A flowchart is a diagram that shows an algorithm using standard symbols joined by arrows.
Flowcharts turn an algorithm into a picture. Because you can see every path at a glance, they are good for spotting a missing step, a decision with only one exit or a loop that never ends. They are also easy for non-programmers (customers, managers) to follow.
Key words in this topic
- Symbol: a standard shape with a fixed meaning (oval, rectangle, parallelogram, diamond).
- Flow line: an arrow showing which step comes next.
- Decision: a yes/no question that splits the flow into two paths.
- Loop: a flow line that goes back to an earlier decision, so steps repeat.