Flowchart

A flowchart is a special drawing.

It shows the steps to finish a task. It uses different shapes to show each step.

A rectangle shows an action to take. A diamond shape is for a choice. This choice might be a yes or no question.

Arrows connect the shapes. They show the order of the steps. This helps people see how things work. Flowcharts can help find mistakes in a plan.

A flowchart is a special diagram.

It shows a set of steps to finish a task. It also shows an algorithm. An algorithm is a step-by-step way to solve a problem.

Flowcharts use different shapes to show each part. A rectangle shows a process step. This is an action that changes something.

A diamond shows a decision. This is a choice, like a yes or no question. Arrows connect the shapes. They show the order of the steps.

A terminal shape shows the start or the end. Flowcharts help people find flaws in a plan. They can also find bottlenecks. A bottleneck is a place where a process slows down. People use them to design computer programs. Some flowcharts are called cross-functional. These show different groups in a company. They show who is in charge of each step. Many people use them to manage work. You can use drawing tools to make them. Some software can even make them for you.

A flowchart is a special kind of diagram.

It shows a workflow or a process. A process is just a way that something works. It can also show an algorithm. An algorithm is a step-by-step way to solve a task. Flowcharts help people visualize a plan. They help you see flaws in a system. They can also show bottlenecks. A bottleneck is a place where a process slows down.

People use them to design and manage programs. They are used in many different fields.

Flowcharts use many different shapes to show steps.

A terminal shape looks like an oval. It shows the start or the end of a process.

A rectangle represents a process step. This is an action that changes something.

A diamond shape shows a decision. This is a choice, like a yes or no question.

A rhomboid shape shows input or output. This means receiving or sending data.

An annotation shape adds extra information. Arrows connect all these shapes together. They show the order of the steps.

People have used these tools for a long time.

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth introduced the first version in 1921. They called it a "flow process chart." They shared this with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In the 1930s, Allan H. Mogensen trained business people in these tools. Art Spinanger used them at Procter and Gamble in 1944. Ben S. Graham also used them for information processing in 1944. In 1947, the ASME adopted a standard set of symbols. Later, in 1949, Douglas Hartree explained how others used them. Herman Goldstine and John von Neumann used them to plan computer programs.

There are many different types of flowcharts today.

Alan B. Sterneckert suggested four general types in 2003. These include document, data, system, and program flowcharts. Andrew Veronis named three types in 1978. He called them system, general, and detailed flowcharts. Marilyn Bohl also spoke about system and program flowcharts in 1978. Mark A. Fryman identified even more types in 2001. He listed decision, logic, systems, product, and process flowcharts. Some flowcharts are called cross-functional. These show how different groups in a company work together.

Flowcharts are very useful in our modern world.

They are used to design computer software. They can also be used to manage a business. You can use any drawing program to make them. Some special software can even make them automatically.

You might see symbols for a database or a document. Even complex ideas like reversible computing use them. They help turn hard ideas into simple pictures. This makes it easier to solve big problems. It is a great way to see how things move from start to finish.

A flowchart is a diagram that represents a workflow or a process. It can also be defined as a diagrammatic representation of an algorithm. An algorithm is a step-by-step approach used to solve a specific task.

By using different shapes, a flowchart visualizes a solution model for a given problem. These diagrams are helpful for analyzing, designing, documenting, or managing processes. They are used in many different fields, including software engineering and business management. Using a flowchart helps people notice flaws or bottlenecks in a system. A bottleneck is a point where a process slows down or gets stuck.

To understand how a flowchart works, you must look at its symbols and connections. The diagram uses various boxes to represent different types of actions.

These boxes are connected by arrows called flowlines. The flowlines show the order of operations. Most flowcharts follow a standard direction, flowing from top to bottom or left to right.

A terminal symbol, shaped like an oval or a rounded rectangle, marks the beginning or the end of a process.

A rectangular box represents a process step, which is an activity that changes the value, form, or location of data.

A diamond shape represents a decision, which is a conditional operation. This is usually a yes/no or true/false question that determines which path the process takes next.

A rhomboid shape indicates input or output, which is the process of receiving or sending data.

An annotation is an open rectangle used to add extra information about a specific step.

Flowcharts can be organized into different types based on their purpose. Some are called cross-functional flowcharts. These are divided into vertical or horizontal parts to show different organizational units. This allows the author to show exactly which group is responsible for a specific action or decision.

Other researchers have identified different classifications. In 1978, Andrew Veronis named system, general, and detailed flowcharts. Marilyn Bohl also identified system and program flowcharts in the same year. In 2001, Mark A. Fryman identified even more types, such as logic, product, and process flowcharts. Alan B. Sterneckert suggested four general types in 2003: document, data, system, and program flowcharts. Each of these focuses on a specific kind of control within a system.

The history of process documentation began in the early 20th century. In 1921, Frank and Lillian Gilbreth introduced the "flow process chart." They presented this work to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Their tools became a staple in industrial engineering education. In the early 1930s, Allan H. Mogensen began training business people in these tools at conferences in New York. His student, Art Spinanger, later used these methods at Procter and Gamble in 1944. Another graduate, Ben S. Graham, developed the multi-flow process chart to show relationships between multiple documents. In 1947, the ASME adopted a standard set of symbols based on the Gilbreths' original work.

Flowcharts also played a massive role in the birth of computer science. In 1949, Douglas Hartree explained that Herman Goldstine and John von Neumann used flowcharts to plan computer programs. These early diagrams helped programmers organize the logic of electronic computing instruments. As technology changed in the 1970s, the popularity of flowcharts for programming decreased. This happened because interactive computer terminals and third-generation programming languages became common. These new languages allowed programmers to write algorithms more concisely as source code. Many programmers began using pseudo-code instead. However, flowcharts were still used to describe algorithms well into the early 21st century.

There are many specialized symbols used to add detail to complex diagrams.

A cylinder shape represents a data file or a database.

A rectangle with a wavy base represents a single document.

A stack of these rectangles represents multiple documents.

A trapezoid can represent a manual operation that requires human adjustment.

Today, people use many different tools to create these diagrams. Some use simple drawing programs, while others use specialized software. Some software can even create flowcharts automatically from programming languages. These tools help make the complex logic of modern technology easier to see and manage.

Flowcharts connect to many advanced scientific and mathematical concepts. The underlying structure of a flowchart is known as a flow graph. This graph abstracts away the specific contents of the nodes to focus on the connections. There are also newer versions like the Nassi-Shneiderman diagram and Drakon-charts. In modern computing, there are even reversible flowcharts. These focus on the idea of reversibility in computational processes. While most traditional computing steps are irreversible, reversible flowcharts ensure that any step can be undone. This concept provides a theoretical foundation for energy-efficient and structured reversible programming.