A flowchart is a diagrammatic tool used to represent a process or workflow. It employs shapes (e.g. rectangles for steps, diamonds for decisions) and arrows to show the sequence and branching logic of operations.
Flowcharts serve to analyse, document, design, or manage processes across fields such as engineering, software development, business, and more.
Key points:
- Shapes have conventional meanings: processes, decisions, input/output, start/end.
- Flow is usually top-down or left-to-right.
- Extended forms include “swimlanes” (to show roles or units responsible) and cross-functional flowcharts.