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November 15, 2019

Guide to Flowchart Symbols,

from Basic to Advanced

DIAGRAMS FOR SOFTWARE ENGINEERING | DIAGRAMS FOR BUSINESSES

4 Basic Flowchart Symbols

Whether you're trying to read a owchart or creating a owchart, knowing the most

common owchart symbols and conventions is going to make it a lot easier. Here, we've

got the four owchart symbols you've got to know, plus a rundown on some more

intermediate process symbols if you're looking for extra credit.

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 1. The Oval

An End or a Beginning

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The oval, or terminator, is used to represent the start and end of a process. Use the Gli y
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owchart tool to drag and drop one of these bad boys and you've got yourself the

beginning of a owchart. Remember to use the same symbol again to show that your

owchart is complete.

2. The Rectangle

A Step in the Flowcharting Process

The rectangle is your go-to symbol once you've started owcharting. It represents any

step in the process you’re diagramming and is the workhorse of the owchart diagram.

Use rectangles to capture process steps like basic tasks or actions in your process.

3. The Arrow

Indicate Directional Flow

The arrow is used to guide the viewer along their owcharting path. And while there are

many di erent types of arrow tips to choose from, we recommend sticking with one or

two for your entire owchart. This keeps your diagram looking clean, but also allows you

to emphasize certain steps in your process.

4. The Diamond

Indicate a Decision

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 The diamond symbolizes that a decision is required to move forward. This could be a

binary, this-or-that choice or a more complex decision with multiple choices. Make sure

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com/

w gli With those four basic symbols, you likely have everything you need to get started on your

own owchart! Give creating a owchart a try with a free trial of Gli y (/free-trial) or read
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on for more info on intermediate owcharting symbols.

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Intermediate & Advanced Flowchart

Symbols

As you know, owcharts are made up of a sequence of actions, data, services, and/or

materials. They illustrate where data is being input and output, where information is

being stored, what decisions need to be made, and which people need to be involved. In

addition the basic owchart conventions, rules, and symbols, these intermediate

owchart symbols will help you describe your process with even more detail.

Document Symbols

Single and multiple document icons show that there are additional points of reference

involved in your owchart. You might use these to indicate items like “create an invoice”

or “review testing paperwork.”

Data Symbols

Data symbols clarify where the data your owchart references is being stored. (You

probably won’t use the paper tape symbol, but it de nitely came in handy back in the

day.)

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 Input & Output Symbols

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Input and output symbols show where and how data is coming in and out throughout

your process.

Merging & Connecting Symbols

Agreed-upon merging and connector symbols make it easier to connect owcharts that

span multiple pages.

Additional Useful Flowchart Symbols

The above are a few additional symbols that prove your owcharting prowess when put

to good use.

Start Creating a Flowchart

You’ve got the building blocks to make an awesome owchart, so get started!

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Adva P.S. We threw together a little cheat sheet-slash-key of owchart symbols you can use to

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keep drawing. Here's some recommended reading if you want to learn more before

creating a owchart:

How to Create a Flowchart (/blog/how-create- owchart)

What is a Flowchart? Your Guide to the Most Common Types of Flowcharts

(/blog/what- owchart-your-guide-most-common-types- owcharts)

Flowchart Examples & Free Flowchart Templates (/blog/ owchart-examples-and-free-

owchart-templates)

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