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Flowchart

What is a Flowchart

A flowchart is a type of diagram which visually represents an algorithm, workflow or process. Flowcharts can depict a process of any complexity and length. In practice, flowcharts are most commonly used to illustrate business processes and represent the logic of computer programs. They are also used in education and business scenarios where it is necessary to represent a process in a clear and intuitive format.

A flowchart is made up of different object blocks which represent various states of a process. Some objects may represent actions, while others represent various exchanges of a process, depending on its current state.

Flowchart - Selection Sorting Method

Example 1. Flowchart — Selection Sorting Method

The flowchart commonly uses the following objects:

  • Rectangle or box is a most often used symbol, it represents an activity or a step;
  • Rounded box or oval usually contains the word "Start" or "End";
  • Diamond is used to represent the decision point, it usually involves the branching yes/no;
  • Circle is used to represent the point of connection the flowchart to another process;
  • Parallelogram represents the Input/Output.

Object blocks are usually connected by arrows to demonstrate the process flow. One object may be connected to multiple objects from various directions.

Flowchart bloks

If an object presents several actions for different decisions or conditions within the process, the outgoing arrows are labeled with comments. The most common are the Yes/No blocks, although other types of conditional blocks are used to illustrate complex decisions.

Certain processes within a business include operations that run in a loop. In this case an object block must contain a loop end condition.

Flowchart Connection

Benefits of Flowchart

The Flowchart has a wide set of benefits:

  • gives a clear documentation of a process;
  • allows to define and offers common understanding of processes;
  • helps to build a process visual representation for analysis, discussion, and communication;
  • allows to identify the scope of the process;
  • allows to trace and analyze the process steps;
  • helps to standardize and find areas for monitoring, improvement and increased efficiency in a process;
  • allows to find and detach the steps of the process that are not essential;
  • helps in understanding the logic of complex problems;
  • offers a guidance for managers overseeing operations;
  • facilitates communication between programmers and business people;
  • helps programmers to write the programs of any complexity and on the any high level language;
  • helps in debugging process and provides efficient program maintenance;
  • helps to understand and explain to other people the logic of the complex problems and their solution;
  • assists to improve teamwork effectiveness.

Flowchart Software

ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is a powerful flowchart software thanks to the Flowcharts Solution from the "Diagrams" Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park and its set of useful tools which will help to make easier depicting your business processes, flowchart processes and creating professional Flowchart Diagrams of any complexity.

Flowchart in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM title=

Example 2. Flowchart in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM (Mac OS X™ and Windows™)

The Flowcharts Solution provides the extensive Flowchart and Flowcharts Rapid Draw libraries of ready-made symbols and blocks.



The Flowcharts Solution provides also ready-to-use template which can be filled in a few minutes, and numerous collection of predesigned samples and examples of flowchart diagrams of various types, such as flowchart process diagram, business process flow chart, data flow chart, org flow chart, program flow chart, technical flow chart, flowchart procedure, online flowchart, and many other types.

All samples and template included in Flowcharts Solution are available for viewing and editing from ConceptDraw STORE.

Flowchart *

Example 3. Flowchart — Website Login and Registration Process

This sample was created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM flowcharting software using the tools of Flowcharts Solution from the "Diagrams" Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park. It shows the detailed flowchart for the process of website login and registration. An experienced user spent 15 minutes creating this sample.

Use the Flowcharts Solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM software to create your own Flowchart of any complexity quick and easy.

All source documents are vector graphic documents. They are available for reviewing, modifying, or converting to a variety of formats (PDF file, MS PowerPoint, MS Visio, and many other graphic formats) from the ConceptDraw STORE. The Flowcharts Solution is available for all ConceptDraw DIAGRAM or later users.




TEN RELATED HOW TO's:

Flowchart Programming Project. Flowchart Examples →

Flowcharts can be used in designing and documenting both simple and complex processes or programs and, similar to the other types of diagrams, they can help visualize what happens and so help understand some definite process, and, as a result, find flaws, bottlenecks and other features within it.Flowchart Programming Project
Picture: Flowchart Programming Project. Flowchart Examples
Related Solution:

Diagram Flow Chart →

ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is a software for producing flow charts. The software delivers built-in object libraries with vector stencils that allows you to use RapidDraw technology. By clicking on direction arrows one can add a new object to flowchart. Users can start drawing their own flowchart diagrams in fast and simple way.Diagram Flow Chart *
Picture: Diagram Flow Chart
Related Solution:

Creating a Simple Flowchart →

Flowcharts are helpful in understanding a complicated process. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM allows you to creating a simple flowchart. The ability to create flowcharts is contained in the Flowcharts solution. The solution provides a set of special tools for creating flowcharts.Creating a Simple Flowchart *
Picture: Creating a Simple Flowchart
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FSM — Finite-state Machine →

ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Specification and Description Language (SDL) Solution from the Industrial Engineering Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park provides powerful drawing tools for quick and easy creating well-designed FSM diagrams.FSM — Finite-state Machine *
Picture: FSM — Finite-state Machine
Related Solution:

Data Flow Diagram →

There are many ways to define the flow of information within a system. Structured-systems analysis method often uses data flow diagrams to show data flow, data storages and data processing visualization. These diagrams are easy to develop and quite useful. Here is a dataflow diagram presenting an example of the manufacturing process flow. The oval process shapes represent a process that controls data within the current system. The process may produce data or make some action based on data. Data flows are represented by lines. They show the movement of information through the system. The direction of the data flow is depicted by the arrow. The external entities are shown by rectangles. They represent the external entities interacting with the system. The data store objects (unclosed rectangles) are used to show data bases participating in a process flow.Data Flow Diagram *
Picture: Data Flow Diagram
Related Solution:

Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM  →

Big and complex projects sometimes need some simplification of plans and schedules. That's why Program Evaluation and Review Technique was invented and first implemented in 1958. You can create PERT diagrams effortlessly with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM and share them with your colleagues. Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) is a method that is used to assess and analyze projects. PERT is a valuable tool for the project management practice. PERT gives an assessment and analysis of the time needed to the project completion. A PERT chart is a visual tool that delivers a graphical view of a project timeline. It is used to display the sequences and dependences of project tasks necessary to complete a project. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM delivers the possibility to build a PERT along with other diagrams applied to assist management process by using its Seven Management and Planning Tools solution.Program Evaluation and Review Technique <br>(PERT) with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM  *
Picture: Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM
Related Solution:

What's the best ERD tool for the Mac? →

What's the best ERD tool for the Mac? ConceptDraw DIAGRAM on Mac OS X supplied with Entity-Relationship Diagram (ERD) Solution from the Software Development Area for ConceptDraw Solution Park is the best ERD tool! This solution offers for ConceptDraw users so powerful drawing tools, libraries with numerous ERD objects, which will help design ER diagrams of any complexity and any design you want.What
Picture: What's the best ERD tool for the Mac?
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