Flowchart

A flowchart is a diagram that represents a process, algorithm or workflow as a sequence of shapes connected by arrows, with each shape standing for a step or decision.

Anatomy

Every flowchart has four building blocks: terminators (rounded rectangles for start and end), process shapes (rectangles for actions), decision shapes (diamonds for branches) and arrows for the direction of flow. Extended symbol sets add input/output, document, connector and other shapes — see the full symbol reference.

How a flowchart differs from related diagrams

• Process flowchart — the everyday flowchart, documenting the steps of a business process.
• Workflow flowchart — a flowchart focused on recurring team work and hand-offs.
• Cross-functional flowchart — a flowchart that groups steps into swimlanes by role.
• Sequence diagram — related but focused on interactions between systems over time; not a flowchart.

For a fuller treatment, read What is a process flowchart?