Direct answer
Mermaid is useful when you want fast, text-based diagrams for docs, architecture notes, and workflows. The code below is ready to paste into Markups.
Flowchart
```mermaid graph TD A[Idea] --> B[Draft] B --> C[Preview] C --> D[Publish] ```
Sequence diagram
```mermaid sequenceDiagram participant U as User participant M as Markups U->>M: Write markdown M-->>U: Render preview ```
Timeline example
```mermaid gantt title Markdown workflow dateFormat YYYY-MM-DD section Writing Drafting :a1, 2026-04-26, 2d Review :after a1, 1d Publish :after Review, 1d ```
How to write better diagram-driven documentation
Use one diagram per idea. Start with a simple flow first, then add detail only if it changes a decision. For system docs, pair each Mermaid block with a short explanation of assumptions, input, and output. This keeps your page usable for both engineers and non-technical reviewers.
If a diagram becomes too dense, split it into multiple sections. Smaller diagrams are easier to maintain and easier to understand in exported PDF or HTML formats.
FAQ
Do I need JavaScript to write Mermaid? No. You only need the markdown code block. Markups handles the preview.
What should I try next? Export the page to PDF or HTML after you confirm the diagram looks right.