Flow Chart Symbols

Flow chart

Flowcharts are used in designing and documenting simple processes or programs. Like other types of diagrams, they help visualize what is going on and thereby help understand a process, and perhaps also find flaws, bottlenecks, and other less-obvious features within it. There are many different types of flowcharts, and each type has its own repertoire of boxes and notational conventions.

A flowchart is described as "cross-functional" when the page is divided into different swimlanes describing the control of different organizational units. A symbol appearing in a particular "lane" is within the control of that organizational unit. This technique allows the author to locate the responsibility for performing an action or making a decision correctly, showing the responsibility of each organizational unit for different parts of a single process.

Common alternative names include:

• flowchart,
• process flowchart,
• functional flowchart,
• process map,
• process chart,
• functional process chart,
• business process model,
• process model,
• process flow diagram,
• work flow diagram,
• business flow diagram.

The terms "flowchart" and "flow chart" are used interchangeably.

Flowcharting software

ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is a professional flowchart software. Over 20 flow chart symbols and stencils in libraries allow you to make great-looking flowcharts. Use RapiDraw technology clicking on direction arrows to add a new object to the flowchart. This way you make awesome flowchart at the moment.

Pic. 1. Flowcharting Software Including Flow Chart Symbols

Pic. 2. Flow Chart Symbols

ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is Flowcharts creating software also known as professional flowchart maker. The built-in examples allow users to start drawing any type of flowchart simply. The vector flow chart symbols from object libraries are designed objects you can use adding to flowcharts for the best result.

Common Flow chart Symbols:

Symbol	Shape Name	Symbol Description
Common Symbols
	Terminator	Shows start of a flowchart or its end.
	Process	Show a Process or action step. Indicates any processing function.
	Flow Line (Arrow, Connector)	Flow line connectors show the direction that the process flows
	Decision	Indicates a decision point between two or more paths in a flowchart.
	Document	This shape shows a Document in a flowchart.
	Connector	Indicates an inspection point.
	Data	Can represents any type of data in a flowchart.
	Delay	Indicates a delay in the process.
	Preparation	Indicates a modification to a process, such as setting a switch or initializing a routine.
	Subroutine	Indicates a predefined (named) process, such as a subroutine or a module.
	Off-page connector	Use this shape to create a cross-reference and hyperlink from a process on one page to a process on another page.

ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector graphics software provides stencils library with flow chart symbols, samples and templates for drawing flow charts.

Pic. 3. Flow Chart Examples