The Meaning of 23 Flowchart Symbols
When designing and mapping processes with symbols, it is essential to understand their meanings. Therefore, it is important that all professionals involved with BPM fully master the meaning of the flowchart process mapping symbols.
We will detail some of the flowchart symbols most used and known, to facilitate their understanding, without going into more complex and advanced variations.
Using these symbols, you can map processes with agility and clarity. And if necessary, a second time using tools and more specific software that can have more resources and meanings.
Meanings of flow chart process mapping symbols
The first symbol to be displayed is the arrow, a connection symbol used to indicate a link between two other symbols and the direction of flow.
Next, we will show various designs of shapes with their meaning of these symbols in the process flowchart.
Termination
It indicates the beginning or end of a process flow diagram.
Process
It indicates a particular process and its functions and activities.
Decision
It shows that a decision will have to be taken and the process flow will follow a certain direction due to this decision.
Delay
Is that some time will pass before the process flow continues.
Data
It's any data used in the flowchart.
Document
It is a type of data or information that can be read by people, such as a printed report, for example.
Various documents
It indicates that there are several documents.
Subroutine or default process
A process that is already pre-defined.
Preparation
It shows that something must be done, adjusted or modified in the process before proceeding.
Display
It indicates that any information or data is displayed for reading on a screen or other display.
Manual entry
It shows that a procedure will be performed manually by a person.
Loop manual
It indicates that a command sequence will occur continuously in repetition until stopped manually by a person.
Loop Limit
It shows the beginning of a loop process.
Stored Data
It shows that there is stored data.
Connector
It indicates that there is an inspection at this point.
Connector to another page
It shows that there are a cross-reference and link to this process from another process designed on another page.
OR
Used to indicate the 'OR' logic.
Adder
Used to indicate the logic 'and'.
Group
Indicates a step in which the data is organized in a standard way.
Rate
It shows that at this point there will be a list generated that organizes items in a particular order.
Merge
Indicates a step that will combine several sets into one.
Database
A list of information with a standardized structure that allows searching and sorting.
Internal Storage
It indicates an internal storage device.
These were the 23 main meanings of flowchart process mapping symbols. Using these symbols, you will be able to map processes and interpret flowcharts.
