Flowchart

What are flowcharts. What representations or symbols can we find in them. What utility do they offer us to represent algorithms?

In the previous article we introduced different tools to help us when it comes to . Among them we find the flowcharts, which we are going to talk about in this article.

We are not going to entertain ourselves much with them because they are not really used very much. Anyway, you can combine these symbols with those of the and it will start to make a little more sense to diagram the algorithms.

In the article we leave you a series of images with the concepts they represent, so that they serve as a reference in case you ever need to use them, or have any questions in the event that you find those symbols in a document that falls into your hands.

What is a flowchart

A flowchart is a graphical representation that presents the inputs and outputs of data to the program.

The flowcharts are divided into three clearly differentiated parts:

• Entries: that should appear at the top of the graphical representation
• Process: that should appear in the central part of the graphic representation
• Outputs: which should appear at the bottom

Symbols for input/output devices in flowcharts

device: keyboard

Type: input

device: screen

Type: outlet

Device: floppy disk

Type: Input / Output

Device: Printer

Type: Output

Device: Magnetic disks

Type: input / output

Symbols for process devices in flowcharts

Process: Any process or operation that we carry out, unless we operate with files.

Process: Classification of data in a file

Process: Data extraction from a file

Process: Union of several files into one

Dates used in data flows

Function: Teleprocessing lines

Function: Direction of data flow

Examples of flowcharts

Finally, and in order to help you better understand flowcharts, we present three simple examples:

Diagram that reflects the sum of 3 numbers read by keyboard, the result appears on the screen

Diagram that reflects the update of a data file (payroll for example)

Diagram that reflects the union of several files in a single one.

Conclusion on flowcharts

As you have seen, algorithms can be represented with flowcharts. Personally, I think that they are not very useful by themselves, because they do not help much to understand how this algorithm will have to be programmed.

In the following article we will address the , which already better represent the actions necessary to solve the problem of defining the steps of an algorithm. These symbols that you have learned in this article can be used in combination with the ones that you will learn below, to make more expressive algorithm diagrams.