Token

Intro

A token is a theoretical concept in BPMN used to describe process execution behavior. It “traverses” the process, interacting with elements to define flow semantics.

Key points:

• Explains how processes advance through events and gateways.
• Clarifies execution rules for modeling and automation.
• Common use cases across EA/BPM/Data/App/Tech include validating BPMN logic and troubleshooting workflow behavior.
• Pitfall: misunderstanding gateway semantics (e.g., exclusive vs. inclusive).

Examples:

• Token passes an exclusive gateway via one outgoing flow.
• Parallel gateway creates multiple tokens for concurrent paths.
• Boundary event captures the token to handle an exception.

In practice:

Use the token concept to verify that modeled flows behave as intended, especially at gateways and events.

Related terms: Gateway; Sequence Flow; BPMN

FAQs:

Q: Do tokens exist at runtime?
A: They are conceptual; engines implement equivalent execution state.

Q: How do tokens help modeling?
A: They make gateway and event behavior easier to reason about.

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