Artifacts

Introduction

In BPMN 2.0, artifacts are elements that provide additional context and information to a process model. They do not directly affect the flow of the process but serve to make the process more understandable and complete. Artifacts are used to annotate processes, represent data, and group activities.

Data Objects

Data objects represent the data that is created, manipulated, or used during the execution of a process. They can be inputs, outputs, or intermediate data used by tasks.

• Example: A “Customer Order” data object can be associated with a “Submit Order” task, representing that this task involves handling customer order data.
• Use Case: Use data objects to show what kind of data is being used or produced in the process, such as forms, reports, or files.

Groups

A group is used to visually group tasks or elements for documentation or analytical purposes. It does not affect the sequence flow but is helpful for highlighting related tasks in a process.

• Example: Grouping several tasks that belong to a specific phase of a project, like “Approval Tasks” or “Customer Interaction Tasks.”
• Use Case: Use groups to organize and classify tasks for clarity, especially in complex processes with many elements.

Text Annotation

Text annotations allow modelers to add comments or notes to a process to provide additional information or clarification.

• Example: A text annotation explaining that a particular task is manual and not tracked by the system.
• Use Case: Use text annotations to explain complex tasks, describe conditions, or provide supplementary information without affecting the process flow.

Data Stores

A data store represents a place where data is stored persistently. It can be used to show that data is saved and retrieved by multiple tasks or processes.

• Example: A data store called “Customer Database” that multiple tasks access to retrieve or store customer information.
• Use Case: Use data stores when showing data that is stored outside of the process, such as databases or external systems, and how different tasks interact with that stored data.

Key Points:

• Data Objects: Represent the data involved in a task or process, providing more context about the inputs and outputs.
• Groups: Visually organize and group related tasks or elements without influencing the process flow.
• Text Annotations: Add clarifying information or notes to improve the readability and understanding of the process.
• Data Stores: Show where data is stored persistently, representing how tasks access or update long-term storage.

Examples of Use:

• In an invoicing process, a data object labeled “Invoice” might be associated with a “Generate Invoice” task to show that this task produces an invoice document.
• A group can be used to highlight all tasks related to “Customer Onboarding” in a larger business process.
• Text annotations might explain a decision gateway, clarifying what each condition represents for better understanding.
• A data store labeled “Customer Database” might be connected to tasks like “Retrieve Customer Information” or “Update Customer Profile,” showing where the data is stored.

Artifacts add important context and information to BPMN diagrams without affecting the flow or sequence, making them crucial for improving clarity, especially in complex processes.