![](\"https:\/\/www.archimetric.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/img_6a4b0697a0021.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In the world of process modeling, we often focus heavily on the activities themselves\u2014the “tasks” that people perform. However, a process isn’t just about action; it’s about transformation. And what gets transformed? Information. Whether it\u2019s a customer order, an email notification, or a database record, data is the lifeblood of any workflow.<\/p>\n
When you are designing a model in Visual Paradigm, using the correct symbols ensures that your diagrams accurately reflect reality. Let’s walk through the specific symbols used for Data Flow Elements<\/strong> and Data Storage & Communication<\/strong> as defined in the BPMN 2.0 specification.<\/p>\n Imagine a task where a user needs to enter information into a system. How do we represent that this information is coming from somewhere before the work begins?<\/p>\n It is also important to note the small icons associated with these flows. You will see a pencil icon labeled “Write.” This implies that the task not only receives the data but actively modifies or creates new data based on the input before producing the output.<\/p>\n Sometimes, we don’t need to show the flow of data in and out of a specific task. Instead, we simply want to visualize the documents or objects involved in the broader process. This is where Data Objects come into play.<\/p>\n Processes rarely happen in a vacuum. Data often needs to be saved for later use, or sent to someone outside the immediate scope of the current task. Visual Paradigm provides clear symbols for these scenarios.<\/p>\n Data Store<\/strong> is depicted as a cylinder. This is the standard representation for a database, a filing cabinet, or any repository where data persists beyond the lifetime of a single process instance. If your process needs to check inventory levels, you would draw a connection between the task and the Data Store to show that data is being read or written there.<\/p>\n Finally, consider communication. When two participants (or pools) exchange information, we use the Message<\/strong> symbol. Visually, this is represented by an envelope. It distinguishes internal data movement from external communication. The diagram shows both open and closed envelopes, which can help differentiate between messages that have been delivered versus those pending or archived.<\/p>\n To wrap up our tutorial, let’s review the core concepts we covered regarding data handling in BPMN 2.0:<\/p>\n By mastering these symbols, you ensure that your process models are not just pictures of tasks, but comprehensive maps of how information drives your business forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This diagram illustrates BPMN 2.0 Data Flow Elements and Data Storage & Communication symbols, including Data Input, Output, Task, Data Store, Message, Data Object, and Collection Data Object, with accompanying descriptions and visual representations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7775,"template":"","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Mastering BPMN 2.0 Data Flow Symbols & Storage","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Explore the essential data flow elements and storage symbols in BPMN 2.0 to understand how information moves, is stored, and communicated within business processes.","inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"source_url":"https:\/\/www.archimetric.com\/from-chaos-to-clarity-a-product-managers-review-of-visual-paradigm-for-bpmn-2-0\/","source_h1_title":"From Chaos to Clarity: A Product Manager\u2019s Review of Visual Paradigm for BPMN 2.0","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","_fifu_image_alt":"","fifu_alt":"","_fifu_alt":"","fifu_image_title":"","_fifu_image_title":"","fifu_input_alt":"","vp_image_hash":""},"asset-category":[20],"class_list":["post-7509","gallery","type-gallery","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","asset-category-bpmn"],"source_url":"https:\/\/www.archimetric.com\/from-chaos-to-clarity-a-product-managers-review-of-visual-paradigm-for-bpmn-2-0\/","source_h1_title":"From Chaos to Clarity: A Product Manager\u2019s Review of Visual Paradigm for BPMN 2.0","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","vp_image_hash":"","yoast_head":"\nThe Journey of Data: Input and Output<\/h3>\n
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Visualizing What We Are Working With<\/h3>\n
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Where Data Lives: Storage and Communication<\/h3>\n
Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n
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