Mermaid for
Mind maps
Capture how you actually think into a structure
Start with a central idea, branch out into topics and details, and restructure as your thinking changes.
What is a mind map?
A mind map is a diagram that starts with a central idea and branches outward into topics, subtopics, and details. Tony Buzan popularized the format in the 1970s as a technique for note-taking and brainstorming. It is now common for planning, studying, and early-stage product work.
In Mermaid, you write a mind map as an indented outline under the mindmap keyword. Indentation sets the hierarchy, so moving a branch means moving a few lines. Nodes can use different shapes and icons, and Mermaid lays out the branches automatically.
What you can map
with a
mind map
Brainstorming sessions and idea capture
Research and topic exploration
Feature planning and product thinking
Meeting notes and action items
Study guides and knowledge summaries
Content strategy and outline planning
Decision frameworks and tradeoff analysis
Brainstorming sessions and idea capture
Research and topic exploration
Feature planning and product thinking
Meeting notes and action items
Study guides and knowledge summaries
Content strategy and outline planning
Decision frameworks and tradeoff analysis
Who uses mind maps
on Mermaid
Business Analysts
Map out a problem domain, stakeholder landscape, or requirements structure before diving into documentation.
Consultants
Frame a client’s challenge or strategic landscape visually for workshops, kickoffs, and alignment sessions.
When a mind map is
the right call
A central feature idea branching into user needs, technical requirements, edge cases, and open questions.
A high-level map of a platform’s components — services, data stores, integrations, and external dependencies.
A content pillar at the center, branching into formats, audiences, channels, and topics.
Goals, stakeholders, risks, open questions, and next steps — captured from a kickoff meeting in one view.
Fast, accurate, editable, and actionable.
Describe your idea and get a diagram you can refine, then share with your team instantly.
FAQ
Common questions about building mind maps in Mermaid.
