gateways

Parallel Gateway

A Parallel Gateway creates or synchronizes parallel paths of execution. When splitting, all outgoing paths execute concurrently. When merging, it waits for all incoming paths before continuing.

Category
gateways
BPMN Spec
Section 10.5.2
Icon Class
bpmn-icon-gateway-parallel

What is a Parallel Gateway?

A Parallel Gateway (AND Gateway) enables concurrent execution. As a split, it activates all outgoing paths simultaneously. As a join, it synchronizes by waiting for all incoming tokens before proceeding.

Visual Representation

A Parallel Gateway displays as a diamond shape containing a plus sign (+). The plus represents the AND logic-all paths are taken (split) or all must arrive (join).

Key Characteristics

  • Split behavior: Activates ALL outgoing sequence flows simultaneously
  • Join behavior: Waits for ALL incoming tokens before continuing
  • No conditions: All paths are taken unconditionally when splitting
  • Synchronization: Essential for coordinating parallel work

Common Use Cases

Concurrent Processing

Split to process payment and update inventory simultaneously, then join when both complete.

Parallel Reviews

Send documents to multiple reviewers concurrently and wait for all reviews before proceeding.

Multi-System Updates

Update ERP, CRM, and notification systems in parallel, synchronizing before confirmation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Try this element in Crismo

Create beautiful BPMN diagrams with our modern process modeling platform.