A flowchart is a human-made diagrammatic notation that represents a process, workflow, or algorithm as a sequence of steps connected by directional arrows and geometric symbols (rectangles for actions, diamonds for decisions, ovals for start/end points). It operates through standardized visual grammar — each symbol type encodes a specific kind of operation or decision point, and arrows indicate the control flow or sequence between them. Its persistence mechanism is documentation standards (ISO 5807, ANSI Y14), software tools (Visio, Draw.io), and organizational practice that reproduces and maintains the notation. [formal: flowchartus | substrate: behavior | horizon: hours | explicit: yes | epoch: 0.01]
Accepted ontology entry
flowchart
A flowchart is a human-made diagrammatic notation that represents a process, workflow, or algorithm as a sequence of steps connected by directional arrows and geometric symbols (rectangles for actions, diamonds for decisions, ovals for sta…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made diagrammatic notation that represents a process, workflow, or algorithm as a sequence of steps connected by directional arrows. Built to persist through documentation standards, software tools, and organizational practice.
Names and aliases
- flowcharten · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmrwnrieo00qrsoacvm1msqk2INSTANCE_OF →
A flowchart is a specific type of diagram — it represents processes using visual symbols and arrows. A competent speaker would call a flowchart 'a diagram.' Specific→general INSTANCE_OF.
- cmrwnrieo00qrsoacvm1msqk2DEPENDS_ON →
Removal test (Law 8): a flowchart is a visual diagram showing steps and decisions. Remove diagram (the visual representation convention) and a flowchart ceases to operate — it is fundamentally a diagrammatic form. This is about operating, not sayability (Law 8b). Direction: diagram is older than flowchart (chronologically).
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Jul 22, 2026, 10:54 PM UTC
- Content hash
- dc66bf9cd440a1056cbfa2489aaa95ac31589c236dfcf3b991943be00dfcee0a