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Timer Intermediate Catch Event

A Timer Intermediate Catch Event is a BPMN flow element that pauses the process flow until a specified time condition is met. It is used to model delays, deadlines, timeouts, or periodic waiting within a process.

The process execution waits at the event until the timer condition is fulfilled, after which the flow continues.

Key characteristics​

  • Time-based waiting:
    A Timer Intermediate Catch Event waits for a defined time condition, such as a specific date, a duration, or a repeating interval.

  • Pauses process execution:
    When reached, the process execution is suspended until the timer is triggered.

  • Incoming and outgoing sequence flows:
    A Timer Intermediate Catch Event must have at least one incoming sequence flow and typically has one outgoing sequence flow.

  • No external interaction:
    The event is triggered purely by time conditions and does not depend on messages, signals, or external actions.

  • Single trigger condition:
    Each Timer Intermediate Catch Event is defined by exactly one timer configuration.

Timer definitions​

A Timer Intermediate Catch Event can be configured using one of the following timer types:

  • Time Date:
    Triggers at a specific point in time (for example, 2026-01-01T10:00:00).

  • Time Duration:
    Triggers after a specified duration has elapsed (for example, PT5M for ten minutes).

  • Time Cycle:
    Triggers repeatedly based on a defined cycle (for example, every day at midnight).

Graphical notation​

Timer-intermediate-catch-event usage example

A double-lined circle with a clock icon inside the event.

XML Definition​

<bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent id="TimerCatchEvent_1" name="Wait 5 Minutes">
  <bpmn:timerEventDefinition>
    <bpmn:timeDuration>PT5M</bpmn:timeDuration>
  </bpmn:timerEventDefinition>
</bpmn:intermediateCatchEvent>

Current Implementation​

Timer intermediate catch event is fully supported.