Which statement best describes a transition in a state machine diagram?

Which statement best describes a transition in a state machine diagram?

• A. A solid line with an open arrowhead from a source to a target
• B. A dashed line with a filled arrowhead
• C. A curved line
• D. A dotted line

Answer: (A)

In state machine diagrams, transitions show how the system moves from one state to another when an event occurs. The standard way to depict that move is with a solid line that runs from the source state to the target state, ending in an arrowhead that points toward the next state. This combination—solid line plus an arrowhead—clearly communicates both the existence of a transition and its direction, which is why it’s the best description for a transition. Other line styles aren’t used to represent a transition: dashed or dotted lines typically convey other kinds of relationships or conditions, and a curved line is just a path choice for readability rather than the fundamental symbol for transitioning between states.

In state machine diagrams, transitions show how the system moves from one state to another when an event occurs. The standard way to depict that move is with a solid line that runs from the source state to the target state, ending in an arrowhead that points toward the next state. This combination—solid line plus an arrowhead—clearly communicates both the existence of a transition and its direction, which is why it’s the best description for a transition. Other line styles aren’t used to represent a transition: dashed or dotted lines typically convey other kinds of relationships or conditions, and a curved line is just a path choice for readability rather than the fundamental symbol for transitioning between states.