What is a Flowchart and its Types?
Flowcharts are graphical representations of data, algorithms,
or processes, providing a visual approach to understanding
code.
Flowcharts illustrate step-by-step solutions to problems,
making them useful for beginner programmers.
Flowcharts help in debugging and troubleshooting issues.
Flowchart consists of sequentially arranged boxes that
depict the process flow.
Since it visually represents an algorithm or workflow, it is
easier to interpret and understand. However, to create an
effective Flowchart, certain standardised rules must be
followed, ensuring clarity and consistency across different
professionals worldwide.
Flowchart Symbols
Different types of boxes are used to make Flowchart
Symbols. All the different kinds of boxes are connected by
arrow lines. Arrow lines are used to display the flow of
control. Let's learn about each box in detail.
Symbol Name Symbol Representation
1/20
Terminal/Terminator
Symbol Name Symbol Representation
Process
Decision
2/20
Document
Symbol Name Symbol Representation
Data or Input/Output
Stored Data
Flow Arrow
3/20
Comment or Annotation
Symbol Name Symbol Representation
Predefined process
On-page
connector/reference
4/20
Off-page
connector/reference
Uses of Flowcharts in Computer
Programming/Algorithms
The following are the uses of a Flowchart:
5/20
It is a pictorial representation of an algorithm that
increases the readability of the program.
Complex programs can be drawn in a simple way using a
Flowchart.
It helps team members get an insight into the process and
use this knowledge to collect data, detect problems,
develop software, etc.
A Flowchart is a basic step for designing a new process or
adding extra features.
Communication with other people becomes easy by
drawing Flowcharts and sharing them.
When to Use Flowchart?
Flowcharts are mainly used in the below scenarios:
It is most importantly used when programmers make
projects. As a Flowchart is a basic step to make the
design of projects pictorially, it is preferred by many.
When the Flowcharts of a process are drawn, the
programmer understands the non-useful parts of the
process. So, Flowcharts are used to separate sound logic
from the unwanted parts.
Since the rules and procedures of drawing a Flowchart are
universal, a Flowchart serves as a communication channel
to the people who are working on the same project for
better understanding.
Optimizing a process becomes easier with Flowcharts. The
efficiency of the code is improved with the Flowchart
drawing.
Types of Flowcharts
Three types of Flowcharts are listed below:
1.Process Flowchart: This type of Flowchart shows all the
activities that are involved in making a product. It
provides a pathway to analyze the product to be built. It
is most commonly used in process engineering to
6/20
illustrate the relation between the major as well as minor
components present in the product. It is used in business
product modelling to help understand employees about
the project requirements and gain some insight into the
project.
7/20
2.Data Flowchart: It is used to analyze the data, specifically it
helps in analyzing the structural details related to the
project. Using this Flowchart, one can easily understand
the data inflow and outflow from the system. It is most
commonly used to manage data or to analyze information
to and fro from the system.
3.Business Process Modelling Diagram: Using this Flowchart
or diagram, one can analytically represent the business
process and help simplify the concepts needed to
understand business activities and the flow of
information. This Flowchart illustrates the business
process and models graphically which paves the way for
process improvement.
Types of boxes used to make a Flowchart
There are different types of boxes that are used to make
Flowcharts. All the different kinds of boxes are connected to
one another by arrow lines. Arrow lines are used to display
the flow of control. Let's learn about each box in detail.
1. Terminal
This box is of an oval shape which is used to indicate the start
or end of the program. Every Flowchart diagram has an oval
shape that depicts the start of an algorithm and another oval
shape that depicts the end of an algorithm. For example:
8/20
2. Data
This is a parallelogram-shaped box inside which the inputs or
outputs are written. This basically depicts the information
that is entering the system or algorithm and the information
that is leaving the system or algorithm. For example: if the
user wants to input a from the user and display it, the
Flowchart for this would be:
9/20
3. Process
This is a rectangular box inside which a programmer writes
the main course of action of the algorithm or the main logic
of the program. This is the crux of the Flowchart as the main
processing codes is written inside this box. For example: if
the programmer wants to add 1 to the input given by the
user, he/she would make the following Flowchart:
4. Decision
10/
20
This is a rhombus-shaped box, control statements like if,
condition like a
> 0, etc are written inside this box. There are 2 paths from this
one which is "yes" and the other one is "no". Every decision
has either yes or no as an option, similarly, this box has these
as options. For example: if the user wants to add 1 to an
even number and subtract 1 if the number is odd, the
Flowchart would be:
5. Flow
This arrow line represents the flow of the algorithm or process.
It represents the direction of the process flow. in all the
previous examples, we included arrows in every step to
11/
20
display the flow of the program. arrow increases the
readability of the program.
12/
20
6. On-Page Reference
This circular figure is used to depict that the Flowchart is in
continuation with the further steps. This figure comes into
use when the space is less and the Flowchart is long. Any
numerical symbol is present inside this circle and that same
numerical symbol will be depicted before the continuation to
make the user understand the continuation. Below is a
simple example depicting the use of On-Page Reference
Advantages of Flowchart
It is the most efficient way of communicating the logic of
the system. It acts as a guide for a blueprint during the
program design.
It also helps in the debugging process.
Using Flowcharts we can easily analyze the
programs. Flowcharts are good for
documentation.
Disadvantages of Flowchart
13/
20
Flowcharts are challenging to draw for large and complex
programs. It does not contain the proper amount of
details.
Flowcharts are very difficult to reproduce.
14/
20
Flowcharts are very difficult to modify.
Solved Examples on Flowchart
Draw a Flowchart to find the greatest number among the 2
numbers.
Algorithm:
1. Start
2. Input 2 variables from user
3. Now check the condition If a > b, go to step 4, else go to
step 5.
4. Print a is greater, go to step 6
5. Print b is greater
6. Stop
Flowchart:
Draw a Flowchart to check whether the input number is odd or
even
Algorithm:
1. Start
2. Put input a
15/
20
3. Now check the condition if a % 2 == 0, go to step 5. Else go
to step 4
4. Now print("number is odd") and go to step 6
5. print("number is even")
6. Stop
Flowchart:
Draw a Flowchart to print the input number 5 times.
Algorithm:
1. Start
2. Input number a
3. Now initialize c = 1
4. Now we check the condition if c <= 5, go to step 5 else, go
to step 7.
5. Print a
6. c = c + 1 and go to step 4
7. Stop
Flowchart:
16/
20
Flowchart to print the input number 5 times
Draw a Flowchart to print numbers from 1 to 10.
Algorithm:
1. Start
2. Now initialize c = 1
3. Now we check the condition if c < 11, then go to step
4 otherwise go to step 6.
4. Print c
5. c = c + 1 then go to step 3
6. Stop
Flowchart:
17/
20
Flowchart to print numbers from 1 to 10
Draw a Flowchart to print the first 5 multiples of 3.
Algorithm:
1. Start
2. Now initialise c = 1
3. Now check the condition if c < 6, then go to step 4.
Otherwise go to step 6
4. Print 3 * c
5. c += 1. Then go to step 3.
6. Stop
Flowchart:
18/
20
Flowchart to print the first 5 multiples of 3
19/
20
20/
20
