19. What is a flowchart?

A flowchart is a diagram that shows the breakdown of a task or system into all of the necessary steps.

Each step is represented by a symbol and connecting lines show the step-by-step progression through the task.

Have a look at the diagram on the right. It shows the process of ordering a burger.

There is a clear start, a series of steps, a clear direction of flow and a clear end or finish point.

This is a very simple flowchart. For some tasks or systems, the flowchart can be very complex and detailed.