When designing and mapping processes with symbols, it is essential to understand their meanings. Therefore, it is important that all professionals involved with BPM fully master the meaning of the flowchart process mapping symbols.
We will detail some of the process mapping symbols most used and known, to facilitate their understanding, without going into more complex and advanced variations.
Using these symbols, you can map processes with agility and clarity. And if necessary, a second time using tools and more specific software that can have more resources and meanings.
Meanings of flow chart process mapping symbols
The first symbol to be displayed is the arrow, a connection symbol used to indicate a link between two other symbols and the direction of flow.
Next, we will show various designs of shapes with their meaning of these symbols in the process flowchart.
Name: Termination
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It indicates the beginning or end of a process flow diagram.
Name: Process
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It indicates a particular process and its functions and activities.
Name: Decision
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It shows that a decision will have to be taken and the process flow will follow a certain direction due to this decision.
Name: Delay
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. Is that some time will pass before the process flow continues.
Name: Data
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It’s any data used in the flowchart.
Name: Document
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It is a type of data or information that can be read by people, such as a printed report, for example.
Name: Various documents
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It indicates that there are several documents.
Name: Subroutine or default process
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. A process that is already pre-defined.
Name: Preparation
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It shows that something must be done, adjusted or modified in the process before proceeding.
Name: Display
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It indicates that any information or data is displayed for reading on a screen or other display.
Name: Manual entry
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It shows that a procedure will be performed manually by a person.
Name: Loop manual
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It indicates that a command sequence will occur continuously in repetition until stopped manually by a person.
Name: Loop Limit
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It shows the beginning of a loop process.
Name: Stored Data
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It shows that there is stored data.
Name: Connector
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It indicates that there is an inspection at this point.
Name: Connector to another page
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It shows that there are a cross-reference and link to this process from another process designed on another page.
Name: OR
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. Used to indicate the ‘OR’ logic.
Name: Adder
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. Used to indicate the logic ‘and’.
Name: Group
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. Indicates a step in which the data is organized in a standard way.
Name: Rate
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It shows that at this point there will be a list generated that organizes items in a particular order.
Name: Merge
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. Indicates a step that will combine several sets into one.
Name: Database
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. A list of information with a standardized structure that allows searching and sorting.
Name: Internal Storage
Process flow diagram: symbol meaning. It indicates an internal storage device.
These were the 23 main meanings of flowchart process mapping symbols. Using these symbols, you will be able to map processes and interpret flowcharts.
If you are looking for a more modern notation be sure to watch the video below about BPMN:
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