Introduction to Flowcharts

2. Standard Flowchart Symbols and Their Meanings

Flowcharts use a standardized set of symbols, each with a specific meaning. Understanding these symbols is essential for both reading and creating flowcharts.

2.1 Basic Flowchart Symbols

2.2 Rules of Flowcharting

A number of rules recommended by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) that need to be followed when drawing flowcharts are stated as follows;

        i.            Every aspect of the flowchart should be represented using the standard symbols

      ii.            Flowcharts must have only one starting and ending point

    iii.            Steps in a flowchart should follow top-to-bottom or left-to-right approach

     iv.            The inputs, process, output symbols should have two flow lines connecting to the previous symbol and to the next symbol

      v.            The decision symbol should have flow lines for each possible solution such as yes/no or true/false.