Flowchart Definition: A Complete Guide
What is a Flowchart? An In-Depth Definition
Acquaintance with flowcharting starts from getting into basic terms. Flowchart definition is quite clear — a Flowchart is a graphical representation of the structure of a process or system, algorithm, or step-by-step solution of a problem. It describes the flow of data through an information processing systems and the parts of the flows. The flow, in turn, is a set of logic operations that meet certain requirements.
Specific shapes and graphic symbols linked by lines and directional arrows are used to depict the steps. The main standard shapes are rectangle or box, rounded box, diamond, and circle.
Representing some kind of process, system, algorithm, or some problem’s solution by showing it as a structured scheme is always better in a way of Flowchart. It is a convenient way to observe the follow of the process from beginning to end, it lets improve the work of process, highlight the key elements, and detach not essential or even excessive steps. It is a way to follow the logical operations that happened, in order to illustrate it.
Creating a Flowchart diagram is a way to see how the system or process can be improved. Also, it allows us to find the key elements of the system and to edit them the way they have to look in the end. When looking for the final solution, it is necessary to structure the basic information and to make this data work the way it pleases you.
Simplifying Complex Processes: Types of Flowcharts
The Flowcharts can have different levels of detail. One differs the following types, which have their strengths and weaknesses:
- High-Level Flowchart displays the entire system, the most important steps or activities of the process. It also identifies the changes that take place in the process. It is a flowchart simple to construct.
- Detailed Flowchart represents all the steps and activities that take place in the process, decision points, and waiting periods. It is a detailed picture of the process that allows defining the problems and the areas of ineffectiveness that must be reworked and improved.
- Deployment or Matrix Flowchart is a Flowchart in the form of a matrix that shows the participants of the process and the flows of steps between them.
One differs also the following most common types of Flowcharts:
- Process Flowcharts
- Data Flow Diagrams
- Swimlane Flowcharts
- Workflow Flowcharts
- Cross-Functional Flowcharts
Example 1. Flowchart Definition with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM (MacOS™ and Windows™)
A Complete Guide to Flowchart Purpose
A Flowchart allows us to see how the work of the process can be improved, find the key elements of the process, and detach the steps that are not essential or even excessive. Flowcharting is an irreplaceable tool for IT specialists, project managers, and anyone who wants a clear understanding of any imaginable process. Flowcharts are useful in business, help to clarify processes, improve communication, and streamline operations. They play a critical role in marketing by helping to visualize strategies, campaigns, and workflows. Flowcharts bring clarity to complex processes, enhance collaboration, and ensure smoother execution of marketing plans. They are also perfect illustrative materials for education.
Flowcharts are incredibly useful for programmers when developing programs of any complexity and using any high-level language. The programmers use them to draw on the first stage of computer program development. Flowcharts give a simple understanding of the logic of complex problems and help to explain their solution to other people, they allow to form a common understanding of the process among the participants. An especially effective way of creating Flowcharts is the group discussions, because the participants may not know completely the details of the whole process. The Flowcharts allow us to see the inputs or resources of the team members and help to identify the areas for monitoring, improvement, or increased efficiency.
Flowchart Notation
The American National Standard Institute (ANSI) was provided the standard flowchart symbols (process symbols, decision symbols, terminators, connectors, flow lines, and some others) and rules for creating the Flowcharts. Here are some main standard symbols:
- Rectangle or box is used to represent the activity or the step. Each step or activity inside a process is indicated by a single rectangle. It is the most often used symbol.
- Rounded box is used to represent the events that occur automatically and cause the next action.
- Diamond is used for representing the decision point. This symbol involves the branching yes/no. It is necessary to answer the question written inside the diamond and make the decision that will determine the next step.
- Circle is used to represent the point at which the Flowchart connects with another process.
- Flow lines are used to show the progression or transition from one step to another.
Example 2. Flowchart Definition — Order Process Flowchart
The Flowchart Constructing Involves the Following Steps:
The Flowchart creation is easy when you have a powerful application ConceptDraw DIAGRAM. Use it for step by step Flow chart drawing:
- Define the process and the scope of the Flowchart.
- Determine the project team members for creating a Flow chart.
- Define the steps of the process and the interrelations between them. Use the "five-minute rule" which means to put the symbol no longer five minutes; if the decision is unclear, put a note or a cloud symbol and go next.
- Discuss the Flowchart with all the participants. Analyze the symbols and transitions. Verify the decision symbol generates the responses yes or no and the flow of the diagram is logical. Examine the improvement and problem areas. Make the modifications and create the final variant of the Flowchart.
