The human mind always tends to remember information precisely and accurately in the form of texts. If your content consists of long texts of sophisticated English, that’d be boring. After reading a paragraph or two, the reader will lose all interest and leave your site.
The same idea can be applied to flowcharts in the form of flowchart symbols and notations. These figures provide a creative and appealing way for the reader to submerge in your content and thoroughly understand it at a glance. However, for that, one should know what these flowcharts mean and how to use them properly.
In this guide, we’ll have a detailed discussion on flowchart symbols and notations, what they mean, and how you can use them in your flowcharts for improved clarity and communication of process workflows.
A Brief Introduction to Flowcharts
Before we go any further, let’s take a moment and revise what a flowchart means and what it targets.
In simple words, a flowchart consists of various steps, with each step seamlessly leading to the other. It can also be defined as a visual representation of a process, system, or computer algorithm. It uses symbols, connectors, and comments to illustrate the flow of the process. Thereby making it easier for individuals to understand and follow the process.
Sometimes, flowcharts are also named flow diagrams, process maps, business process modeling and notation (BPMN), process flow charts, process flow diagrams, and process flow diagrams (PFD). All these terminologies refer to the exact visual representation of a process.
Each step in a flowchart is independent of implementation as it focuses solely on what occurs at that step, including input and expected output. The flowcharts can sometimes be simple, hand-drawn, and sometimes, they can be really complex diagrams designed with the help of computers.
Some Common Flowchart Symbols
Now that we understand what a flowchart is and what it serves, let us have a look at some of the flowchart symbols and notations used in a flowchart and their meanings.
Start/End Symbol:
This symbol marks the beginning or end of a process. It’s typically represented by a rounded rectangle with the word “Start” or “End” inside, referring to the specific function performed by it. Sometimes, you can also see the start/end symbol named the terminator symbol.
Input/Output Symbol:
This symbol represents the input or output of data or information in a process. A parallelogram usually means it. Input is typically defined at the beginning of a process and production at the end. This stage of the workflow also indicates that additional information is required. You can see any information/material entering or leaving the flowchart through this input/output symbol,
Process Symbol:
The process symbol can be seen as a rectangle. This symbol is used to represent a specific action or operation within the process. The symbol also contains a brief description of the action being performed. Among all the flowchart symbols, this one is the most recurring due to its intensive need to perform actions.
Decision Symbol:
This symbol represents a decision point in the process where the flow may split into two or more paths based on certain conditions or criteria. It usually depicts a specific query to be answered in the form of true/false or yes/no. It’s often described as a diamond shape, with arrows indicating the possible paths based on the decision outcome. The usual representation for this symbol is, however, a parallelogram.
Connector Symbol:
This symbol is used to connect different parts of a flowchart when the process flow doesn’t fit on a single page. It’s represented by a circle or a small circle with a letter or number inside, and it’s connected to a corresponding connector symbol elsewhere in the flowchart. This symbol is also sometimes called an on-page symbol.
Flow Arrows:
Arrows indicate the direction of flow from one step to another in the process. They connect the various symbols and notations to illustrate the sequence of actions or decisions. In simple terms, this symbol connects the two corresponding blocks in the flowchart and determines the sequence the reader should follow. The flow arrows are also named flowline symbols, and just like the flowchart, flowline symbols also have uniformity and standardization. The symbol is depicted as a straight line with an arrowhead.
Annotation:
Sometimes, there is additional information you want to provide along with several flowchart symbols. This can be done with the help of the annotation symbol, which is also called a comment or note symbol. Annotations are additional text or comments added to the flowchart to provide further clarification or context. They can be placed near the relevant symbols or along the flow arrows. They are represented by two curly brackets with the information in between.
Loop/Predefined Process:
This symbol represents a loop or a predefined process that is repeated multiple times within the primary process. It’s usually depicted as a rectangle with double-struck borders. Rather than repeating the same information, you can simply go back and understand what the process means.
Link Symbol/Off-Page Connector:
This symbol is used to indicate that a particular process step or decision point is continued on another page or section of the flowchart. It’s represented by a small circle with a letter or number connected to a matching off-page connector symbol on the corresponding page. In simple words, this symbol denotes that the flowchart continues at another point in the flowchart.
Data Storage:
This symbol represents data storage or a database where information is stored or retrieved during the process. It’s typically shown as a cylinder.
FAQs:
Why are flowcharts necessary in process documentation?
Flowcharts can make complex processes more straightforward to understand and follow through visual representation. The human brain tends to engage in visual representations rather than long, boring texts. Thus, flowcharts can provide an engaging way to study the process, system, or computer algorithm.
What do the shapes in a flowchart mean?
The symbols used in process diagrams represent different elements in the process or workflow. Each shape has a specific meaning, such as start/end, process, decision point, input/output, etc.
How can I understand flowchart symbols and their meanings?
You should either read a lot of flowcharts and have a flowchart dictionary opened in the background, or you can do it by cramming the flowchart dictionary. The former is much more manageable, and you’ll be able to familiarize yourself with the flowchart shapes quickly.
Bottomline:
In a nutshell, flowcharts make complex processes easy to understand and follow. There are various flowchart symbols used extensively in different industries. Familiarize yourself with these symbols, and reading confusing and complicated processes will be a breeze!
