Get a detailed look at the flowchart symbol meanings and how to use each shape to visualize a process.
Download your FREE offline flowchart symbols guide
Flowcharts illustrate the sequence of actions, movements and decision points within a system, providing a detailed overview of a process. Connectors and process symbols work together to create a visual representation of the flow and what's needed to make it happen.
Flowchart
flowchart • [ˈflō ˌCHärt]
A powerful tool for visualizing and optimizing the flow of people, objects, data or information through a system or process.
noun
"Let's put together a flowchart of our online store and see how we can optimize the user journey"
Synonyms
Clarity is key when using an online diagram maker. Without it people will spend more time decoding your chart than analyzing the process it describes; so be consistent with 
flowchart shapes and flow lines.
The most fundamental shapes in the diagramming collections, these basic flowchart symbols are used in creating your process flow charts.
These common flowchart symbols are the classics you'll be using to diagram just about any process.
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 flowchart key.
Just as the flowchart symbols have universally understood meanings, so too do flow lines.
The most fundamental shapes in the diagramming collections, these basic flowchart symbols are used in creating your process flow charts.
These common flowchart symbols are the classics you'll be using to diagram just about any process.
The terminator symbol identifies the start or end points of a process. Also known as the flowchart start symbol or flowchart end symbol, the words “Start” and “End” are often put inside.
Also referred to as the “action symbol”, this flowchart symbol is used to represent an entire process, action or operation as a single step or entire sub-process. Typically this is for an intuitive process that doesn't need to be diagrammed with a bunch of flowchart shapes, like 'Login', 'Reset password', 'Upload file', etc.
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. Generally, one connector line comes into this diamond shape and branches into two or more paths depending on the possible answers.
Arrows indicate the direction in which the process is flowing from one step to the next.
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 flowchart key.
The circle symbol represents the continuation of flow through multiple charts or pages. 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 the process flow continues in another.
The input output symbol is also known as the data symbol, this symbol represents data, information or material that's received — a flowchart input symbol — or generated like an e-mail or physical product — a flowchart output symbol. Use the same symbol for both input and output.
Sometimes you need a little more explanation, the note flowchart symbol provides space for an explanation and/or comments within a specified area of a diagram. Typically this data file is connected by a dashed line.
Represents someone or something that interacts with the process or is part of the workflow. It could be a user, an organization or even an internal or external application.
This wavy flowchart symbol represents the input or output of a document or report. Think along the lines of a printout, email, physical order or the like that your process requires.
Similar to the single document symbol, this one looks like a couple of documents that are stacked and represents multiple documents, emails, reports, etc.
Some steps prepare for work while some steps are about actually doing the work, the preparation symbol is for differentiating those. It's also used for introducing setup to further steps in the same process.
The half-oval delay symbol is used in process mapping to show a waiting period when two or more things must happen before the process proceeds. It's helpful to put the length of the delay in the shape if you know it.
This pointer-like flowchart symbol indicates a step in the process where information will be shown to the user.
The manual input symbol represents a process step that requires a user to enter information or data manually, like a login, filling out a form, entering payment details, etc.
Not every step flows automatically to the next, this flowchart symbol is used when a part of the process needs to be performed manually, by a person, rather than automatically.
AKA the link symbol, this process flow symbol shows the continuation of a process. Connecting elements of the flowchart across multiple pages with the page number within the shape for reference.
The flowchart database symbol represents information housed in a storage location that allows users to search, filter and sort.
This process flow symbol indicates that data is saved within internal memory and is one of the classic software flowchart symbols.
X marks the spot and the summing junction symbol represents the point at which multiple branches converge into a single process.
A process can go this way *or* that way (or any number of ways). This flowchart symbol indicates exactly that, the spot at which the process diverges and continues into more than one branch.
Also commonly referred to as the "data storage" symbol, the stored data symbol represents where data will be stored within process flows.
This briefcase-looking symbol represents a complex process that is defined elsewhere. The predefined process symbol is called a “subroutine” if used in software design flowcharts.
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 shows where a process splits into parallel paths.
The opposite of extraction, the merge symbol combines two or more sets of items into one set — it shows the merging of multiple processes and information into one. If extraction is an up arrow, you can consider this a funnel that combines parts of the workflow.
This diamond with a bisecting line indicates a step where data, information or materials are sorted and organized into a predefined order.
Sometimes called “sequential access storage”, this one represents information stored in a sequence, referencing a system for storing digital information on magnetic tape. Pretty specific.
