Flowcharts

Flowcharts are commonly used in programming to visually represent the logic and flow of a program. A flowchart is a diagram that uses different shapes and symbols to represent various stages of a process.

Common Flowchart symbols

Flowcharts have some standard symbols that allow them to be read and understood by a wider group of people. These are some of the most commonly used symbols:

Let us learn about these symbols and what are they used for:

Start / Stop - An oval shape indicates the starting and ending points of the flow chart.

Input / Output - A parallelogram is used to represent input and output in a flow chart.

Processing - A rectangle is used to represent a process such as mathematical computation or variable assignment

Condition - A diamond shape is used to represent a conditional statement that results in true or false (Yes or No).

Flow direction of the program - An arrow shape is used to represent the flow of the program.

Example - Input a number and print whether it is prime or not.

Flowchart:

Pseudocode:

• Start

• Input num

• if num <= 1

  • print "neither prime nor composite"

c = 2

• while c < num

  • if num % c = 0

    • Output "Not Prime"

    • Exit

  • c = c + 1

  • end while

  • Output "Prime"

  • Exit

Why even use flowcharts and pseudocode?

In the above example, you can easily code by yourself you don't even need to create a flowchart and pseudocode for this. But for complex problems, you cannot just code right away. For complex problems, you need a structured way to plan and design a program before writing actual code. This is especially useful for complex projects where you need to visualize the program logic and structure.

Conclusion

Flowcharts offer a visual way to break down complex problems into manageable steps, making it easier to see the bigger picture and the logical flow of a program. Pseudocode, on the other hand, acts as a friendly bridge between human language and programming syntax, allowing you to write out your thoughts in a more informal and less intimidating manner.

Thanks for reading :)

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