What a flowchart is — and when to use one
A flowchart is a diagram that maps a process as a sequence of steps connected by directional arrows. Each step is encoded in a standard symbol defined by ISO 5807: ovals mark the start and end of the process, rectangles represent discrete actions, diamonds represent decisions where the flow branches, and parallelograms represent data entering or leaving the process.
Flowcharts are the right tool when your goal is communication. Use a flowchart to document a process for a team, walk a new hire through a workflow, or map the logic of a decision tree before writing code. The ISO 5807 notation is broadly understood across disciplines — software engineers, business analysts, operations teams, and non-technical stakeholders all read the same symbols the same way.
When your goal shifts from communication to execution — when the diagram will drive process automation software — consider BPMN 2.0 instead. BPMN is a formal specification (ISO/IEC 19510) with machine-readable semantics; a flowchart is a visual convention. For documentation, training, and team alignment, a flowchart is almost always the simpler and more readable choice.
Standard flowchart symbols
| Symbol | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Oval (◯) | Terminator | Marks the start or end of the process. Every flowchart has exactly one start terminator and at least one end terminator. |
| Rectangle (▭) | Process | Represents a single action, task, or step performed in the process — for example, "Send confirmation email." |
| Diamond (◇) | Decision | Marks a branch point where the flow splits based on a yes/no or true/false condition. Each exit path should be labeled with its condition. |
| Parallelogram (▱) | Input / Output | Represents data entering the process (input) or data produced by it (output) — for example, a form submission or a generated report. |
| Cylinder (⌗) | Stored data | Represents a database, file, or persistent data store that the process reads from or writes to. |
| Rounded rectangle (▭̈) | Predefined process | References a named sub-process or subroutine defined in a separate diagram. Used to keep the main flowchart readable when a step has its own internal complexity. |
How to make a flowchart with flow-chart.io
- Create a free account — 40 AI credits/month, no credit card required. Each standard flowchart costs approximately 4 credits.
- Select the Flowchart domain from the domain picker on the new diagram screen.
- Describe your process in plain language — for example: "Customer support ticket triage: customer submits a ticket, agent checks priority, high-priority tickets escalate to tier-2 support, low-priority tickets go to the standard queue, all tickets are resolved and the customer is notified." The AI maps your description to correctly typed ISO 5807 shapes with routed connectors.
- Edit and export — click any shape to rename, move, or restyle it. Add, remove, or reconnect steps without starting over. Export as SVG, PNG, or PDF when the diagram is ready.
Swimlane flowcharts
A swimlane flowchart — also called a cross-functional flowchart — divides a standard flowchart into horizontal or vertical lanes, one per person, role, team, or system involved in the process. Each step is placed inside the lane that owns it, so responsibility is visible at a glance. Connectors that cross a lane boundary make handoffs explicit: the exact point where one team hands work to another.
Swimlanes are the standard format for any process that crosses departmental lines. An order fulfillment flow involving a customer, a sales rep, a warehouse team, and a shipping carrier is nearly unreadable as a plain flowchart — as a swimlane diagram, each party's responsibilities are contained and the handoff sequence is clear.
flow-chart.io generates swimlane flowcharts as first-class diagrams. Describe the roles involved and the AI places each step in the correct lane, routing connectors across boundaries automatically. You can add, rename, or reorder lanes after generation without repositioning every step by hand.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a flowchart?
- A flowchart is a diagram that represents a process or workflow as a sequence of steps connected by arrows. Each step is encoded in a standard symbol: ovals for start and end points, rectangles for actions, diamonds for decisions, and parallelograms for data input or output. Flowcharts follow ISO 5807, the international standard for process diagrams, and are used in software engineering, business analysis, manufacturing, and education to document and communicate how a process works.
- What are the standard flowchart symbols?
- ISO 5807 defines the core set: oval (terminator) marks where a process starts or ends; rectangle (process) represents an action or step; diamond (decision) marks a branch where one of two or more paths is taken based on a condition; parallelogram (input/output) represents data entering or leaving the process; cylinder (stored data) represents a database or file; and rounded rectangle (predefined process) refers to a named sub-process defined elsewhere. These six cover the vast majority of real-world flowcharts.
- What is a swimlane diagram?
- A swimlane diagram (also called a cross-functional flowchart) is a flowchart divided into horizontal or vertical lanes, where each lane belongs to a different person, role, team, or system. Steps are placed in the lane of whoever is responsible for them, and connectors crossing lane boundaries make handoffs visible. Swimlane diagrams are the standard tool for mapping processes that span departments — for example, an order fulfillment process involving sales, warehouse, and shipping teams.
- How is a flowchart different from a BPMN diagram?
- A flowchart is an informal, broadly readable diagram that follows ISO 5807 conventions. A BPMN 2.0 diagram is a formal specification (ISO/IEC 19510) that can be imported directly into process automation engines like Camunda or jBPM. Use a flowchart when your goal is communication — documenting a process for a team, training new employees, or mapping a decision tree. Use BPMN when your goal is execution — the diagram will drive software automation and must comply with a machine-readable standard.
- Can I make a flowchart without drawing shapes manually?
- Yes. flow-chart.io generates fully editable flowcharts from plain-language descriptions. Describe your process — for example, "customer support ticket triage with escalation path for priority-1 issues" — and the AI produces a structured diagram with correctly typed shapes, connector routing, and labels. Every element is a real editable object, not a flat image, so you can click any shape to rename, move, or restyle it after generation.
- What export formats does flow-chart.io support?
- flow-chart.io exports flowcharts as SVG (vector, scales to any size), PNG (raster, for slides and documents), PDF (print-ready), and JSON (structured scene graph for re-import and programmatic use). SVG and PNG are available on the free plan; PDF and JSON export are available on Pro and Team plans.
- Is flow-chart.io free to use?
- Yes. The free plan includes 40 AI credits per month — enough for approximately 10 standard flowcharts — with no credit card required. Pro and Team plans add higher credit limits, PDF export, JSON export, version history, and team collaboration features.