ATWEL, QUENIE AIS 301 – 68605 (4:30 PM – 5:30 PM, TTHS)
ERIA, MYRA MAE
BSAIS – 3
PROGRAMMMING FLOWCHART
SYMBOLS
Standard Flowchart Symbols
These common flowchart symbols are the classics you'll likely be using to diagram just about any process.
Flowchart start symbol or flowchart end symbol; this oval shape
identifies the start or end points of a process or an outcome. The
words “Start” and “End” are often put in the shape.
TERMINATOR SYMBOL
An End or Beginning While Creating a Flowchart
o Often framed as true/false or yes/no, the flowchart decision
symbol is found at a point where questions must be answered to
move forward.
DECISION SYMBOL o This object is always used in a process flow to ask a question.
Also referred to as the “action symbol”, this rectangular shape is
used to represent an entire process, action or operation as a
single step or entire sub-process.
PROCESS SYMBOL
This symbol to represent specific steps in the process it's
diagramming.
Advanced Flowchart Symbols
As you get into creating more complex flow charts - user flow, data processing, process flow, etc. - you'll need a
bigger library of flowcharting symbols. Behold the advanced flow chart key.
Also commonly known as the flowchart input/output symbol, it
represents information or material that's received.
This shape represents data that is available for input or output as
DATA SYMBOL
well as representing resources used or generated.
Used in more complex charts, the connector usually contains the
same letter or number where the flow breaks in one chart or
page and where it continues in another.
CONNECTOR SYMBOL
Connect two flowcharts on the same page
The note symbol provides space for an explanation and/or
comments within a specified area of a diagram.
NOTE SYMBOL Typically, when it's connected by a dashed line.
Represents someone or something that interacts with the process
or is part of the workflow.
ACTOR SYMBOL
It could be a user, an organization or even an internal or external
application.
AKA the link symbol , this process flow symbol shows the
This wavy guy represents the input or output of a document or
continuation of a process. Connecting elements of the flowchart
DOCUMENT SYMBOL report.
across multiple pages with the page number within the shape for
OFF-PAGE CONNECTOR SYMBOL These to indicate items like “create an invoice” or “review testing
reference.
paperwork
When the target is on another page.
This one looks
flowchart
The like symbol
database a couplerepresents
of documents that are
information stacked
housed in aand
represents
storage locationmultiple documents,
that allows emails, filter
users to search, reports,
andetc.
sort.
MULTIPLE DOCUMENTS SYMBOL
DATABASE SYMBOL It adds additional
Visualize data flows in documents
informationorsystems.
reports that may be necessary
for the workflow.
This icon indicates that data is saved within internal memory and is
The prep symbol is for differentiating those. It's also used for
typically used in software design flowcharts.
INTERNAL STORAGE SYMBOL introducing setup to further steps in the same process.
PREPARATION SYMBOL To map out software designs, this shape indicates data that is
Differentiates between steps that prepare for work and steps that
stored within the internal memory.
actually do work.
X marks the spot and this symbol represents the point at which
This half-oval symbol is used in process mapping to show a
multiple branches converge into a single process.
SUMMING JUNCTION SYMBOL waiting period when two or more things must happen before the
DELAY SYMBOL Summarizes the input of several converging process paths.
process proceeds.
Depicts any waiting period that is part of a process. Delay shapes
are common in process mapping.
A process can go this way *or* that way (or any number of ways).
This shape indicates exactly that, the spot at which the process
OR SYMBOL
diverges
o This and continuessymbol
pointer-like into more than one
indicates branch.
a step in the process where
Indicates that the process flow continues two paths or more.
information will be shown to the user.
DISPLAY SYMBOL
o Indicates where the chart is to display the data within a process
to a user.
Also commonly referred to as the "data storage" symbol, this shape
represents where data will be stored within the process.
STORED DATA SYMBOL
Indicates
Whenthat information
a process was stored
step requires in memory
a user to enterduring a program
information or data
manually, like a login, filling out a form, entering payment details,
MANUAL INPUT SYMBOL
etc.
This Where
shape the
is used whenis aprompted
operator part of the process needs
for information thattomust
be be
performed manually,
manually by aa system.
input into person, rather than automatically.
MANUAL OPERATION SYMBOL
Representing each step in a process requiring manual completion.
This briefcase-looking symbol represents a complex process that is
defined elsewhere. It's called a “subroutine” if used in flowcharting
PREDEFINED PROCESS SYMBOL
a software program.
Indicates a process that is already defined elsewhere.
Think of this triangle as an up arrow representing the extraction, or
removal, of one or more specific sets of items from a set — it
EXTRACT SYMBOL
shows where a process splits into parallel paths.
When a process divides into different but parallel directions.
The opposite of extraction, this combines two or more sets of
items into one set — it shows the merging of multiple processes
MERGE SYMBOL
and information into one.
Indicates that multiple processes or pathes are combined into one.
This represents a step where data, information or materials are
sorted and organized into a predefined order.
SORT SYMBOL
Indicate data sorting into a specific order or sequence based on a
predetermined criteria.
This symbol represents a step in the process that requires
organizing data or information into a standard format.
COLLATE SYMBOL
Indicates a process step that requires organizing data,
information, or materials according into a standard format or
arrangement.
o This one represents information stored in a sequence,
referencing a system for storing digital information on magnetic
MAGNETIC TAPE SYMBOL
tape.
o Represents the sequential storage of data in the machine.
A type of container that holds process steps within horizontal or
vertical “swim lanes”.
SWIM LANES SYMBOL
Delineates who does what in a process.
This outdated symbol is not commonly used on diagrams
anymore but can be used for mapping processes or input
PAPER TAPE SYMBOL
methods on much older computers and CNC machines.
the paper tape symbol also represents input/output. It adds
needed
explanation or comments within the specified range.
