What is a process swimlane?

A swimlane is a section in a process map that shows who is responsible for each activity. Swimlanes make ownership and handoffs visible, so people can quickly understand where work happens and who should do what next.

Swimlanes can represent roles, individuals, departments, teams, systems, applications, or even locations. They help reduce confusion by showing where tasks belong and when work moves from one role or function to another. This makes process maps easier to use for training, coordination, and improvement.

In most process mapping tools, swimlanes contain the other process elements—such as activities, decisions, and events—so the flow of work and responsibility can be seen in the same diagram. Some organizations also use color coding to distinguish human work from system-driven steps.

For a broader overview of how swimlanes fit with activities, events, and decisions in end-to-end diagrams, read our guide to process mapping.