Flowchart Symbols

AQUINO, BRIAN BRYZE
MALIDOM, ELVIRA
MASLIYAN, JONATHAN
SARVALLON, MARK
VELAQUE, FREDALYN JOY
FLOWCHART SYMBOLS
Flowcharts use special shapes to represent different types of actions or steps in a process. Lines and
arrows show the sequence of the steps, and the relationships among them. These are known as
flowchart symbols.
Process / Operation Symbols
NAME
SYMBOL DESCRIPTION
(ALIAS)
Show a Process or action step. This is the most common symbol

Process
in both process flowcharts and process maps.
A Predefined Process symbol is a marker for another process

step or series of process flow steps that are formally defined
elsewhere. This shape commonly depicts sub-processes (or
Predefined
subroutines in programming flowcharts). If the sub-process is
Process
considered "known" but not actually defined in a process
(Subroutine)
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.
As the shape name suggests, this flowchart symbol is used

Alternate when the process flow step is an alternate to the normal
Process process step. Flow lines into an alternate process flow step are
typically dashed.
The Delay flowchart symbol depicts any waiting period that is

Delay part of a process. Delay shapes are common in process
mapping.
NAME
SYMBOL DESCRIPTION
(ALIAS)
As the names states, any process step that is a Preparation

Preparation
process flow step, such as a set-up operation.
Manual Operations flowchart shapes show which process steps

are not automated. In data processing flowcharts, this data
Manual
flow shape indicates a looping operation along with a loop
Operation
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
NAME
SYMBOL DESCRIPTION
(ALIAS)
Flow Line
Flow line connectors show the direction that the process
(Arrow,
flows.
Connector)
Terminator Terminators show the start and stop points in a process.

(Terminal Point, When used as a Start symbol, terminators depict a trigger
Oval) action that sets the process flow into motion.
Indicates a question or branch in the process flow.

Decision Typically, a Decision flowchart shape is used when there
are 2 options (Yes/No, No/No-Go, etc.)
Flowchart: In flowcharts, this symbol is typically small and

is used as a Connector to show a jump from one point in
Connector the process flow to another. Connectors are usually
(Inspection) 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 a sub-processes defined in a
NAME
SYMBOL DESCRIPTION
(ALIAS)
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 Connector shows continuation of a process

flowchart onto another page. When using them in
conjunction with Connectors, it's best to differentiate the
Off-Page
labels, e.g. use numbers for Off-Page Connectors and
Connector
capital letters for Connectors. In actual practice, most
flowcharts just use the Connect shape for both on-page
and off-page references.
Flowchart: Shows the merging of multiple processes or

Merge information into one.
(Storage) Process Mapping: commonly indicates storage of raw
materials.
Flowchart: Shows when a process splits into parallel paths.

Also commonly indicates a Measurement, with a capital
Extract
'M' inside the symbol.
(Measurement)
Process Mapping: commonly indicates storage of finished
goods.
The logical Or symbol shows when a process diverges -

usually for more than 2 branches. When using this symbol,
Or
it is important to label the out-going flow lines to indicate
the criteria to follow each branch.
The logical Summing Junction flowchart shape is shows

Summing
when multiple branches converge into a single process.
Junction
The merge symbol is more common for this use, though.
Input and Output Symbols
NAME
SYMBOL DESCRIPTION
(ALIAS)
The Data flowchart shape indicates inputs to and outputs from

Data
a process. As such, the shape is more often referred to as an I/O
(I/O)
shape than a Data shape.
Pretty self-explanatory - the Document flowchart symbol is for a

Document
process step that produces a document.
Same as Document, except, well, multiple documents. This

Multi-
shape is not as commonly used as the Document flowchart
Document
shape, even when multiple documents are implied.
Indicates a process step where information is displayed to a

Display
person (e.g., PC user, machine operator).
Manual Input flowchart shapes show process steps where the

Manual
operator/ user is prompted for information that must be
Input
manually input into a system.
This is the companion to the punched tape flowchart shapes.

Card
This shape is seldom used.
If you're very good at stretching all the life out of a machine,

Punched
you may still have use for the Punched Tape symbol - used for
Tape
input into old computers and CNC machines.
File and Information Storage Symbols
NAME
SYMBOL DESCRIPTION
(ALIAS)
A general Data Storage flowchart shape used for any

Stored Data process step that stores data (as opposed to the more
specific shapes to follow next in this table).
Magnetic Disk The most universally recognizable symbol for a data storage
(Database) location, this flowchart shape depicts a database.
Direct Access
Direct Access Storage is a fancy way of saying Hard Drive.
Storage
Used in programming flowcharts to mean information stored

Internal Storage
in memory, as opposed to on a file.
Sequential
Access Storage Although it looks like a 'Q', the symbol is supposed to look like
(Magnetic a reel of tape.
Tape)
Data Processing Symbols
NAME
SYMBOL DESCRIPTION
(ALIAS)
The Collate flowchart shape indicates a process step that requires

Collate organizing data, information, or materials according into a standard
format or arrangement.
NAME
SYMBOL DESCRIPTION
(ALIAS)
Indicates the sorting of data, information, materials into some pre-

Sort
defined order.
The flowchart symbol names in parentheses are common alternates for a given shape. Sometimes a
flowchart shape can have more than one meaning, as with the Circle shape, which depicts a jump
node in flow charts and inspection point in business process mapping. Other times, there are just
multiple names for the same flow chart symbol - such as Terminator and Terminal Point.

Flowchart Symbols

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AQUINO, BRIAN BRYZE

Process / Operation Symbols

Show a Process or action step. This is the most common symbol

A Predefined Process symbol is a marker for another process

As the shape name suggests, this flowchart symbol is used

The Delay flowchart symbol depicts any waiting period that is

As the names states, any process step that is a Preparation

Manual Operations flowchart shapes show which process steps

Branching and Control of Flow Symbols

Terminator Terminators show the start and stop points in a process.

Indicates a question or branch in the process flow.

Flowchart: In flowcharts, this symbol is typically small and

separate area than the main flowchart.

[Just to confuse things further, some people will use a

Off-Page Connector shows continuation of a process

Flowchart: Shows the merging of multiple processes or

Flowchart: Shows when a process splits into parallel paths.

The logical Or symbol shows when a process diverges -

The logical Summing Junction flowchart shape is shows

The Data flowchart shape indicates inputs to and outputs from

Pretty self-explanatory - the Document flowchart symbol is for a

Same as Document, except, well, multiple documents. This

Indicates a process step where information is displayed to a

Manual Input flowchart shapes show process steps where the

This is the companion to the punched tape flowchart shapes.

If you're very good at stretching all the life out of a machine,

A general Data Storage flowchart shape used for any

Used in programming flowcharts to mean information stored

Data Processing Symbols

The Collate flowchart shape indicates a process step that requires

Indicates the sorting of data, information, materials into some pre-

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