pictorial depiction of business processes

1. 1. The Oval
An End or Beginning While Creating a Flowchart
The oval, or terminator, is used to represent the start and end of a process. Use the Gliffy
flowchart tool to drag and drop one of these bad boys and you've got yourself the beginning
of a flowchart. Remember to use the same symbol again to show that your flowchart is
complete.
2. The Rectangle
A Step in the Flowcharting Process
The rectangle is your go-to symbol once you've started flowcharting. It represents any step in
the process you’re diagramming and is the workhorse of the flowchart 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 flowcharting path. And while there are
many different types of arrow tips to choose from, we recommend sticking with one or two
for your entire flowchart. This keeps your diagram looking clean, but also allows you to
emphasize certain steps in your process.
4. The Diamond
Indicate a Decision

2. 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 that you
capture each possible choice within your diagram.
With those four basic symbols, you likely have everything you need to get started on your
own flowchart! Give creating a flowchart a try with a free trial of Gliffy, check out our blog
on How to Make a Flowchart, or read on for more info on intermediate flowcharting symbols.
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Intermediate & Advanced Flowchart Symbols
As you know, flowcharts 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 flowchart conventions, rules, and symbols, these intermediate flowchart 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 flowchart. You might use these to indicate items like “create an invoice” or
“review testing paperwork.”
Data Symbols

3. Data symbols clarify where the data your flowchart references is being stored. (You probably
won’t use the paper tape symbol, but it definitely came in handy back in the day.)
Input & Output Symbols
Input and output symbols show where and how data is coming in and out throughout your
process.
Merging & Connecting Symbols

4. Agreed-upon merging and connector symbols make it easier to connect flowcharts that span
multiple pages.
Additional Useful Flowchart Symbols
The above are a few additional symbols that prove your flowcharting prowess when put to
good use.
Other Notation Types
While all the above are examples of generic flowchart shapes, you may be using a
different type of modeling notation that includes more specific use cases — and more specific
shapes to match. Check out these additional resources for other flowchart formats or types of
flowcharts:
 BPMN Symbols
 What is Process Modeling?
 Guide to Process Flow Diagrams
Use Gliffy for Flowchart Creation
You’ve got the building blocks to make an awesome flowchart, so get started!
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P.S. We threw together a little cheat sheet-slash-key of flowchart symbols you can use to
keep drawing. And, here's some recommended reading if you want to learn more before
creating a flowchart:
 How to Create a Flowchart
 What is a Flowchart? Your Guide to the Most Common Types of Flowcharts
 Flowchart Examples & Free Flowchart Templates

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Flowchart Symbols and Their Usage
> FlowchartSymbolsandTheirUsage
Postedby AllisonLynch |03/21/2022
Here providesarich setof flowchart symbols,whichshowsstepsinthe sequence
and iswidelyusedinvisuallyillustratingthe flow of algorithms,workflow,or
processes.
In this article
 01 5 Basic FlowchartSymbols
 02 FlowchartSymbolsandTheirUsage
 03 How to Create a FlowchartinEasy Steps
 04 Use EdrawMax forFlowchartCreation
 05 More DifferentTypesof FlowchartSymbols
5 Basic Flowchart Symbols
There are various flowchart shapes used for drawing different types of flowcharts. Each
flowchart symbol has its own meaning and context where it is used appropriately. However,
whether you want to read a flowchart or try to make one by yourself, knowing the common
symbols and what they represent will make things easier. Here, you will see the 5 flowchart
symbols that are very popular and commonly used in almost every flowchart.
The Oval or Pill Shape - represents the start/end.

7. The Rectangle Shape - represents a process.
The Parallelogram Shape - represents the input/output of the information.
The Diamond Shape - represents a decision.
The Arrow Shape - represents the flow of the sequence.
Flowchart Symbols and Their Usage
Process/Operation Symbols
Name
FlowchartSymbol
Description
ProcessSymbol
Alsoknownasaction symbol.Representsastepinyourprocess.

8. Sub ProcessSymbol
Representsasequence of actionsthatperformspecifictaskswithinalargerandmore
complicatedprocess,routine,ormodule.
PredefinedProcessSymbol
Indicatesaset of stepsthat combine tocreate a complicatedprocessthatisdefined
elsewhere,oftenonanotherpage of the same drawing.
Delay Symbol
Representsadelayinthe process.InProcessMapping,delaysare oftenimportantas
theymay resultinaddingtothe cost of the product or simplydelayingits
production.
Preparation Symbol
Indicatesthe set-uptoanotherstepinthe same process.
Manual OperationSymbol
Representsaprocessstepthatshouldbe performedmanually,notautomatically.
Parallel Mode Symbol
Alsocalled"Concurrenopeartion".Indicatedstwoormore simultaneousoperations
or processsteps.
Branch and Control of Flow Symbols
Name
FlowchartSymbol