A type of container that holds process steps within horizontal or vertical “swimlanes”.
The paper tape symbol isn't used much on flowchart diagrams anymore but can be utilized for mapping processes or input methods on older computers and CNC machines.
Just as the flowchart symbols have universally understood meanings, so too do flow lines.
This denotes data flow or process flow from one shape to another.
A dashed line indicates alternate paths or an alternate process.
Parallel lines denote a synchronization process where steps above the lines need to happen before steps below can occur.
Need to optimize a process? See a detailed overview of a system? Turn a complex task into more manageable steps? The types of flowcharts you can make are endless and they're ideal for when you need to create clarity and maximize productivity.
Make complex concepts and systems easier to understand and follow.
Determine team roles, improve workflow and streamline team communication.
Identify optimal flow, weigh pros and cons and make decisions more confidently.
Pinpoint problems by seeing all the steps in a process and relationships between them.
Seeing the whole process makes it easier to check progress and ID areas that need further work.
A visual representation of a system helps organize, streamline and optimize tasks.
Think visually. Improve UX with Slickplan
To create a flowchart that can be universally understood is simple when you stick with these common flow chart conventions. They'll also make collaboration with our team easier.
You'll only have one starting point but depending on the process you're charting, you can have many endpoints based on where the decision points lead.
Process flow diagram symbols each have a specific meaning, if you use the wrong flowchart notation, your chart will be misleading at best and impossible to understand at worst.
Flowcharts must be formatted to flow top to bottom or left to right. Keep the spacing between flow diagram symbols consistent.
To understand how the flowchart rules and process flow symbols work in practice, check out these flow diagram examples.
Data flow diagram template 
Decision tree template 
Affinity diagram template 
Concept map template 
Customer journey map template 
ER diagram template 
System flowchart template 
Activity diagram template 
Business organizational chart template 
Business process map template 
Company organizational chart template Discover more free diagram templatesHonestly, there's no exact number flow chart icons. There just isn't much agreement, even with basic symbols, you'll see some sites saying 4, some 5 or even 8. It doesn't matter how many there are though, it matters that you understand the flowchart shape meanings and can make clear process maps and data flow diagrams with them.
Importance is relative and there isn't necessarily one of the process map shapes that takes the crown, but there are a couple that tend to play outsized roles. Namely, the process symbol and the decision symbol. They both carry a lot of weight and tend to be loaded with meaning.
The circle flowchart symbol, or connector, represents the continuation of flow through multiple charts or pages. It's generally used in more complex charts and it usually contains the same letter or number where the flow breaks in one chart or page and where it continues in another.
Frank and Lillian Gilbreth are generally credited with the creation of process charts in 1921 with Frank considered the inventor of flowcharts. In a piece called ”Process Charts, First Steps in Finding the One Best Way to Do Work” they laid out what flowcharts were and the first standard flowchart symbol definitions.
Make sure you're using consistent process mapping symbols, lines and text – it eliminates distractions and makes flowcharts easier to follow. Try to keep the process flowchart to one page and structure it from left to right or top to bottom. If you're unsure where to begin, start with one of our flowchart templates.
The oval, rectangle, diamond, parallelogram and arrow are the basic process flowchart symbols. The oval represents the start and end. The rectangle represents any step in the process, like tasks or actions. The diamond symbol indicates a decision. The parallelogram represents information that's received/generated like an e-mail or product. The arrow guides the viewer along.
Lines in a flowchart diagram are often referred to as connectors (not to be confused with the connector symbol). They're used to show relationships between one shape and another. You'll often see them with different endpoints like an arrowhead or circle to show process flow.
The beginning and end symbols are the same; the oval or terminator symbol. Once you've started, the flow of a process flowchart moves from top to bottom or left to right and, again, ends with the same symbol. Often people will write “Start” and “End” inside the symbol.
Previous
Follow this 6-step process to create clear pathways for users to reach their goals on your site or app.
Next
Use Slickplan’s Diagram Maker to visualize user interactions and build user experiences that exceed expectations.
Use the flowchart symbols guide alongside our Diagram Maker to build out flow diagrams that improve UX, workflows, processes and more.
In less than an hour with Slickplan I was able to accomplish more in communicating my needs for a new website than my web designers were able to communicate in several weeks. Thanks!
Dan Walter, President and CEO at Performensation
Create an account
Already have an account