- Update the Flowchart, as needed.
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM Flowcharting Software
Flowchart is perhaps the most common form of diagrams used in both technical and social fields. Since a Flow chart is a method that allows to describe visually any consequent process and it can be used to show the flow of logic of any process.
Creating your own Flowchart, simple or detailed Flow diagram is fast and easy using the powerful ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software. Use the tools of the Flowcharts solution from the Diagrams area to create quickly and easily various types of Flowcharts which will help visually explain the flowchart definition and symbols.
The Flowcharts solution is available for all ConceptDraw DIAGRAM users from the ConceptDraw STORE. All source documents are vector graphic documents. They are available for reviewing, modifying, or converting to a variety of formats such as PDF file, MS PowerPoint, MS Visio, and many other graphic formats.
Example 3. ConceptDraw STORE (Flowchart solution)
Examples
Many different Flowcharts are well known and available nowadays in ConceptDraw STORE as there are lots of stencil libraries, samples, and templates that can be helpful in using the best program for flow chart ConceptDraw DIAGRAM while creating any kind of chart you need. Simple Flowchart, High-level Flowchart, Deployment or Matrix Flowchart, as well as detailed ones, is not a comprehensive list of existing Flowcharts and you have this chance today to make your own professional charts using our software.
The samples you see on this page were created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM flowchart program using the tools of the Flowcharts solution for ConceptDraw DIAGRAM Solution Park. An experienced user spent 10 minutes creating these samples.
Conclusion
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM flowcharting and vector diagramming software is over 30 years of demonstrated value and a strong emphasis on customer experience. We provide innovative products, a free customer resource center, and no charge live support & web support.
Create your own Flowcharts of order processing steps and explain the definition flowchart using the best flow chart program ConceptDraw DIAGRAM extended with Flowcharts Solution from the Diagrams area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
TEN RELATED HOW TO's:
Flow chart is a diagrammatic representation of an algorithm and essential part of planning the system. Flow charts are widely used in technical analysis and programming for easy writing programs and explaining them to others. So, one of the most popular type of flow charts is Technical Flow Chart.
Technical Flow Chart can be drawn by pencil on the paper, but it will be easier to use for designing a special software. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software extended with Flowcharts Solution from the Diagrams Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park will be useful for this goal.
Picture: Technical Flow Chart
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A flowchart is a simple but very functional tool when it comes to understanding a workflow or to removing unnecessary stages from a process. When drawing flowcharts, keep in mind that there are four common types of flowcharts, like document flowcharts and data flowcharts that show control over a data or document flow over a system. To show controls on a physical level, use system flowcharts. In addition, to show controls in a program, you can draw a program flowchart.
This flowchart diagram represents the piece of an article editing process, that involves the author and editor. It was created using the Basic Flowchart notation that consists from the basic flowchart symbols. The start and the end of the process are indicated with "Terminator" symbols. The "Process" symbols show the action steps consisting from making edits and searching for a compromise, when the author does not agree with the suggestions of the editor. The "Process" symbol is the general symbol in process flowcharts. The "Decision" symbol indicates a branching in the process flow. There are two branches indicated by a Decision shape in the current flowchart (Yes/No, Disagree/Agree). This basic flowchart can be used as a repeating unit in the workflow diagram describing the working process of some editorial office.
Picture: Types of Flowcharts
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This sample was created in ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software using the UML Use Case Diagram library of the Rapid UML Solution from the Software Development area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
Picture: Sample for UML
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Matrix organizational structure is one of the main forms of structures which is actively used by organizations to carry forth the functions of a company visually and effectively.
Now we have ConceptDraw DIAGRAM diagramming and vector drawing software extended with 25 Typical Orgcharts solution from the Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park which will help easy represent matrix organizational structure of any degree of complexity.
Picture: Matrix Organization Structure
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Data processing can be very complex sometimes. If you are interested in facilitating your work with data, it’s time to learn how to draw flowcharts with special software or using just a piece of paper. The list of flowchart basic symbols includes rectangles, diamond, ellipses etc. and is used to represent processes, actions, decisions or data processing.
A well-done flowchart bring the clearness of the sequence of a process stages. There are number of symbols that can be used in flow charts to show various sorts of steps. The basic flowchart can be created using a few of them: Process, Decision, Start/Finish. A basic element of a flowchart represents a simple action and looks like a box, that contains a description of the action. The depicting of actions sequence is made with arrows between corresponding action boxes, as you can see on the sample diagram. Also it shows the symbols for flowchart start and finish steps. ConceptDraw Flowcharts solution provides the ability to build basic flow charts as well as the ones of any size and complexity with a minimum of actions.
