Diagram

A diagram is a simplified, visual representation of information, relationships, or physical structures. It conveys ideas by combining shapes, symbols, lines, and labels to highlight connections and hierarchies that may be difficult to grasp from text alone. Diagrams can be schematic, illustrative, or mathematical in character and may depict objects, processes, networks, or data.

Common types include flowcharts (process steps and decisions), circuit diagrams (electrical connections), architectural and engineering schematics, organizational charts, maps, Venn and Euler diagrams, and graphs and data visualizations such as bar, line, and pie charts.

Purpose of diagrams is to aid understanding, planning, analysis, design, communication, and instruction. They serve as a concise reference that can reveal structure, sequence, relationships, and scope more quickly than narrative descriptions.

Design and use involve choosing an appropriate level of abstraction and following domain conventions for symbols and notation. Effective diagrams are labeled, legible, and unambiguous, with legends, scales, and directional cues when relevant. Accessibility and readability should be considered to ensure the diagram communicates to diverse audiences.

History and scope: diagrams have been used since ancient times to represent geometries and maps, and modern diagramming has expanded with formal notation, computer-aided design, and software for diagramming. In practice, a well-crafted diagram clarifies a concept or system and complements textual description.