Flowchart Facts for Kids

"Flow chart" redirects here. For the poem, see Flow Chart (poem). For the music group, see Flowchart (band).

A simple flowchart showing how to fix a lamp that isn't working.

A flowchart is a special kind of diagram. It helps us understand a workflow or a process. Think of it as a visual map for a set of instructions.

It shows each step as a different shape, like a box or a diamond. Arrows connect these shapes to show the order of the steps. This way, you can see how to solve a problem or complete a task. Flowcharts are useful for planning, explaining, or improving many different things.

What is a Flowchart?
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What is a Flowchart?

A flowchart showing a simple computer program loop. It prints an asterisk five times.

Flowcharts help us plan and explain simple tasks or computer programs. They make it easy to see how a process works. By using a flowchart, you can often spot problems or slow parts in a process.

There are a few main shapes used in flowcharts:

A rectangular box shows a step or an "activity" in the process.
A diamond shape usually means a "decision" needs to be made. This often has a "yes" or "no" answer.

Sometimes, a flowchart is called "cross-functional." This means it's split into sections for different teams or people. It helps show who is responsible for each step or decision. This makes it clear how different parts of an organization work together.

Flowcharts are just one tool for understanding processes. They often work with other diagrams. For example, they are one of the "seven basic tools of quality control." Other names for flowcharts include process map, workflow diagram, or business flow diagram.

A Look at Flowchart History

The idea of flowcharts started a long time ago. In 1921, Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Lillian Moller Gilbreth introduced the "flow process chart." They showed it to engineers in the United States. Their goal was to find the best way to do work.

Later, in the 1930s, Allan H. Mogensen taught business people how to use these tools. His students then took these ideas to big companies. For example, Benjamin S. Graham used them to map out how information moved through businesses. In 1947, a standard set of symbols for flowcharts was created.

In the 1940s, scientists like Herman Goldstine and John von Neumann used diagrams similar to flowcharts. They used them to plan out steps for early computer programs. Flowcharts became very popular for showing how computer programs worked.

However, in the 1970s, new ways of writing computer code became common. These new methods made it easier to write programs directly. So, flowcharts became less popular for complex computer programming. Still, they are used today to explain many different processes and algorithms.

Different Kinds of Flowcharts

An IBM template used to draw flowchart symbols.

Flowcharts can be used for many different purposes. Experts have grouped them into a few main types:

Document Flowcharts: These show how documents or information move through a system.
Data Flowcharts: These focus on how data flows and is controlled within a system.
System Flowcharts: These show how different parts of a system work together.
Program Flowcharts: These explain the steps and controls within a computer program.

Each type helps to understand a process from a different angle. They all help to show how things are controlled and organized.

Common Flowchart Symbols

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) created standard symbols for flowcharts. These standards help everyone understand flowcharts easily. Flowcharts usually read from top to bottom and left to right.

Shape	Name	What it Means
	Flowline (arrow)	Shows the direction of the process. An arrow points from one step to the next.
	Terminal	Marks the very start or end of a process. It often says "Start" or "End."
	Process	Represents a step where something happens or changes. This is shown as a rectangle.
	Decision	Shows a point where a choice must be made. This is usually a "yes/no" question in a diamond shape.
	Input/Output	Shows when data is entered into the system (input) or when results come out (output).
	Annotation (comment)	Adds extra notes or details about a step. It's an open rectangle connected by a dashed line.
	Predefined Process	Shows a process that is already defined somewhere else. It's a rectangle with double lines on the sides.
	On-page Connector	Used to connect parts of a flowchart on the same page. It's a small circle with a letter inside.
	Off-page Connector	Used when a flowchart continues on another page. It looks like a home plate shape.

More Flowchart Symbols

There are also other symbols that can be used in flowcharts:

Shape	Name	What it Means
	Data File or Database	Represents stored data, like on a computer disk.
	Document	Shows a single paper document.
	Document	Shows multiple paper documents.
	Manual Operation	Represents a step that must be done by hand.
	Manual Input	Shows data being entered manually, like typing on a keyboard.
	Preparation or Initialization	Used for steps like setting up a switch or getting ready for a task.

Showing Parallel Steps

Sometimes, different parts of a process can happen at the same time. This is called "parallel processing."

A horizontal line can show where a process splits into several paths. These paths can run at the same time.
Another horizontal line shows where these separate paths come back together. All parallel tasks must finish before the process continues as one.

Software for Making Flowcharts

A screenshot of the flowchart software Flowgorithm.

You can draw flowcharts by hand, but many computer programs can help you create them. Some drawing programs let you make flowcharts, but they might not connect to other data.

Special software can create flowcharts automatically. Some programs even use flowcharts to represent and run computer programs. These are often used to teach new students how to code.

Flowchart facts for kids

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