Flowchart Symbols Meaning - Standard Flowchart Symbol Images and Usage

8/16/2021 Flowchart Symbols Meaning | Standard Flowchart Symbol images and usage
Sign Up Free Sign In
Features Solutions Templates Pricing Resources
Flowchart Symbols Meaning | Standard Flowchart Symbol images and usage

Home Flowchart Templates Flowchart Articles Flowchart Symbols
Flowchart Symbols and their usage
There are a large number of shapes used in drawing flowcharts and process flows. Choosing which to use can be
confusing. We are here to help with that.
With this list, you can figure out the most commonly used flowchart symbols as well as those that are little-known.
All these shapes are available in Creately and you can try out a demo or take a look at some flowchart examples for
more context.
Terminal / Terminator
The terminator shows where your process begins or ends. You can use words like ‘Start’, 'Begin', 'End'
inside the terminator shape to make things more obvious.
Process / Rectangle
Flowchart process shape is used to represent a process, action step or an operation. While these are
pictured with rectangles, the text in the rectangle mostly includes a verb. For example, ‘Edit Video’, ‘Try
Again’, ‘Choose Your Plan’.n'.
Learn How Creately Diagrams works
Data (I/O)
https://creately.com/diagram-type/objects/flowchart#:~:text=Decision shape is represented as,coming out of the Diamond. 1/5

The Data object, often referred to as the I/O Shape shows the Inputs to and Outputs from a process. This
takes the shape of a parallelogram.
Decision / Conditional
Decision shape is represented as a Diamond. This object is always used in a process flow to ask a
question. And, the answer to the question determines the arrows coming out of the Diamond. This shape is
quite unique with two arrows coming out of it. One from the bottom point corresponding to Yes or True and
one from either the right/left point corresponding to No or False. The arrows should always be labeled to
avoid confusion in the process flow.
Document
Document object is a rectangle with a wave-like base. This shape is used to represent a Document or
Report in a process flow.
Stored Data
This is a general data storage object used in the process flow as opposed to data which could be also
stored on a hard drive, magnetic tape, memory card, of any other storage device.

Direct Data
Direct Data object in a process flow represents information stored which can be accessed directly. This
object represents a computer's hard drive.
Internal Storage
This is a shape which is commonly found in programming flowcharts to illustrate the information stored in
memory, as opposed to on a file. This shape is often referred to as the magnetic core memory of early
computers; or the random access memory (RAM) as we call it today.
Sequential Access
This object takes the shape of a reel of tape. It represents information stored in a sequence, such as data
on a magnetic tape.
Manual Input
This object is represented by rectangle with the top sloping up from left to right. The Manual Input object
signifies an action where the user is prompted for information that must be manually input into a system.

Subroutine / Predefined Process
This shape takes two names - 'Subroutine' or 'Predefined Process'. Its called a subroutine if you use this
object in flowcharting a software program. This allows you to write one subroutine and call it as often as
you like from anywhere in the code.
The same object is also called a Predefined Process. This means the flowchart for the predefined process
has to be already drawn, and you should reference the flowchart for more information.
Creately
Desktop
Blog
Press Kit
Support
Community
Tutorials
Use Cases
Usage
Customers
Awards
Privacy
Security
ToS
Solutions
For Marketing Teams

For Product Teams
For Engineering Teams
For HR & Operations Teams
For Strategy & Planning
For Educators and Schools
Business Diagramming
Flowchart Maker
Org Chart Software
Mind Map Maker

Flowchart Symbols Meaning - Standard Flowchart Symbol Images and Usage

Uploaded by

Document Informationclick to expand document information

Copyright:

Available Formats

Flowchart Symbols Meaning - Standard Flowchart Symbol Images and Usage

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Flowchart Symbols Meaning - Standard Flowchart Symbol Images and Usage

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

8/16/2021 Flowchart Symbols Meaning | Standard Flowchart Symbol images and usage

Sign Up Free Sign In

Features Solutions Templates Pricing Resources

Flowchart Symbols Meaning | Standard Flowchart Symbol images and usage

Flowchart Symbols and their usage

Learn How Creately Diagrams works

https://creately.com/diagram-type/objects/flowchart#:~:text=Decision shape is represented as,coming out of the Diamond. 1/5

https://creately.com/diagram-type/objects/flowchart#:~:text=Decision shape is represented as,coming out of the Diamond. 2/5

https://creately.com/diagram-type/objects/flowchart#:~:text=Decision shape is represented as,coming out of the Diamond. 3/5

Subroutine / Predefined Process

For Marketing Teams

https://creately.com/diagram-type/objects/flowchart#:~:text=Decision shape is represented as,coming out of the Diamond. 4/5

You might also like