How to make a Flowchart

This post is labeled under Software Development


Flowchart is graphical representation of an algorithm. It uses a special-purpose symbols such as diamonds, rectangles, ovals, small circles which are connected by flowlines. Flowlines indicate the order in which the actions are to be performed. Unlike pseudocode (not real code) the algorithm is represented by these symbols.

Creating flowchart is much easier now considering how these flowcharts are incorporated on Microsoft Office applications. Though there are other applications dedicated on this purpose alone such as Visio, it is best to know the basics on how to use it.

Figure 1. Sample Flowchart
Online flowchart applications that float over the internet sometimes charge fee for you to use it. It often has a ready flowchart template that is ready to use. I have nothing against it. For now, all you need is a paper and pen in drafting your first flowchart. Knowing the fundamentals is still best before using any tool for this purpose. You may refer to the following document on how flowcharts are applied.

Flow Charting Fundamentals

Flowchart is one of the effective tools in representing solutions for programming problems. Students gain discipline on how to structure programs properly thus reducing complexity and long redundant codes.