Diagrammix3 offers 30+ arrowhead types for connectors, covering standard arrows, UML notation, ERD (Entity-Relationship Diagram) symbols, and technical diagram markers.

How to Use This Reference

Each arrowhead type is shown with:

  • Visual preview - What it looks like
  • Name - How it appears in the Inspector
  • Common use - When to use it
  • Category - Type classification

To apply an arrowhead:

  1. Select a connector
  2. Open the Inspector panel
  3. Find the Connector section
  4. Choose Start Arrowhead or End Arrowhead
  5. Select from the gallery

Arrowhead Selection Interface

Standard Arrows

None

Preview: ────────Use: No arrow needed, simple lines, undirected relationships

Standard Arrow

Preview: ────────>Use: General purpose, default arrowhead, shows direction

Inflected Arrow

Preview: ────────⟩Use: Softer alternative to standard arrow, presentations

Circle Markers

Circle (Filled)

Preview: ────────●Use: UML composition (when on source), end markers, highlights

Circle (Stroked/Hollow)

Preview: ────────○Use: UML aggregation, weak relationships, alternate end markers

Square Markers

Square (Filled)

Preview: ────────■Use: Data flow endpoints, process terminators, strong markers

Square (Stroked/Hollow)

Preview: ────────□Use: Optional endpoints, weak markers, alternate notation

Diamond Markers

Diamond (Filled)

Preview: ────────◆Use: UML composition, strong ownership, part-whole relationships

Diamond (Hollow/Stroked)

Preview: ────────◇Use: UML aggregation, weak ownership, collection relationships

Diamond (Curved)

Preview: ────────◊Use: Stylized alternative to standard diamonds

Triangle Markers

Triangle (Standard Filled)

Preview: ────────▶Use: Standard arrow, directional flow, general purpose

Triangle (Hollow/White)

Preview: ────────▷Use: UML inheritance/generalization, IS-A relationships, class hierarchy

Feather Markers

Single Feather

Preview: ────────⟨Use: Alternate directional marker, lighter visual weight

Double Feather

Preview: ────────⟪Use: Strong directional emphasis, nested relationships

Triple Feather

Preview: ────────⟪⟨Use: Very strong directional emphasis, multiple-level relationships

Dimension & Technical

Dimension Line

Preview: ────────┤Use: Technical drawings, measurements, architectural diagrams

Dimension Bar

Preview: ────────┃Use: Start/end markers for dimension lines, tick marks

Bar

Preview: ────────┃Use: Terminators, endpoints, barriers

Stick/Chevron

Preview: ────────⟩Use: Lightweight directional indicator

UML-Specific

UML Inheritance (Triangle Hollow)

Preview: ────────△Use: Inheritance arrow in UML class diagrams (extends, implements)

UML Cross (X)

Preview: ────────✕Use: Destroy message in UML sequence diagrams, termination

ERD (Entity-Relationship) Notation

Crow's Foot

Preview: ────────⋚Use: "Many" side of relationship, one-to-many or many-to-many

Crow's Foot + Bar

Preview: ────────┃⋚Use: Mandatory many (at least one required)

Crow's Foot + Circle

Preview: ────────○⋚Use: Optional many (zero or more allowed)

Bar + Bar

Preview: ────────┃┃Use: Exactly one (mandatory one), one-to-one

Circle + Bar

Preview: ────────○┃Use: Zero or one (optional one)

Circle + Circle

Preview: ────────○○Use: Zero (rare, used for optional endpoints)

Bar + Circle

Preview: ────────┃○Use: One or zero (alternate notation)

ERD Arrowhead Examples

Box Markers

Box (Filled)

Preview: ────────▪Use: Heavy markers, emphasis, terminators

Box (Stroked/Hollow)

Preview: ────────▫Use: Light markers, alternate endpoints

Arc/Curve Markers

Arc (Crescent Stroked)

Preview: ────────⌒Use: Stylized arrows, decorative connectors, smooth transitions

Combining Arrowheads

Connectors can have different arrowheads at each end:

Example combinations:

  • None → Standard Arrow: Simple directional flow
  • Circle → Standard Arrow: Source marker with direction
  • Diamond (Filled) → Triangle (Hollow): UML composition to inheritance
  • Bar → Crow's Foot: ERD relationship (one-to-many)
  • Dimension Bar → Dimension Bar: Measurement line with tick marks

Combined Arrowheads

Arrowhead Sizing

Adjust arrowhead size in the Inspector:

  • Small - Subtle, detailed diagrams
  • Medium - Default, balanced appearance
  • Large - Emphasis, presentations, large diagrams

Arrowhead size scales proportionally with connector stroke width.

Arrowhead Colors

Arrowheads can use:

  • Same as line color - Unified appearance (default)
  • Independent color - Color-coded arrowheads for categorization
  • Color scheme linked - Theme-aware arrowhead colors

Colored Arrowheads

Notation Quick Reference

For UML Class Diagrams

  • Inheritance: Triangle (Hollow) pointing to parent class
  • Composition: Diamond (Filled) on the container side
  • Aggregation: Diamond (Hollow) on the container side
  • Dependency: Dashed line with Standard Arrow
  • Association: Standard Arrow or None

For UML Sequence Diagrams

  • Synchronous Message: Standard Arrow (solid line)
  • Asynchronous Message: Standard Arrow (solid line, half-arrow variant)
  • Return Message: Dashed line with Standard Arrow
  • Destroy Message: UML Cross (X)

For ERD Diagrams

  • One: Bar (┃)
  • Many: Crow's Foot (⋚)
  • Mandatory: Bar
  • Optional: Circle (○)
  • Combine for cardinality: "Zero or Many" = Circle + Crow's Foot

For Flowcharts

  • Standard Flow: Standard Arrow
  • No Arrow: Between sequential process boxes
  • Data Flow: Standard Arrow with label

For Network Diagrams

  • Directional: Standard Arrow shows data flow direction
  • Bidirectional: Arrows on both ends
  • No Arrow: Physical connections without implied direction

Tips

  1. Be consistent - Use the same arrowhead type for the same relationship type
  2. Match conventions - UML and ERD have standard arrowhead meanings
  3. Don't overuse variety - Stick to 2-3 arrowhead types per diagram
  4. Size appropriately - Larger arrowheads for presentations, smaller for detailed work
  5. Color for emphasis - Use colored arrowheads sparingly for key relationships