What is a flowchart? A complete guide

At Miro, we understand the power of visualizing complex concepts. Flowcharts are the perfect tool to help bring ideas to life. In this article, you’ll learn what a flowchart is, when to use one, and the different types to consider.

Flowcharts explained

Let's start with the basics: What exactly is a flowchart? A flowchart is a type of diagram that visually explains a process or workflow. By using standardized symbols and definitions, you can create a handy visual representation of any process's various steps and decision points.

Flowcharts have been popular for many years across various fields, from engineering and education to computer programming and project management. They are useful for communicating simple and complex processes and are incredibly dynamic and versatile. By looking at a flowchart, a viewer should be able to get a high-level overview of a process.

Typically, a flowchart is created using various symbols, each representing a different step within a sequence or process. These diagrams usually include a variety of elements, such as actions, materials, services, inputs, and outputs. If you need to make a decision but are unsure of the process and the different elements required to inform that decision, using a flowchart could greatly simplify the process.

Benefits of creating a flowchart

Flowcharts are a great tool for visualizing processes in your personal and professional life. They offer several advantages that can help you and your team. Here are some of the benefits of using a flowchart:

Visual clarity

The main benefit of using flowcharts is that they allow you to understand complex operations in a simple format. Many businesses in manufacturing, logistics, and administration use them to plot out important sequences. Additionally, flowcharts can help stakeholders understand the workflows that your company employs.

Improved communication

Flowcharts are useful for meetings where your team needs to understand and communicate important processes. By simplifying complex operations with flowchart symbols and definitions, you can clearly communicate information that would otherwise be difficult to discuss.

Proper documentation

Using flowcharts to plot out processes within your business is a great way to document what needs to be done. It also helps you understand your company's progress in completing a task. By using digital flowcharts, you can incorporate paperless documentation into your workflow.

When to use a flowchart

Flowcharts are used in a variety of different contexts and industries. It doesn’t really matter what sector you or your business operates in – a flowchart can be used to help understand processes and operations easily.

Here are a few real-life examples where flowcharts can be effectively employed:

When designing and planning a process

Coming up with a new process requires you to document the steps and sequential events of the process. Using a flowchart helps document this process and improves the understanding of the process as a whole.

To study a process for better understanding

Hundreds of flowchart examples online have been used by businesses to complete and understand complex processes. You can study these flowcharts to better understand how your company should be sequencing actions and events to reach an end product or goal.

To communicate a process

In many companies worldwide, sending out detailed flowcharts can completely replace long and time-consuming meetings. Flowcharts are easy to understand and provide a visual document of a process. They are extremely effective communication tools.

In computer programming

In the world of coding, flowcharts play a crucial role. They act as guides that ensure your code journey is clear, logical, and efficient. Whether you're designing algorithms, troubleshooting, or conceptualizing software architecture, a well-crafted flowchart is an invaluable companion.

In learning environments

Flowcharts are an excellent tool for educators to transform complex theories into digestible visual nuggets. From breaking down historical timelines to explaining scientific processes, they simplify the learning experience. Flowcharts aid students in navigating the intricacies of knowledge, making it an interactive guide rather than just a tool.

Streamlining manufacturing

In the meticulous world of manufacturing and engineering, precision is of utmost importance. Flowcharts act as blueprints, outlining the step-by-step journey of a product from conception to realization. They ensure seamless execution and a streamlined production cycle, from assembly lines to quality control processes.

Charting success strategies in Marketing teams

Sales and marketing rely on strategy and planning. Flowcharts are the strategic canvas that delineates sales pipelines, marketing funnels, and decision-making processes. Visualizing these intricate webs of interconnected steps allows teams to align efforts, identify bottlenecks, and chart a course towards success.

Flowchart symbols

Standard shapes and symbols are used in most flowchart drafting. Each symbol represents a different element or steps within a sequence or process. Use the following flowchart shapes to draft an effective process.

Oval

An oval in a flowchart represents the terminal. This indicates the starts and stops within a sequence.

Parallelogram

The parallelogram indicates an input or output.

Rectangle

Rectangles indicate actions.

Diamonds

Diamonds indicate decisions that need to be made. These usually result in two alternative pathways based on the decision taken.

Flow lines

Flow lines and arrows represent the directions taken in the sequence.

Types of flowcharts

Before you create a flowchart, you need to decide which type of flowchart is best for the process you want to illustrate. There are hundreds of different flowchart types, each with its unique uses and results. Below are four of the most common and useful flowcharts.

Process flowchart

A process flowchart is the most basic of all flowchart types. They are often used to map new projects and operations. Engineers and software developers often use process flowcharts to map progress and understand the steps they need to take to complete a project.

Swimlane flowchart

The swimlane flowchart was aptly given its name as it visually represents a process with no true start or end. Instead, the processes and actions of people who fall into a swimlane diagram are those which go in laps and are completed more than once. Using a Swimlane Diagram Template you can map out a process that needs to be repeated and prevent a sequence from getting messy.

Data flow diagram

Data flow diagrams are used to bridge the communication gap between developers and users of a program or piece of software. This flowchart type is specialized as it contains a substantial amount of information and relatively few flowchart symbols. Miro’s Data Flow Diagram Template makes it simple to visually show the steps or actors of any system, no matter how complex.

