Flowchart – Flowchart Symbols and Examples
What is a flow chart?
A flowchart is a graphical representation of a process, system or computer algorithm. They are frequently used in a variety of areas to document, analyze, plan, enhance, and convey often complicated processes in clear, simple diagrams.
Flowcharts, also written as flow charts, make use of rectangles, ovals, diamonds, and many other forms to indicate the kind of step, as well as the linking arrows to represent flow and sequence. They can be as basic as hand-drawn charts or as complex as computer-drawn diagrams illustrating several steps and routes. Considering all the different types of flowcharts, they are one of the most ubiquitous diagrams on the planet, utilized by both technical and non-technical individuals in wide range of professions.
Flowcharts are also known as Process Flowchart, Process Maps, Functional Flowcharts, Business Process Mapping, Business Process Modeling and Notation (BPMN), or Process Flow Diagrams (PFD). They are connected to other commonly used diagrams such as Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) and Unified Modeling Language (UML) Activity Diagrams.
What is the purpose of the flowchart?
Flowcharts aid corporate managers, CEOs, project managers, and organizational planners in assessing the data flow. Flowcharts are largely used to aid in the brainstorming of ideas for the development of strategies during the planning stage of any new product or firm. Flowcharts, as visual representations of the data flow, provide crucial points to investors, clients, customers, business partners, and workers.
Flowcharts are probably the most common sort of diagram type in the world. So knowing how to understand a flowchart comes in handy. You can use them for:
- Improving your processes by the identification of defects and bottlenecks
- Communication as well as the explanation of a process to someone
- Easy visualization of complex processes
Flowchart Symbols
The customary meanings of various flowchart forms vary. Some of the more frequent forms have the following meanings:
Delay or Bottleneck
For the identification of a delay or a bottleneck, this symbol is used.
Flow
The flow of the sequence as well as the direction of a process is represented by the lines.
Document
The printout of a document or a report is represented by this symbol.
Terminator
The starting or ending point of the system is represented by the terminator.
Process
Some particular operation is indicated by this process.
Off-Page Reference
This symbol would have a letter inside it. It denotes the flow continues on a matching symbol with the same letter somewhere on a separate page.
Decision
A decision or branching point is indicated by a diamond. A line emanating from the diamond denotes several alternative scenarios, each of which leads to a distinct sub-process.
Data
It depicts data entering or exiting the system. A client order might be an example of an input. Output might be a product that has to be delivered.
On-Page Reference
This symbol would have a letter inside it. It signifies that the flow continues on a matching symbol containing with the same letter on the same page.
Best Practices while making a Flowchart
While learning the various symbols that are associated with flowcharts are rather important, you need to also remember that there are certain guidelines in flowcharting that deserves some respect as well. The following are some guidelines in flowcharting:
- The standard for Flow Lines: A process symbol should ideally have only one flow line. While just one flow line should enter a decision symbol, three or more flow lines should exit the decision symbol (depending on the response). Furthermore, only one flow line and a termination sign are used.
- Be Concise, not Copious: Briefly write inside standard symbols.
- Logic precedes everything: When working with a complicated flowchart, utilize connection symbols to reduce the number of flow lines. To promote efficacy and improved communication, avoid the junction of flow lines. It is critical that your flowchart has a logical beginning and end.
- Proper Form is Essential: All necessary requirements should be stated in a logical sequence when creating a decent flowchart.
- Clarity is Paramount: The flowchart should be clear, tidy, and easy to understand. There should be no space for misunderstanding when it comes to interpreting the flowchart.
- Stick to the Right Direction: The typical flow of a technique or system is from left to right or top to bottom.
Flowchart examples
Examine how a flowchart can be used realistically. Some examples of flowcharts are listed here.
Flowchart Example: Medical Service
This is an example of a hospital flowchart that outlines how the clinical situation should be handled. This flowchart makes extensive use of decision shapes to show alternative flows.
Flowchart Example – Simple Algorithms
Regardless of its complexity, a flowchart may be used to visualize algorithms. Here’s an example of how a flowchart may be used to depict a simple summing process.
Flowchart Example – Calculate Profit and Loss
The flowchart example below demonstrates how to calculate profit and loss.
Advantages of a flowchart
- Flowcharts are effective methods of documenting programs.
- It aids us in the debugging process.
- Flowcharts are easier to comprehend than Algorithms and Pseudo code.
- It aids us in comprehending the Logic of a particular problem.
- It is quite simple to create a flowchart with any word processing software, such as MS Word.
- A complicated problem may be expressed in a flowchart by using only a few symbols.
- Software such as RAPTOR may be used to validate computer-drawn flowcharts.
Disadvantages of a flowchart
- It might take some time to modify a flow chart.
- A simple modification to the problem logic may necessitate to complete redesign of the flowchart.
- Manual tracing is required to ensure the accuracy of the flowchart created on paper.
- It is difficult to depict multiple branches and loops in a flowchart.
- While dealing with a sophisticated program/algorithm, the flowchart gets highly complicated and clunky.
Some important FAQs
What are the most common types of flow charts?
The most common types of flow charts are:
- Process flow diagram
- Workflow diagram
- Data Flow diagram
- Process Map
- Event-driven process chain (EPC) diagram
- SDL Diagram
- Swim-lane Diagram
- Process flowchart
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