Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

In Mermaid flowcharts, lowercase end is a documented parser trap: capitalize it as End or END when you want that word in a node label. For punctuation and other awkward label characters, use a quoted label or entity codes. In state diagrams, keep the state identifier simple and put the visible wording in a separate description.

Fix lowercase end in a flowchart

Mermaid’s flowchart documentation warns that lowercase end in a flowchart node can break parsing. Its documented recommendation is to capitalize the entire word or any of its letters, such as End or END.

flowchart LR
    A[End] --> B[END]

This is a case-specific fix for the documented lowercase token. The documentation also mentions a workaround, but the syntax is not included in the cited excerpt; use the current flowchart documentation rather than guessing its form if capitalization is unsuitable.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Handle punctuation in flowchart labels

A node identifier and its displayed text are separate parts of flowchart syntax. For example, id1 identifies the node and the bracketed phrase supplies its visible label. When punctuation makes a label troublesome, quote the displayed text:

flowchart LR
    id1["This is the (text) in the box"]

Mermaid also documents entity codes for characters that need escaping in labels. Its example uses #quot; to display a double quote; decimal character values and HTML character names are supported as well.

flowchart LR
    A["A double quote: #quot;"]

Use these label techniques for special characters; they are distinct from the specific lowercase end reserved-word issue.

Separate a state’s identifier from its description

In a state diagram, connect states using simple identifiers, then give the state a separate visible description. Mermaid’s state diagram documentation shows two forms:

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
state "This is a state description" as s2
s2 : This is a state description

For transitions, refer to the identifier, not the displayed wording:

state "Ready for review" as review
review --> approved

This lets the diagram show wording that is clearer or more natural than the stable token used to connect states.

Choose the fix for the problem

Problem Diagram type Documented approach What it changes
Node label is exactly lowercase end Flowchart Capitalize it, for example End or END Changes the visible label’s letter case
Punctuation or troublesome characters in visible text Flowchart Quote the label; use entity codes when needed Keeps the displayed text separate from the node identifier
State wording should not be the token used in connections State diagram Use state "description" as id or id : description Separates the state identifier from its visible description
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Troubleshoot a diagram that still fails

  1. Confirm the diagram type. Flowcharts and state diagrams have different syntax; do not assume that a flowchart rule applies to state diagrams.
  2. Check the exact token. If the flowchart label is lowercase end, test a capitalization such as End.
  3. Isolate punctuation issues. Put the visible flowchart label in quotes, and try entity codes for characters that still interfere with parsing.
  4. Use a separate state description. In a state diagram, give the state a simple identifier and add its displayed text with a quoted description or colon description.
  5. Reduce the diagram to a minimal example. Test that snippet in the same renderer and Mermaid version where the full diagram is used; embedded renderers may use different versions or configurations.

The official syntax pages cited here document a lowercase end warning for flowcharts and identifier/description patterns for state diagrams. They do not establish a complete shared reserved-word list across both diagram types.

Best Value
Colortivity The Little Mermaid Ariel Themed Coloring and Activity Book with Bonus Cutout Door Hanger on Back - 80 Pages
  • The Little Mermaid-themed Coloring and Activity Book
  • Book contains 80 fun-filled coloring and activity pages!
  • Book measures approx 7.75'' x 10.75''
  • Cover varies-- contents do not (see photos)
  • Perfect for quiet indoor play

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.