Workflow diagram

When using a workflow diagram, the goal is to map out an effective sequence of events or processes that will result in a consistent and quality output. Workflow diagrams are often used to map out a standardized set of procedures with a determinable outcome.

Flowchart examples

Before jumping into Miro's online flowchart tool, consider these flowchart examples as a point of reference. The following are examples of the versatility and helpfulness of a flowchart.

Website flowchart

Building a website is much more complex and complicated than many think. Building navigational menus, organizing content, and customizing a website’s appearance are a few important steps needed to create an online site that people will want to visit. This website flowchart template provides a robust process diagram to create a great user-centric online experience.

Decision tree

No matter what industry you’re in, there are plenty of different outcomes your business could face based on your decisions. The butterfly effect of your decisions means you need to think about all possible outcomes and the results they could have on your company. This decision tree flowchart template will show you how to map out different decisions and their outcomes so that you can decide on the best possible route.

Cross-functional flowchart

Most flowcharts are cross-functional in that they account for different possible outcomes. Swimlane diagrams are especially cross-functional because they help visualize business contributions and end-to-end project relationships. This cross-functional flowchart template will help you understand the elements and relationships between the different phases of a project.

Process flowchart

Optimizing workflows is an ongoing pursuit in any industry. The process flowchart plays a crucial role by detailing each step, decision point, and connection in a visual roadmap, from manufacturing processes to project management workflows. It helps identify bottlenecks, improves efficiency, and ensures seamless operations.

How to create a flowchart

Now that you understand where and when to use flowcharts and why they are important visual tools, it’s time to learn how to make one. Miro's flowchart maker is a fantastic tool for building and planning comprehensive flowcharts with your team. Using the tool, follow this step-by-step guide:

1. Know the purpose of your flowchart

Before you start creating your flowchart, you need to understand why you’re making a flowchart in the first place. Write down the goals and results you want your flowchart to depict and identify the processes you want the diagram to explain. Be mindful of trying to achieve too many goals in one flowchart. It’s best to keep your flowchart as simple as possible to make it easily comprehensible. If you find yourself trying to achieve too much in one diagram, consider making more than one flowchart for each process or group of information.

2. Use a flowchart template

Using a basic flowchart template can help you understand how to plot your processes and give you a strong starting point before you start adding your symbols. Starting with a template saves you time and comes with standardized flowchart symbols.

If you need something more complex, Miro has a large collection of flowchart templates you and your team can use.

3. Add flowchart shapes

Take another look at the flowchart symbols and shapes discussed above and start building your visual process. Identify the different components within your sequence and add the appropriate shapes to create a good workflow.

4. Connect shapes with lines and arrows

The next step is adding the connecting lines and arrows to sequence the chosen events and symbols.

5. Collaborate on your flowchart

If your flowchart depicts a process that affects others, share your flowchart with the relevant people. Inviting your team to collaborate with you on your flowchart ensures everyone is on the same page. With Miro, team members can provide feedback and make suggestions with comments and sticky notes, all within one virtual space. This contextual collaboration is what will help your team finalize a useful, clear flowchart that’s helpful for everyone.

6. Keep your flowchart up to date

Systems and processes are constantly changing, so the flowcharts depicting these processes also need to change. Keep your flowchart up to date by regularly revisiting your flowchart and making the necessary changes. Having an online flowchart in Miro makes it easy to make updates and improvements to your flowchart and track these changes.

Tips to consider when creating a flowchart

You’re well on your way to starting your flowchart drafting journey. All that’s left is to go through a few tips and best practices for building the perfect flowchart.

Keep your flowchart on one page

An important characteristic of flowcharts is that they need to be easily readable and understandable. You don’t want to flip through pages to see the entire process. Keeping it to one page keeps it simple and streamlines the visualization.

Use consistent symbols, shapes, and colors

Staying consistent with the symbols and shapes used in your flowchart will help keep the entire process aligned and easy to understand. Each symbol needs to represent a different element within the process. If you use a variety of different symbols, it will be difficult to read and understand the progress of the process. Consistency is key when creating an understandable visual process.

Know the purpose of your flowchart before creating it

As explained above, this is an essential step in creating your flowchart. Flowcharts are best used to represent a specific process. This helps keep the diagram focused.

Flow data from left to right

Flowcharts should flow in the same direction that we read and write. This will help keep the flowchart structure simple and easy to understand.

Get everyone involved

It’s more than likely that the flowchart you’ve created is going to impact other people on your team, especially if it’s a business process flowchart. Rather than creating several flowcharts for the same system, involve the people on your team who are a part of the process. With Miro, you can easily share your flowchart with collaborators anywhere via Slack, email, or private link.

Make relevant changes as needed

It’s no good having a flowchart that’s out of date and inaccurate. In fact, this could cause confusion and inaccuracies, which could, in turn, cause some serious problems for your team. As your system or process changes, ensure you keep your flowchart up to date with the latest steps and information. If your team is using your flowchart documentation on a regular basis, then it’ll be easier to keep it current. Alternatively, schedule meetings during which you can reassess all your team’s flowcharts and make the necessary changes.