# Hierarchical States

> The ability to nest states so shared behavior is defined once on an enclosing state.

Record: `lex:hierarchical-states`
Kind: capability
Layer: [Design Patterns Core](https://banes-lab.com/records/layer/design-patterns-core.md)
Canonical: https://banes-lab.com/ontology/lexicon#lex-hierarchical-states

## category

- [Behavioral Patterns](https://banes-lab.com/records/lex-category/behavioral-patterns.md)

## referenced-by

- [Statecharts](https://banes-lab.com/records/arch/statecharts.md)