Connect shapes with connectors

The difference between a diagram that survives editing and one that falls apart is whether the connectors are actually attached. A line drawn near a shape is not attached to it.

Hover over a shape until the blue arrows appear, then drag from its edge. A green circle means a fixed point; a blue outline means a floating connection.

#What this is for

Drawing any diagram with relationships.
Fixing arrows that detach when shapes move.
Routing a connector around other shapes deliberately.

#How it works

Action	How
Draw a connector	Hover a shape, then drag from the blue arrow or the edge.
Floating connection	Blue highlight on the whole shape. The connector picks the best side as things move.
Fixed connection	Green circle on a specific point. The connector always attaches there.
Waypoint	Drag the middle of a connector to add a bend.
Label an edge	Double-click the connector, or use the format panel to place labels near either end.
Change the style	Right-click for straight, orthogonal or curved routing.

#A few things that catch people out

Floating connections are the better default; fixed points are for when the side genuinely matters.
A connector that moves oddly when you drag a shape is usually attached to a fixed point you did not intend.
Right-click and clear waypoints to reset a connector that has become a tangle.

Style shapes and connectors

Fill, stroke, and the raw style string.

Layers, groups and order

What sits in front, and what moves together.

draw.io editor

Back to the editor overview.

The canvas rewards ten minutes of learning.