An introduction to Flowcharts

What is a Flowchart?
Flowchart is a graphical representation of an algorithm. Programmers often use it as a program-planning tool to solve a problem. It makes use of symbols which are connected among them to indicate the flow of information and processing. 
The process of drawing a flowchart for an algorithm is known as “flowcharting”. 

Basic Symbols used in Flowchart Designs

1. Terminal: The oval symbol indicates Start, Stop and Halt in a program’s logic flow. A pause/halt is generally used in a program logic under some error conditions. Terminal is the first and last symbols in the flowchart. 
   

• Input/Output: A parallelogram denotes any function of input/output type. Program instructions that take input from input devices and display output on output devices are indicated with parallelogram in a flowchart. 
  

• Processing: A box represents arithmetic instructions. All arithmetic processes such as adding, subtracting, multiplication and division are indicated by action or process symbol. 
  

• Decision Diamond symbol represents a decision point. Decision based operations such as yes/no question or true/false are indicated by diamond in flowchart. 
  

• Connectors: Whenever flowchart becomes complex or it spreads over more than one page, it is useful to use connectors to avoid any confusions. It is represented by a circle. 
  

• Flow lines: Flow lines indicate the exact sequence in which instructions are executed. Arrows represent the direction of flow of control and relationship among different symbols of flowchart. 

Rules For Creating Flowchart :

A flowchart is a graphical representation of an algorithm.it should follow some rules while creating a flowchart
Rule 1: Flowchart opening statement must be ‘start’ keyword.
Rule 2:  Flowchart ending statement must be ‘end’ keyword.
Rule 3: All symbols in the flowchart must be connected with an arrow line.
Rule 4: The decision symbol in the flowchart cannot be associated with the arrow line.

Advantages of Flowchart:

• Flowcharts are a better way of communicating the logic of the system.
• Flowcharts act as a guide for blueprint during program designed.
• Flowcharts help in debugging process.
• With the help of flowcharts programs can be easily analyzed.
• It provides better documentation.
• Flowcharts serve as a good proper documentation.
• Easy to trace errors in the software.
• Easy to understand.
• The flowchart can be reused for inconvenience in the future.
• It helps to provide correct logic.
  

Disadvantages of Flowchart:

• It is difficult to draw flowcharts for large and complex programs.
• There is no standard to determine the amount of detail.
• Difficult to reproduce the flowcharts.
• It is very difficult to modify the Flowchart.
• Making a flowchart is costly.
• Some developer thinks that it is waste of time.
• It makes software processes low.
• If changes are done in software, then the flowchart must be redrawn
  

Example : Draw a flowchart to input two numbers from the user and display the largest of two numbers

C

// C program to find largest of two numbers

#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    int num1, num2, largest;

    /*Input two numbers*/
    printf("Enter two numbers:\n");
    scanf("%d%d", &num1, &num2);

    /*check if a is greater than b*/
    if (num1 > num2)
        largest = num1;
    else
        largest = num2;

    /*Print the largest number*/
    printf("%d", largest);

    return 0;
}

C++

// C++ program to find largest of two numbers
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
    int num1, num2, largest;

    /*Input two numbers*/
    cout << "Enter two numbers:\n";
    cin >> num1;
    cin >> num2;

    /*check if a is greater than b*/
    if (num1 > num2)
        largest = num1;
    else
        largest = num2;

    /*Print the largest number*/
    cout << largest;

    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program to find largest of two numbers
import java.util.Scanner;
public class largest {
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        int num1, num2, max;

        /*Input two numbers*/
        Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in);
        System.out.println("Enter two numbers:");

        num1 = sc.nextInt();
        num2 = sc.nextInt();

        /*check whether a is greater than b or not*/
        if (num1 > num2)
            max = num1;
        else
            max = num2;

        /*Print the largest number*/
        System.out.println(max);
    }
}

C#

// C# program to find largest of two numbers
using System;
using System.IO;

class GFG
{
    static public void Main ()
    {

        int num1, num2, max;

        /*Input two numbers*/
        Console.WriteLine("Enter two numbers:");

        num1 = Convert.ToInt32(Console.ReadLine());
        num2 = Convert.ToInt32(Console.ReadLine());

        /*check whether a is greater than b or not*/
        if (num1 > num2)
            max = num1;
        else
            max = num2;

        /*Print the largest number*/
        Console.WriteLine(max);
    }
}

// This code is contributed by NamrataSrivastava1

Output

Enter two numbers:
10 30
30

References:
Computer Fundamentals by Pradeep K. Sinha and Priti Sinha