9. Description
Start/End Symbol
Indicatesthe start/endof a process.
Arrows and ConnectingLines
Use thissymbol toconnectdifferentelementsandshow the relationshipsbetween
the shapes.
DecisionSymbol
Indicatesapointwhere the outcome of a decisiondictatesthe nextstep.Therecan
be multiple outcomes,butoftenthere are justtwo - yesand no.
Yes/NoDecisionPoint
Indicatesasequence inthe processatwhichthe end-userchoosesanoption,i.e.,a
"yes-no,"or"true-false"response,andthenbranchestodifferentpartsof the
flowchart.
On-Page Reference
Use thissymbol toconnectseparate processesonthe same page of your flowchart.
Off-Page Reference
Alsoknownasoff-page connectororlinksymbol.Use thissymbol toconnect
separate processesacrossdifferentpageswiththe page numberwrittenonor
withinthe shape.
Merge Symbol
Indicatesthatmultiple processesorpathesare combinedintoone.
Extract Symbol

10. Indicatesthata processsplitsintoparallel paths.
Or Symbol
Indicatesthatthe processflow divergesformore than2 branches.
SummingJunction Symbol
Indicatesthatmultiple branchesconverge intoasingle process.
Control Transfer Symbol
Indicatesaprocessstepthat mustgo to one stepother thanthe typical nextstep,
whenspecificconditionsare met.
Annotation Symbol
Indicatesadditionalinformationaboutastepin the flowchart.
Input and Output Symbols
Name
FlowchartSymbol
Description
Data(Input/Output) Symbol
Indicatesthatinformationiscomingintothe processfromoutside,orleavingthe
process.
Document Symbol

11. Representsthe datathatcan be readby people,suchasa printeddocumentor
report.
Multi-DocumentsSymbol
Representsmultiple documentsinthe process.
Display Symbol
Indicateswhere the informationwill be displayedwithinaprocessflow.
Manual Input Symbol
Indicatesaprocessstepwhere a user/operatorispromptedtoenterinformation
manually.
Card Symbol
Indicatesthatdata isinputby usingcards.But thissymbol isseldomusednow.
Paper Tape Symbol
Indicatesthatdata isstoredon page tapes.But thissymbol isalsorarelyeverused
now.
Data and Information Storage Symbols
Name
FlowchartSymbol
Description
Stored Data Symbol

12. Alsoknownasdata storage symbol.Use thissymbol toindicateswhere dataget
stored.
Database Symbol
Representsdata/informationstoredinthe storage device thatallowsforsearching
and sortingbyusers.
Internal Storage Symbol
Usuallyusedinthe software designflowchartsandindicatesthatdata/informationis
storedinmemoryduringa program.
Sequential Data Symbol
Representsthe datathatis accessible sequentially.The shape issupposedtolooklike
a reel of tape.
Data Processing Symbols
Name
FlowchartSymbol
Description
Collate Symbol
Indicatesaprocessstepthat organizesdata,informationormaterialsintoastandard
format.
Sort Symbol
Indicatesaprocessstepthat organizesata,informationormaterialsintosome pre-
definedorder.
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How to Create a Flowchart in Easy Steps
Creating a flowchart is quite simple and requires simple understanding to make one. We will
guide you through an example so that it is easier to understand.
Step 1: The first step is to use the Oval Symbol to mark the start of the flowchart.
Step 2: In a conventional flowchart, the parallelogram comes first as it shows the output or
input. In this case, the output is recorded in step 2.
Step 3: In the next step, you insert the rectangle symbol, which represents the process
involved in order to get a result.

14. Step 4: After the process is demarcated, the parallelogram is inserted again to record the
input of the respective process.
Step 5: This step is where we use the decision symbol or commonly known as the diamond
symbol. This symbol is responsible for answering a “yes” or “no” question that is inferred by
the input. The Diamond symbol also leads to two different outputs (parallelogram symbols),
which record the answer to the Yes and No question.
Step 6: The last step is to use the Oval Symbol again to mark the end of the flowchart.
Important: The most used symbol in this entire flowchart is the arrow symbol. It links
every symbol to the other and lets the Flowchart ‘flow’ through the entire process.
Use EdrawMax for Flowchart Creation
You can use several applications to make flowcharts, but we would highly recommend that
you use the flowchart maker of EdrawMax.
All you need to do is download EdrawMax. Once you have done that, just go to 'New' and
select Flowcharts. You will come across several flowchart templates that you can choose
from. The flowcharts belong to the most basic version as well, and the advanced level as
well. It is highly recommended and the perfect application for this task.

16. Then watch the following video to start create your own flowchart instanly!
More Different Types of Flowchart Symbols
Cross-Functional Flowchart Symbols
A flowchart is described as "cross-functional" when the page is divided into different
"lanes," describing the control of various organizational units. A unit appearing in a particular
"lane" is within the power of that organizational unit. This technique allows the analyst to
locate the responsibility for performing an action or making a decision correctly, allowing the
relationship between different corporate groups with responsibility for a single process.
Workflow Diagram Symbols
A workflow diagram shows the relationships among different departments in a fixed work
sequence, which means that one department needs to finish its job, so another department can
continue the rest. As the workflow shows how your work is completed from start to finish
step by step, the development and maintenance of these workflow relationships are very
important for managers. Because by seeing how the business works from a top-down
perspective, you can identify it’s potential flaws, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.

17. Audit Flowchart Symbols
The following shapes are similar to the basic flowchart symbols but are specially used in the
audit flowchart.

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