How to Create a Mind Map
Learn how to build, organize, and export visual mind maps for brainstorming, planning, and note-taking using the DevHexLab Mind Map tool.
Tool Used
Mind Map
Open the Mind Map tool
Navigate to /tools/developer/mind-map. The canvas loads with a dot-grid background and a single root node already placed in the centre. This root node is the starting point for your entire mind map. Everything else branches out from it.
Understand the canvas
The dot-grid canvas is your working area. The root node sits in the centre and cannot be deleted. Any branches you add radiate outward from it. You can pan the canvas at any time by dragging the background, which is useful once your mind map grows larger than the visible area.
Select and add child nodes
Click any node to select it. A selection ring appears around it. Once selected, a small + badge appears on the right edge of the node. Click that badge to add a child node branching off from the selected one. The new child node opens immediately in edit mode so you can type its label right away.
Rename nodes
Double-click any node to open it for inline editing. Type the label you want, then press Enter or click anywhere outside the node to save it. You can rename any node at any time, including the root node, by double-clicking it.
Reposition nodes
Click and drag any node to move it freely around the canvas. Repositioning does not break connections. The connector lines update automatically as you drag. To pan the whole canvas without moving a node, drag the background (the dot-grid area between nodes).
Manage pages
The page tabs at the top let you work across multiple separate mind maps in the same session. Double-click any page tab to rename it to something meaningful, like Brainstorm or Sprint Plan. Click the New Page button to add another blank canvas. Each page has its own independent node graph.
Delete nodes
Click a node to select it, then click the red x badge that appears at the top-right corner of the node. Deleting a node also removes all of its child nodes and their descendants, so use this carefully when removing a branch that has sub-branches beneath it.
Export your mind map
Click the Export button to choose your output format. PNG saves the current canvas as a raster image, suitable for presentations and documents. SVG exports a scalable vector graphic that stays crisp at any size. PDF wraps the canvas in a printable document. Markdown exports the current page as a nested list. JSON exports all pages and their full node data, which is useful for backup or importing into another session.
All done!
You are ready to use Mind Map like a pro.