Yonatan Ben Knaan

Flowchart Symbols

Posted Dec 2023

A visual cheat sheet to help you effectively convey ideas with flowcharts

A simple flowchart that represent a viewer liking or disliking this content

You know, I've seen flowcharts here and there, but when I started working extensively with Whimsical, I found myself thinking what the hack are these diagram symbols anyways? Do they have a meaning or are they just nice looking shapes? Well, this is a visual language signs, and as a language they have a meaning, so much so it's been standardized by ISO and ANSI.

With these symbols you can create flowcharts to represents any workflow or process that other people can read – the only condition is that you and your audience are reading them correctly. With this list you can totally plot any UX flow, software logic or a spaceship to Mars.

The shape goes as follow:

Terminator

Pill

Used to clearly define the start or stop point in a process or a flow in your diagram

The Terminator symbol

Decision

Diamond

A question or a decision in the process between two or more paths in a flowchart. Usually a yes/no or true/false branching duo to different outcomes

The Decision symbol

Input/Output

Parallelogram

Indicates data inputs and outputs to and from a process, be it a user input, system output, or data exchange with external sources

The Input/Output symbol

Display

Half Pointed, Half Rounded Rectangular

Indicates displayed data for a screen of exported to a text file

The Display symbol

Merge

Flipped Triangle

Indicates a step that merge multiple processes into one

The Merge symbol

Document

Bottom Wavey Rectangular

Represents the input or output of a printed document or report

The Document symbol

Off Page Connector

Square with One Pointed Edge

Indicates a jump from one page of the diagram to another page. Represented by a square with one pointed edge with a letter inside

The Off Page Connector symbol

Database

Cylinder with an Oval on Top

Indicates a database that allows for searching and sorting

The Database symbol

Predefined Process

Rectangle Containing Narrower Rectangle

A process defined elsewhere in the flowchart or from another source

The Predefined Process symbol

And

Circle with a Cross Sign Inside

Logical AND operator

The And symbol

Collate

Two Triangles on Top of Each Other

Step that organizes data into a schema

The Collate symbol

Process

Rectangular

An operation or action step - Indicates any processing function. Illustrate actions taken, calculations performed, or tasks completed

The Process symbol

Preparation

Elongated Hexagon

A preparation process step, like setting a switch or setting-up a routine

The Preparation symbol

Manual Input

Trapezoid

A process step that isn't automated, requiring a manual intervention or human action. Used to show a user tasks, operator involvement, or steps requiring external human input

The Manual Input symbol

Delay

Half Rounded Rectangular

A waiting period - Indicates a delay in the process

The Delay symbol

Extract

Triangle

Used to extract or to split a processes. Also used to indicates a measurement or finished goods

The Extract symbol

Multiple Documents

Stack of Bottom Wavey Rectangular

Represents multiple inputs or outputs of a printed documents or reports

The Multiple Documents symbol

On Page Connector

Circle

A jump from one point to another, and replace a long line on a flowchart page. Represented by a small circle with a letter inside

The On Page Connector symbol

Internal Storage

Square with Two Rectangles Inside

Indicates an internal storage that allows for searching and sorting

The Internal Storage symbol

Or

Circle with a Plus Sign Inside

Logical OR operator

The Or symbol

Sort

Rhombus with a Line Crossing

Step that organizes data into lists using a schema

The Sort symbol