What are subprocesses in BPMN?

Subprocesses in BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) are used to represent detailed breakdowns of main process activities. They allow a complex process to be organized into smaller, more manageable components, helping to clarify the workflow and making it easier to understand and maintain. By encapsulating a series of tasks within a subprocess, a model can simplify the visual representation of the entire process while still providing the necessary details for execution and analysis.

This approach enhances clarity and modularity in process design, as subprocesses can be reused and referenced across different workflows, which promotes consistency and reduces redundancy. Using subprocesses also makes it easier to manage changes in specific parts of the process without impacting the overall structure.

The other options do not accurately reflect the nature of subprocesses. They do not operate independently nor are they meant to represent inactive steps; rather, they serve as integral components of the workflow designed to improve the granularity and organization of processes.