The following is a basic overview, with descriptions and meanings, of the
most common flowchart symbols - also commonly called flow chart
shapes, process flow diagram symbols or business process map
symbols, depending upon what type of flow diagram you're creating. The
table below lists the flowchart symbol drawing, the name of the flowchart
symbol in Microsoft Office, and a short description of where and how the
flowchart symbol is used.
TABLE OF FLOWCHART SYMBOLS
Symbol Symbol Name Symbol Description
(alias)
Process / Operation Symbols
Process Show a Process or action step. This is the most
common symbol in both process flowcharts and
business process maps.
Predefined A Predefined Process symbol is a marker for another
Process process step or series of process flow steps that are
(Subroutine) formally defined elsewhere. This shape commonly
depicts sub-processes (or subroutines in
programming flowcharts). If the sub-process is
considered "known" but not actually defined in a
process procedure, work instruction, or some other
process flowchart or documentation, then it is best
not to use this symbol since it implies a formally
defined process.
Alternate As the shape name suggests, this flowchart symbol is
Process used when the process flow step is an alternate to the
normal process step. Flow lines into an alternate
process flow step are typically dashed.
Delay The Delay flowchart symbol depicts any waiting
period that is part of a process. Delay shapes are
common in process mapping.
Preparation As the names states, any process step that is a
Preparation process flow step, such as a set-up
operation.
Manual Manual Operations flowchart shapes show which
Operation process steps are not automated. In data processing
flowcharts, this data flow shape indicates a looping
operation along with a loop limit symbol (which is not
supported by Microsoft Office, but a Manual Operation
symbol rotated 180° will do the trick.)
Branching and Control of Flow Symbols
Flow Line Flow line connectors show the direction that the
(Arrow, process flows.
Connector)
Terminator Terminators show the start and stop points in a
(Terminal process. When used as a Start symbol, terminators
Point, Oval) depict a trigger action that sets the process flow into
motion.
Decision Indicates a question or branch in the process flow.
Typically, a Decision flowchart shape is used when
there are 2 options (Yes/No, No/No-Go, etc.)
Connector Flowchart: In flowcharts, this symbol is typically
(Inspection) small and is used as a Connector to show a jump from
one point in the process flow to another. Connectors
are usually labeled with capital letters (A, B, AA) to
show matching jump points. They are handy for
avoiding flow lines that cross other shapes and flow
lines. They are also handy for jumping to and from
sub-processes defined in a separate area than the
main flowchart.
Process Mapping: In process maps, this symbol is
full sized and shows an Inspection point in the
process flow.
[Just to confuse things further, some people will use a
circle to indicate an operation and a square to
indicate an inspection. That's why it's important to
include a symbol key in the flowchart.]
Off-Page Off-Page Connector shows continuation of a process
Connector flowchart onto another page. When using them in
conjunction with Connectors, it's best to differentiate
the labels, e.g. use numbers for Off-Page Connectors
and capital letters for Connectors. In actual practice,
most flowcharts just use the Connect shape for both
on-page and off-page references.
Merge Flowchart: Shows the merging of multiple processes
(Storage) or information into one.
Process Mapping: commonly indicates storage of
raw materials.
Extract Flowchart: Shows when a process splits into parallel
(Measureme paths. Also commonly indicates a Measurement, with
nt) a capital 'M' inside the symbol.
Process Mapping: commonly indicates storage of
finished goods.
Or The logical Or symbol shows when a process diverges
- usually for more than 2 branches. When using this
symbol, it is important to label the out-going flow
lines to indicate the criteria to follow each branch.
Summing The logical Summing Junction flowchart shape is
Junction shows when multiple branches converge into a single
process. The merge symbol is more common for this
use, though. This symbol and the Or symbol are really
more relevant in data processing flow diagrams than
in process flowcharts.
Input and Output Symbols
Data The Data flowchart shape indicates inputs to and
(I/O) outputs from a process. As such, the shape is more
often referred to as an I/O shape than a Data shape.
Document Pretty self explanatory - the Document flowchart
symbol is for a process step that produces a
document.
Multi- Same as Document, except, well, multiple
Document documents. This shape is not as commonly used as
the Document flowchart shape, even when multiple
documents are implied.
Display Indicates a process step where information is
displayed to a person (e.g., PC user, machine
operator).
Manual Manual Input flowchart shapes show process steps
Input where the operator/ user is prompted for information
that must be manually input into a system.
Card This is the companion to the punched tape flowchart
shapes. This shape is seldom used.
Punched If you're very good at stretching all the life out of a
Tape machine, you may still have use for the Punched Tape
symbol - used for input into old computers and CNC
machines.
File and Information Storage Symbols
Stored Data A general Data Storage flowchart shape used for any
process step that stores data (as opposed to the
more specific shapes to follow next in this table).
Magnetic The most universally recognizable symbol for a data
Disk storage location, this flowchart shape depicts a
(Database) database.
Direct Direct Access Storage is a fancy way of saying Hard
Access Drive.
Storage
Internal Used in programming flowcharts to mean information
Storage stored in memory, as opposed to on a file.
Sequential Although it looks like a 'Q', the symbol is supposed to
Access look like a reel of tape.
Storage
(Magnetic
Tape)
Data Processing Symbols
Collate The Collate flowchart shape indicates a process step
that requires organizing data, information, or
materials according into a standard format or
arrangement.
Sort Indicates the sorting of data, information, materials
into some pre-defined order.
