Include diagrams in your Markdown files with Mermaid

Mermaid is a JavaScript-based tool that enhances GitHub's Markdown capabilities by allowing users to create dynamic diagrams directly in their documentation using text-based definitions similar to Markdown syntax. The integration, spearheaded by Knut Sveidqvist and supported by the CommonMark community, supports various diagram types such as flowcharts, UML, Git graphs, and Gantt charts. When a code block is marked with the Mermaid language, GitHub's HTML pipeline and Viewscreen service work together to transform the raw Mermaid syntax into a rendered diagram, displayed via an iframe in JavaScript-enabled environments. This approach minimizes the JavaScript payload served from Rails, optimizes asynchronous rendering, and secures user-generated content by isolating it within an iframe. Mermaid's rising popularity is attributed to its ease of use and the collaborative efforts of its community, with resources available for users interested in learning more about its syntax and applications.