Flowcharts are used in analyzing, designing, documenting or managing a process or program in various fields. This diagrammatic representation illustrates a solution to a given problem. Like other types of diagrams, they help visualize what is going on and thereby help the viewer to understand a process, and perhaps also find flaws, bottlenecks, and other less-obvious features within it. A flowchart represents an algorithm or process, showing the steps as boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting them with arrows.
Evolution of Flowchart
Flowcharts used to be a popular means for describing computer algorithms and are still used for this purpose. Modern techniques such as UML activity diagrams can be considered to be extensions of the flowchart.
In the 1970s the popularity of flowcharts as an own method decreased when interactive computer terminals and third-generation programming languages became the common tools of the trade, since algorithms can be expressed much more concisely as source code in such a language, and also because designing algorithms using flowcharts was more likely to result in spaghetti code because of the need for ?goto? statements to describe arbitrary jumps in control flow.
Flowchart Notation
Different flow chart symbols have different meanings. The most common flow chart symbols are:
- Terminator: Elongated circles, which signify the start or end of a process.
- Process: A rectangular flow chart shape indicating a normal process flow step (instructions or actions).
- Decision: A diamond flow chart shape indication a branch in the process flow.decisions that must be made
- Connector: A small, labeled, circular flow chart shape used to indicate a jump in the process flow. (Shown as the circle with the letter ?A?, below.)
- Data: A parallelogram that indicates data input or output (I/O) for a process.
- Document: Used to indicate a document or report (see image in sample flow chart below).
Flowchart Notation
Flowchart Example: Should I Bring an Umbrella?
This example show how a person decides whether he/she should bring an umbrella when living home. This simple diagram demonstrates the uses decisions and processes.
Visual Paradigm Online offers an online platform for users creating flowchart and others. Start making your flowchart by clicking Create Blank or Use This Diagram.
Visual Paradigm Online offers an online platform for users creating flowchart and others. Start making your flowchart by clicking Create Blank or Use This Diagram.
Flowchart Example: Should I Bring an Umbrella
(click and Edit Example)
Flowchart Example: Medical Services
This flowchart shows the flow of a patient when entering a clinic using processes, decisions and loops.
Flowchart Example: Medical Services
(click and Edit Example)
Flowchart Example: Linking Flowcharts
Business flowcharts can be used to show a business process or workflow. To reduce complexity, a big flowchart can be split into multiple pages or diagrams. Different flowcharts can be linked with On-page and Off-page reference. This is a flowchart example that shows you the use of such symbol in connecting with another flowchart.
(click and Edit Example)
(click and Edit Example)
50+ Flowchart Examples and Templates
- Free Flowchart examples and templates editable in an online Flowchart software:
- Visual Paradigm Online ? Use the templates as a starting point to create your own Flowchart.
Cooking an Egg
Snow Storm Solution
Vending Machine
Stored Value Smart Card
Healthcare Programme for People Over 40 Years Old
Vacuum Robot
Pneumatic Door
Found Food in Fridge
Should I Cycle to School Today?
Travel Plan
Alarm Clock
Crossing Traffic
Simple Grading System
Product Lanuch Event Planning
Criminal Process
Student Admission Process
Car Rental Service
Simple Mathematics Algorithm
Fire Evacuation Plan
Solid Waste Processing
Customer Service
Boarding Plane
Cheque Deposit
Simple Coffee Machine
Way to Commute
Online Shopping Process
Secondary Education
Riding a Train
Firmware Update
Emergency Hotline
[Starting Franchise
Heater Control
Computer Diagnosis
Supply Request
Traffic Control
Cancer Therapy Process
Airplane Passenger Routine
Requesting Taxi
Credit Card Payment Process
Accident Evaluation
Taxi Driver Workflow
University Application Process
Post Operation Recovery
Transfer Patient
Login Process
Should I Bring an Umbrella?
Organ Donation
Medical Services
What Schools Am I Qualified to Apply?
Hiring Process
Make a Toast
Calculate Profit and Loss
Hand Washing
Online Order System
Linking Flowcharts (Part II)
Linking Flowcharts (Part I)
Census with a Article Updated in Wikipedia
Ordering Food
A Daily Timetable of a School Boy
Selection Sort
Input Hour Pay
Withdraw Cash
Computer Maintenance
