controller.
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