Choosing a mode

Journey has two definition shapes. They share one runtime and machine API.

Choose	When	Primary movement
Linear	The declared step order is the default path.	machine.navigate.goToNextStep()
Graph	Named events and guards choose among branches.	machine.send(type, payload?)

Start linear when the flow is fundamentally ordered. You can still jump by id and traverse history. Choose graph when the transition itself is a domain event such as SUBMIT, APPROVE, or RETRY, or when multiple guarded candidates may handle the same event.

What stays the same

Both shapes provide:

• the same controls, navigate, subscriptions, and context groups;
• immutable snapshots with status, context, history, current-step async state, and plugin data;
• transactional next/previous work and post-commit lifecycle hooks;
• explicit completion and termination;
• the same plugin contract.

The snapshot type field narrows shape-specific data:

const snapshot = machine.getSnapshot();

if (snapshot.type === "linear") {
  snapshot.currentStep?.isLastStep;
} else {
  snapshot.availableEvents;
}

Where to next

• Linear
• Graph
• Transitions syntax