Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
LessMore
Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
When should I pick Mermaid text diagrams?
When the story is: process docs, onboarding, assignment logic, PR explanations.
When should I avoid Mermaid text diagrams?
Skip it in cases like: pixel-perfect brand illustrations that need freehand layout.
Who invented or popularised it?
Mermaid (2014) popularized Markdown-native diagrams on GitHub
What does it encode?
textual graph syntax rendered to SVG boxes and edges
Is it OK in ads?
Yes if one claim is visible at a glance in Meta, Google and retail print; otherwise link to a full figure.
Will a teacher accept it?
Yes for lab reports and poster boards if axes, units and a source line are present.
Mermaid text diagrams encodes values as textual graph syntax rendered to SVG boxes and edges. Mermaid (2014) popularized Markdown-native diagrams on GitHub.
In reports, ads and assignments it fits process docs, onboarding, assignment logic, PR explanations. Skip it when pixel-perfect brand illustrations that need freehand layout.
Parts
- Mark — The core mark of Mermaid text diagrams is textual graph syntax rendered to SVG boxes and edges.
- Scale — The scale must show zero (or a declared break) and units.
- Axis — Axis titles name the variable, not a mood.
- Legend — A legend is weaker than a direct label. Write beside the mark when you can.
- Label — Numbers are optional. If comparison is the job, label the ends only.
- Grid — Keep the grid faint. Data should own the ink.
- Annotation — One annotation sentence. Date the source.
- Frame — A thin frame. Never a 3-D box.
Variants
- Text-to-flowchart — Variant 1 of Mermaid text diagrams (Text-to-flowchart). Same encoding, different layout.
- Markdown diagram — Variant 2 of Mermaid text diagrams (Markdown diagram). Same encoding, different layout.
- GitHub Mermaid — Variant 3 of Mermaid text diagrams (GitHub Mermaid). Same encoding, different layout.
- Mermaid text diagrams 4 — Variant 4 of Mermaid text diagrams (Mermaid text diagrams 4). Same encoding, different layout.
Labels
- Axis — On Mermaid text diagrams, make Mark readable.
- Legend — On Mermaid text diagrams, make Scale readable.
- Label — On Mermaid text diagrams, make Axis readable.
- Grid — On Mermaid text diagrams, make Legend readable.
- Annotation — On Mermaid text diagrams, make Label readable.
Mermaid text diagrams: honour textual graph syntax rendered to SVG boxes and edges, and switch when pixel-perfect brand illustrations that need freehand layout.