Flowcharting

Flowcharting is the practice of representing a process, workflow, or algorithm as a diagram that uses standard symbols connected by arrows to show the sequence of steps. It is used to analyze, document, design, and communicate how a system operates, to identify bottlenecks, redundancies, or decision points, and to guide automation or improvements. Flowcharts are used across fields, including manufacturing, software engineering, business process management, and education.

A flowchart uses a set of conventional shapes: Start/End points are often depicted as rounded rectangles or ovals; process steps as rectangles; decisions as diamonds; input or output as parallelograms; data storage as cylinders. Arrows indicate directional flow. More complex diagrams may include connectors, subroutines, and predefined processes. Good practice emphasizes consistent symbol usage, clear naming, and keeping the diagram readable by limiting crossing lines, grouping related steps, and labeling decisions.

Flowcharting has roots in industrial engineering and early computer science. The practice evolved with standardized symbols in ANSI/ISO documentation standards, and many software tools offer templates for flowchart creation. While related methods like data flow diagrams or UML activity diagrams exist, a flowchart generally focuses on the sequence of steps and decisions in a process rather than data movement or object interactions. Steps to create a flowchart commonly include defining scope, listing steps, arranging them top-down, selecting symbols, and reviewing with stakeholders.