A flowchart uses standard symbols to represent a set of instructions and the step-by-step solution to a problem. It contains symbols like a terminator that marks the start and end, action boxes that represent steps or subprocesses, input/output symbols that show materials or information entering or leaving the system, decision diamonds for branching points, and connector symbols to indicate where the flow continues. Flowcharts are diagrams that show the flow of a process through these different symbols.