Picture: How to Draw a Flowchart: Step-by-Step Guide
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When trying to figure out the nature of the problems occurring within a project, there are many ways to develop such understanding. One of the most common ways to document processes for further improvement is to draw a process flowchart, which depicts the activities of the process arranged in sequential order — this is business process management. ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is business process mapping software with impressive range of productivity features for business process management and classic project management. This business process management software is helpful for many purposes from different payment processes, or manufacturing processes to chemical processes. Business process mapping flowcharts helps clarify the actual workflow of different people engaged in the same process. This samples were made with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM — business process mapping software for flowcharting and used as classic visio alternative because its briefly named "visio for mac" and for windows, this sort of software named the business process management tools.
This flowchart diagram shows a process flow of project management. The diagram that is presented here depicts the project life cycle that is basic for the most of project management methods. Breaking a project into phases allows to track it in the proper manner. Through separation on phases, the total workflow of a project is divided into some foreseeable components, thus making it easier to follow the project status. A project life cycle commonly includes: initiation, definition, design, development and implementation phases. Distinguished method to show parallel and interdependent processes, as well as project life cycle relationships. A flowchart diagram is often used as visual guide to project. For instance, it used by marketing project management software for visualizing stages of marketing activities or as project management workflow tools. Created with ConceptDraw DIAGRAM — business process mapping software which is flowcharting visio alternative or shortly its visio for mac, this sort of software platform often named the business process management tools.
Picture: Process Flowchart: A Step-by-Step Comprehensive Guide
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Starting producing workflow diagram from template you save time and avoid the blank page syndrome. At first, the workflow template is set of rules for a workflow. The workflow symbols used in the specific case are part of workflow template. This is the subset of large standard collections of workflow symbols. The first part of workflow template is identification of symbols allowed in use in your specific case. The best way would be to collect them in your customized drawing collection of workflow symbols which used in your specific cases of workflow diagrams. Another way to create business process documents is using business process flow diagram which have similar purposes and have different visual notation.
ConceptDraw DIAGRAM is professional workflow diagram software with the rich extentions from ConceptDraw Solution Park. The basic solution for workflow diagramming is Workflow Diagrams Solution. It delivers a rich set of workflow diagram templates and samples help you draw diagrams e
Picture: Workflow Diagram Template
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UML Deployment diagram describes the hardware used in system implementations and the execution environments and artifacts deployed on the hardware.
ConceptDraw has 393 vector stencils in the 13 libraries that helps you to start using software for designing your own UML Diagrams. You can use the appropriate stencils of UML notation from UML Deployment library.
Picture: UML Deployment Diagram. Design Elements
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Structured-systems analysis and design method uses data flow diagrams to represent the process of data flowing through a system. Talking about this might be useless without a proper example of DFD for online store (Data Flow Diagram). This DFD example shows all the distinctness that a diagram can bring into a scattered data structure.
Data flow diagrams are used to show how data is processed within some business processes. Making DFD is a common practice for business process modeling and analysis. This diagram represents the online store business flow. It describes inputs and outputs within online selling process and depicts the interactions between its participants. This DF diagram can be used by system analysts to create an overview of a business, to study and discover its inherent strengths and weak points.
Picture: Example of DFD for Online Store (Data Flow Diagram)
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While creating flowcharts and process flow diagrams, you should use special objects to define different statements, so anyone aware of flowcharts can get your scheme right. There is a short and an extended list of basic flowchart symbols and their meaning. Basic flowchart symbols include terminator objects, rectangles for describing steps of a process, diamonds representing appearing conditions and questions and parallelograms to show incoming data.
This diagram gives a general review of the standard symbols that are used when creating flowcharts and process flow diagrams. The practice of using a set of standard flowchart symbols was admitted in order to make flowcharts and other process flow diagrams created by any person properly understandable by other people. The flowchart symbols depict different kinds of actions and phases in a process. The sequence of the actions, and the relationships between them are shown by special lines and arrows. There are a large number of flowchart symbols. Which of them can be used in the particular diagram depends on its type. For instance, some symbols used in data flow diagrams usually are not used in the process flowcharts. Business process system use exactly these flowchart symbols.
Picture: Flowchart Symbols: Meaning and Examples
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