A Complete Guide to Using Diagrams (draw.io) for Creating Flowcharts

Many readers have asked which tool the author uses to create the clean, lightweight diagrams featured in previous posts; the answer is the free online tool diagrams (also accessible via draw.io ).

The author compares older options such as Microsoft visio (a paid desktop application) and the online service process on , noting their limitations, and recommends diagrams as a powerful, free alternative.

To start using Diagrams, open a browser and navigate to https://draw.io/ (or https://app.diagrams.net/ ). The first visit may be slower due to initialization, after which a dialog appears prompting you to choose a storage location (OneDrive, Device, Github, or Gitlab). The author prefers the Device option for local saving, while also mentioning Github as a viable choice.

After selecting "Create New Diagram," you are taken to the main editing canvas, which consists of several distinct areas:

Menu Bar : Includes File , Edit , View , Arrange , Extras , and Help menus, each offering a range of file operations, editing commands, view settings, arrangement tools, extra features, and help resources.

Toolbar : Provides quick access to common actions such as zoom, undo/redo, delete, bring forward/backward, background and font colors, connectors, shadows, tables, shapes, fullscreen, and expand/collapse.

Left Shape Library : Offers a default set of seven shape categories, with a "More Shapes" button to load additional libraries (e.g., iOS, General).

Canvas (Drawing Area) : The central workspace where you drag shapes from the library to create diagrams; you can also copy existing shapes directly onto the canvas and enable a grid for alignment.

Right Style Panel : Allows you to modify the appearance of selected shapes, including fill, line, text styles, and other visual properties, turning a plain diagram into a polished illustration.

Bottom Bar : Shows page names and provides controls (via three dots) to add, delete, rename, or reorder pages, helping you organize multiple diagrams within a single file.

The article concludes that Diagrams is a free, feature‑rich online diagramming solution suitable for creating flowcharts and other visual documents, and encourages readers to explore its capabilities through hands‑on practice.