State Diagram Maker - Fast Diagramming Tool
Create state, state machine and state transition diagrams online with powerful and easy to use tool.
No account required!
Generate State Diagrams Quickly
-
Label state transitions in one click. Connectors form the state transition edges, and stay attached to your state nodes. Labels position automatically.
-
Easy alignment and auto-spacing. Smart drag-and-snap tools automatically find the best placement for nodes as you move them.
-
Syntax-highlighting built in. Create software state machine diagrams with built-in code syntax highlighting.
What is a state diagram?
A state diagram, also called a state machine diagram, state transition diagram, or sometimes a state chart, is a visual representation of a system that operates in discrete steps called states. Transitions between the states are explicit and represented by labeled connectors in the diagram.
Engineers use state diagrams to visualize system behavior, such as how the system responds to inputs differently depending on the its current state. These visuals are used to communicate behavior to both technical and non-technical collaborators.
For firmware design, UI flows, game logic, or business processes, a state diagram becomes essential documentation that can be used as an implementation and debugging guide.
Key features of Vexlio to make state diagrams
Suite of tools for making state diagrams has been tuned for precision and ease-of-use.
-
Infinite canvas. Scroll and zoom without page limits, whether your diagram has five states or five hundred.
-
LaTeX-powered labels. Enclose math in
$...$to render guard conditions, probabilities, or formal annotations right on the canvas. -
Multiple export formats. Export to retina-quality PNG, PDF and SVG.
-
Precision editing. Numeric control panels set exact widths, positions, corner radii, and more. Alignment guides keep even complex layouts tidy.
-
Contextual help. In-app help panel provides you with per-task info and useful tips like keyboard shortcuts.
-
In active development. Improvements and features added regularly.
No sign-up needed
Try Vexlio, the state machine diagram tool built for speed and precision. See it for yourself!
No account required
Build your first state diagram in minutes
- Create a blank canvas. Go to the Main Menu and choose New Document.
- Add states. Press R for rounded rectangle or C for ellipse, then click and drag to place.
- Map transitions. Choose a connector type, then click on two points to connect. Vexlio's smart connectors snap exactly to the shape perimeter and move automatically if you shift nodes later.
- Annotate. Double-click a connector or shape to add a label. Or, press Q and click to create a live-edit LaTeX expression.
- Refine layout. Use alignment, distribution, and the drawing grid to keep the overall flow readable at a glance.
- Export. Choose SVG or PDF for crisp vectors, or PNG for quick slides or docs.
Popular use cases for state diagrams
- Design & documentation of software systems
- UI navigation flows, like screen transitions in a mobile app
- Business process states such as order fulfillment, payment handling, lifecycle analysis
- Game AI, level, or animation state flows
- Formal language design for finite-state automata
- Hardware state management and synchronization design for microcontrollers
Here's what our users have said
Real users speaking about Vexlio's previous desktop version:
I was able to knock together some pretty nice diagrams super-quickly using the demo version. Lots of nice touches.— Gabe R.
Your application fits an empty spot in my toolbelt.— Clint P.
Definitely addresses many of the pain points I have with Google Drawings, Inkscape etc. for making diagrams.— Jim M.
Vexlio has no learning curve - so easy to use.— Peter L.