Process & operation symbols

Symbo
l Name Description

The most frequently used flowchart shape shows an

Process
action, task or operation that needs to be done.

Shows a series of actions related to a task, which

itself is part of a larger process. It could also mean
Subroutine
that there is already a flowchart for the larger
process that can be used as a reference.

Alternate An alternative to the regular process step. Lines connecting

Process with the alternate process symbol are usually dashed.

Delay Represents a waiting period or delay in the process.

Preparation
A preparatory step that sets up another step in the process.

A sequence of commands that continually repeats until

Manual Loop
stopped manually.

Loop Limit The point at which a loop stops.

Data processing symbols

Symb
Name Description
ol

Collate Represents a process that organizes data or

Symbol materials into a standard format.
Sort Indicates the sorting of data, information, and
Symbol materials into a pre-determined order.
Branching & control of flow symbols
Symbo
l Name Description

The arrows indicate the direction in which the

Arrow flowchart should be read (usually from the top to
the bottom and/or the left to the right).

Represents the entry and exit points of your

Terminator flowchart. Usually a flowchart has only one starting
point but can have several ending points.

The point at which a decision needs to be made.

Decision The arrows flowing from the decision shape are
usually labeled with yes, no, true or false.

In order to connect to different page or section of

the chart, and you can't draw a line, you can use a
  Connector
circle labeled with a letter. Put another circle with
the same letter where the flow continues.

Off-page Indicates the process continues off page. A letter

Connector or page number in the shape tells you where to go.

A step where two or more sub-processes merge

Merge
together and become one.

Shows when a process divides into different but

Extract
parallel directions.

Represents when a process diverges, usually for

Or
more than two branches.

Summoning When multiple sub-processes merge into a single

or Junction process.
Input & output symbols
Symbo
l Name Description

Represents material or information entering or

Input/Output
leaving the process. Receiving a report is an
or Data
input. Generating a report is an output.

Indicates a process step that generates a

Document
document or report.

Multiple A process step that produces multiple documents

Documents or reports.

Display A step that displays information to a person.

Represents a step where a user must input

Manual Input
information manually.

File & information storage symbols

Symbo
l Name Description

Stored Data Represents a step in the process where data

Symbol gets stored.

A list of information with a standard structure

Database Symbol
that allows for searching and sorting.

Direct Access
Represents a hard drive.
Storage Symbol
Symbo
l Name Description
Internal Storage Used in programming to represent information
Symbol stored in memory instead of on a file.